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Metro Mining is one of the few pure-play upstream bauxite companies globally listed on a stock exchange. As a direct exposure to the aluminum sector, Metro offers investors a unique opportunity to benefit from rising global demand driven by industrial applications and growth areas such as electrification, batteries, renewable energy, and lightweight transportation solutions.

Overview

Metro Mining (ASX:MMI) is a low-cost, high-grade Australian bauxite producer with its 100-percent-owned Bauxite Hills mine located 95 km north of Weipa on the Skardon River, Queensland. The mine forms part of a tenement package covering ~1,900 sq km.

Metro Mining

Bauxite Hills Mine

As at 31 December 2024, Bauxite Hills contained 114.4 Mt of ore reserves, supporting an ~11-year mine life, with additional mineral resources extending mine life by roughly five years.

Following the infrastructure expansion commissioned in late 2023, the operation is ramping up production during 2025 and remains on track to deliver 6.5 to 7 WMtpa by year end. This positions Metro as one of the lowest-cost global bauxite producers.

The aluminum sector continues to see rising demand growth of around 3 to 4 percent annually, supported by EV manufacturing, renewable energy infrastructure, battery production and lightweight transportation. Market conditions have been strengthened by instability in Guinea, where government actions and weather disruptions have curtailed exports, creating supply uncertainty and reinforcing the importance of reliable Australian producers.

Company Highlights

  • Metro Mining’s flagship asset, the Bauxite Hills mine (BHM) in Skardon River, located 95 km north of Weipa in Cape York Peninsula Queensland, benefits from proximity to Asian markets, short haul distances, and a highly scalable, low-cost marine transportation system, ensuring industry-leading operating margins.
  • Production ramp-up continuing in 2025 following infrastructure expansion in late 2023. August 2025 shipments reached 753,101 WMT, up 6 percent year-on-year, with year-to-date production of 3.4 Mt, keeping the company on track for its 6.5 to 7 million WMT per annum CY2025 target.
  • Targeting a delivered bauxite cost below US$30 per dry ton CIF China, positioning the company firmly within the lowest quartile of global producers.
  • End of Q2 2025: Cash balance of AU$28.7 million, secured debt of US$56.6 million, and full-year hedged position at 0.63 US$:A$.
  • Ore reserves of 77.7 Mt underpinning ~11 years of mine life, with additional mineral resources providing ~five more years
  • Metro Mining maintains robust environmental and social governance, evidenced by receiving the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies’ 2024 Environment Award.

Key Project

Bauxite Hills Mine (Queensland, Australia)

Metro Mining’s flagship asset, the Bauxite Hills mine, is located on the Skardon River, about 95 kilometres north of Weipa in Queensland. The mine is underpinned by 114.4 Mt of ore reserves as at 31 December 2024, providing approximately 11 years of production, with further Mineral Resources extending mine life by around five years.

Bauxite Hills is a straightforward, low-cost DSO operation. The orebody requires no blasting, with only ~0.5 metres of overburden to remove, and short average haul distances of nine kilometres. Ore is screened to below 100 millimetres and hauled to the barge loading facility, where it is transported via tugs and barges to offshore transhippers for loading onto Capesize vessels bound for Asian markets. This efficient marine logistics chain enables Metro to remain in the lowest quartile of global cost producers.

Port view of Metro Mining

Production continues to build steadily. In Q2 2025, the mine shipped a record 1.9 Mt, generating site EBITDA of AU$54 million and a margin of AU$32 per tonne. In August 2025, shipments reached 753,101 tonnes, a six percent increase from the prior year, with 3.4 Mt shipped year-to-date, putting the mine firmly on track to meet its 2025 target of 6.5 to 7 Mt.

Metro has established offtake agreements with leading global alumina and aluminum producers, including Chalco, Emirates Global Aluminium, Xinfa Aluminium and Shandong Lubei Chemical. To support growth beyond 2025, debottlenecking and optimisation studies are underway to enable potential expansion to 8 Mtpa beyond 2026.

The company is also advancing exploration in surrounding lateritic bauxite terraces. Drilling campaigns are planned across EPM 27611, EPM 16755, EPM 25879 and EPM 26982 during the second half of 2025, with approximately 150 holes scheduled.

In addition, Bauxite Hills hosts a significant kaolin deposit beneath the bauxite ore. Metro is progressing a feasibility study to assess extraction potential, market strategies and product testing, with applications in ceramics, paper, paints and industrial uses.

Management Team

Simon Wensley – CEO and Managing Director

Simon Wensley is a proven industry leader with extensive experience in mining operations and strategic growth. He spent 20 years at Rio Tinto in various operational, project and leadership roles across commodities, including iron ore, industrial minerals, bauxite, alumina, coal and uranium.

Douglas Ritchie – Non-Executive Chair

Douglas Ritchie brings more than 40 years’ experience in resources, previously holding senior leadership roles at Rio Tinto, including CEO of Rio Tinto Coal Australia, chief executive of the Energy Product Group, and group executive of strategy.

Nathan Quinlin – CFO

Nathan Quinlin is experienced in financial strategy and cost optimization, previously serving as finance and commercial manager at Glencore’s CSA mine, managing finance, risk management and life-of-mine planning.

Paul Green – Executive General Manager, Operations

Paul Green is a seasoned mining executive with 30 years of experience across surface and underground operations, contracting, and major project development. Beginning his career underground, he brings practical, “coal face” leadership to driving operational turnarounds, productivity gains, and safety excellence. He has held senior roles with Rio Tinto, BHP, Glencore, Anglo American, Idemitsu and ASX-listed Metarock, leading mine restarts, major expansions, operational transformations, and corporate restructurings.

Vincenzo De Falco – General Manager, Marine Supply & Logistics

With over 15 years of global experience in the shipping and maritime industry, including at IMC and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, Vincenzo De Falco is leading the Metro Marine Team to manage BHM transhipping logistics, including new Floating Crane Terminal (Ikamba) as well as Tug Mandang.

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Oil and gas prices surged Monday (March 2) after fresh military strikes between the US, Israel, and Iran rattled energy markets and brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz close to a halt, raising fears of a wider supply shock.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped as much as 10 percent to trade above US$82 per barrel before easing back toward US$79. US crude rose more than 6.5 percent, climbing nearly US$5 per barrel to around US$72.

Natural gas markets saw even sharper moves. European gas futures rocketed higher after QatarEnergy said it had suspended liquefied natural gas (LNG) production following what it described as “military attacks” on its facilities.

The company halted production after a drone targeted a facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, according to Qatar’s Ministry of Defence. A separate drone reportedly struck a water tank at a power plant in Mesaieed. In Saudi Arabia, Aramco temporarily shut its Ras Tanura refinery after it was hit by a drone.

Tensions have centred on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and significant LNG volumes pass.

Shipping traffic through the strait has slowed dramatically.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that two vessels had been struck and that an “unknown projectile” exploded “in very close proximity” to a third. At least 150 tankers have reportedly dropped anchor beyond the strait, while major shipping companies paused or rerouted sailings.

‘Meanwhile, no LNG vessels have transited the Strait of Hormuz since Saturday, effectively cutting off around 20 percent of global LNG supply. Although there is no formal blockade, tankers remain anchored due to heightened security and insurance risks, intensifying supply concerns,’ an email from the Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS) noted.

Analysts say the disruption threatens around 120 billion cubic meters per year of LNG supply from Qatar and the UAE, volumes that are comparable to the gas Europe has lost from Russia since 2021.

Others warned that prices could climb much higher if the standoff persists. Some estimates suggest Brent could approach or exceed US$100 per barrel in the event of a prolonged closure.

OPEC+ spare capacity is largely located in the Gulf and would be difficult to access if shipping remains constrained. On Sunday (March 1), OPEC+ agreed to increase output by 206,000 barrels per day starting next month in an effort to cushion price rises.

However, any additional barrels would still need to transit through the region.

Gold, often viewed as a safe-haven asset during geopolitical turmoil, also rose by around 2 percent to US$5,378 per ounce.

Much now depends on whether energy infrastructure continues to be targeted and how long shipping disruptions persist.

“The jump in prices will feed through almost immediately because the oil traders are very much following the news too,” Robin Mills, chief executive of consultancy Qamar Energy, told BBC.

“At the moment, oil prices are not particularly high, they are still below where they were even two years ago so we’re not in full-blown oil crisis mode yet.”

The trajectory of prices, analysts say, will hinge on how much supply is ultimately disrupted, how long any other form of disruption lasts, and whether traffic through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints resumes in the coming days.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Ontario has overtaken Saskatchewan as Canada’s top-ranked mining jurisdiction and now sits second globally for investment attractiveness, according to the Fraser Institute’s latest Annual Survey of Mining Companies.

The 2025 survey, based on responses from 256 industry participants evaluating 68 jurisdictions, ranks Ontario 2nd worldwide on the Investment Attractiveness Index (IAI), a sharp rise from 15th place in 2024.

Saskatchewan follows closely in 3rd place, while Nevada reclaimed the top global position.

The Fraser Institute’s Investment Attractiveness Index combines two core components: the Policy Perception Index (PPI) and the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index. Survey respondents consistently indicate that roughly 60 percent of investment decisions are driven by mineral potential and 40 percent by policy considerations.

Ontario’s ascent signals renewed investor confidence and the province’s growing role in critical minerals development. Saskatchewan, long considered a global uranium powerhouse, has placed in the global top 10 six times in the past seven years.

Among Canadian jurisdictions, four provinces ranked in the PPI global top 10 this year: Alberta (3rd), Ontario (5th), Newfoundland & Labrador (7th), and Saskatchewan (8th). However, when combining policy and mineral potential into the overall IAI, only Ontario and Saskatchewan cracked the global top 10.

As with last year’s iteration, permit timelines remain a key differentiator. Ontario performed relatively well in the Fraser sub-survey on exploration permitting, with 33 percent of respondents indicating they were able to obtain permits in less than two months and 67 percent within six months.

Globally, Nevada ranked first on both the IAI and the Policy Perception Index, while Botswana climbed to second on policy metrics.

South Australia, Western Australia, Arizona, Norway, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia also placed in the global top 10 on overall investment attractiveness.

At the other end of the spectrum, China ranked last—68th out of 68 jurisdictions—on both investment attractiveness and policy perception. Burkina Faso, Egypt, and several African and Latin American jurisdictions also populated the bottom 10.

In a press release following the survey results, Toronto-based IsoEnergy (TSX:ISO) pointed to strong placements across jurisdictions where it operates.

“We are encouraged to see several jurisdictions within IsoEnergy’s portfolio once again rank among the global leaders in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 survey. Saskatchewan’s sustained top-tier performance, together with Western Australia’s meaningful advancement this year, reinforces the geological quality and policy stability that underpin our asset base and guide our M&A strategy,” said CEO and Director Philip Williams.

“These results affirm our disciplined focus on advancing high-quality projects in tier one jurisdictions where we believe institutional capital can be allocated with confidence and long-term value can be responsibly created.”

The survey, now in its 27th year, was distributed to more than 2,300 managers and executives globally, with participating companies reporting exploration spending of US$4.2 billion in 2025.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for March 2 as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$66,270.44, down by 0.4 percent over the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, March 2, 2026.

Bitcoin price performance, March 2, 2026.

Chart via TradingView

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$1,947.16, down by 1.8 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

  • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.35, down by 1.8 percent over 24 hours.
  • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$83.41, down by 1.8 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bitcoin slips under US$67,000 as Iran tensions continue

Bitcoin drifted back below $67,000 late Sunday as uncertainty surrounding the Iran-Israel conflict continued to weigh on global risk assets.

The token was down roughly 1 percent over 24 hours, after swinging sharply in response to US-Israel air strikes on Iran and retaliatory activity across the region. Prices had plunged to around US$63,255 early Saturday during the initial shock, only to rebound above US$68,000 later that day amid unconfirmed reports about Iran’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Ether hovered near US$1,950 after tumbling roughly 10 percent in the immediate aftermath of the escalation.

Bitcoin remains down about 23 percent year-to-date and nearly 50 percent off its October peak of US$126,000, with some Wall Street analysts warning a move toward US$50,000 is possible before any durable recovery takes hold.

X lifts crypto ad ban

Social media platform X has reversed course on its crypto advertising policy, removing digital assets and gambling from its list of prohibited industries for paid promotions.

The change opens the door for influencers and key opinion leaders to monetize crypto content legally on the platform, provided they follow new disclosure rules. Under X’s updated Paid Partnership framework, posts created as part of a commercial arrangement must carry a clear “Paid Partnership” label.

“Undisclosed promotions hurt the integrity of the product and lead people to distrust the content they read on X,” said Nikita Bier, the company’s head of product, adding that the update is meant to encourage transparency and regulatory compliance.

Influencers remain responsible for adhering to applicable laws, including Federal Trade Commission guidelines on endorsements. While crypto is no longer banned from paid partnerships, the platform maintains distinctions between sponsored content and traditional advertising placements.

UAE security alert prompts crypto firms to shift to remote work

Major cryptocurrency exchanges in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have moved staff indoors after the country entered a heightened security posture, with authorities reporting missile interceptions and aerial defense activity across parts of the Gulf.

Binance and Bybit instructed UAE-based employees to remain home and work remotely until further notice. Binance circulated a company-wide notice directing staff to avoid outdoor areas and stay clear of windows and open spaces.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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iPhone 17e delivers incredible value with faster performance, an advanced camera system, enhanced durability, the magic of MagSafe, and double the starting storage at 256GB

Apple® today announced iPhone® 17e, a powerful and more affordable addition to the iPhone 17 lineup. At the heart of iPhone 17e is the latest-generation A19, which delivers exceptional performance for everything users do. iPhone 17e also features C1X, the latest-generation cellular modem designed by Apple, which is up to 2x faster than C1 in iPhone 16e. The 48MP Fusion camera captures stunning photos, including next-generation portraits, and 4K Dolby Vision video. It also enables an optical-quality 2x Telephoto — like having two cameras in one. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR® display features Ceramic Shield® 2, offering 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation and reduced glare. 1 With MagSafe®, users can enjoy fast wireless charging and access to a vast ecosystem of accessories like chargers and cases. And when iPhone 17e users are outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, Apple’s groundbreaking satellite features — including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My® via satellite — help them stay connected when it matters most. 2

Available in three elegant colors with a premium matte finish — black, white, and a beautiful new soft pink — iPhone 17e will be available for pre-order beginning Wednesday, March 4, with availability starting Wednesday, March 11. iPhone 17e will start at 256GB of storage for $599 — 2x the entry storage from the previous generation at the same starting price, and 4x more than iPhone 12 — giving users more space for high-resolution photos, 4K videos, apps, games, and more.

‘iPhone 17e combines powerful performance and features our users love at an exceptional value, making it a compelling option for customers looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 family,’ said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing. ‘We know our customers want a product that will last, and iPhone 17e delivers just that. With A19 for incredible performance, double the entry storage, a smarter camera system, and enhanced durability, iPhone 17e is designed to stay fast, secure, and valuable for years to come.’

A Beautiful Design with Enhanced Durability

iPhone holds its value longer than other smartphones, 3 and iPhone 17e is built to last. It features a strong yet lightweight aerospace-grade aluminum design, and is splash, water, and dust resistant with an IP68 rating. 4 The Ceramic Shield 2 front cover — featured across the iPhone 17 family — is tougher than any smartphone glass, and an Apple-designed coating provides 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation as well as improved anti-reflection to reduce glare.

The Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology delivers a fantastic viewing experience whether a user is streaming videos in Dolby Vision or playing games, and with up to 1200 nits peak HDR brightness, it is easy to view content on brighter days. Face ID® provides a seamless and secure way to unlock iPhone 17e, authenticate purchases, sign in to apps, and more. With the Action button, users can access their favorite features — like the flashlight, visual intelligence, and more — with just a press.

Powerful Performance and Exceptional Efficiency

iPhone 17e features the latest-generation A19 built with advanced 3-nanometer technology, delivering powerful performance. The faster, more efficient 6-core CPU — up to 2x faster than iPhone 11 — handles everything from simple tasks like scrolling through photos to advanced Apple Intelligence™ capabilities like Clean Up. The 4-core GPU with Neural Accelerators unlocks console-level gaming on the go, supporting demanding AAA titles and hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic lighting and reflections. The upgraded 16-core Neural Engine is optimized for large generative models and, combined with Neural Accelerators built into each GPU, enables Apple Intelligence and other AI models to run faster than on the previous generation.

iPhone 17e also features C1X, the latest-generation cellular modem designed by Apple. C1X is up to 2x faster than C1 in iPhone 16e and matches the speed of iPhone Air™. C1X uses 30 percent less energy than the modem in iPhone 16 Pro, contributing to the exceptional all-day battery life.

Excellent Battery Life, Fast Charging, and MagSafe

iPhone 17e delivers exceptional all-day battery life, enabled by the efficiencies of Apple silicon, including the C1X cellular modem, and the advanced power management of iOS 26. With fast wired charging using USB-C, iPhone 17e can charge up to 50 percent in around 30 minutes. 5 iPhone 17e also supports MagSafe and Qi2 for fast wireless charging up to 15W compared to 7.5W Qi wireless charging on iPhone 16e. MagSafe chargers, stands, cases, wallets, camera accessories, and more snap easily to the back of iPhone 17e, providing seamless alignment with a wide ecosystem of accessories.

An Advanced Camera System to Capture Everyday Moments

iPhone 17e takes gorgeous photos with excellent detail, including in low light with Night mode. The 48MP Fusion camera enables an optical-quality 2x Telephoto, giving users two cameras in one so they can get closer to the subject and easily frame their shot. Users can shoot sharp photos at up to 48MP resolution, or capture in the 24MP default for incredible image quality at a file size perfect for storing and sharing. Portrait mode improves thanks to an advanced image pipeline, delivering remarkably natural depth and smooth bokeh that gracefully blurs the background while keeping subjects sharp. The advanced pipeline also enables next-generation portraits, so iPhone 17e recognizes people, dogs, and cats, and automatically saves depth information, allowing users to turn photos into beautiful portraits with background blur after capture and to adjust the focus point in the Photos app. The latest generation of HDR captures subjects with true-to-life renderings of skin tones and ensures bright highlights, rich midtones, and deep shadows across the image — all while preserving fine details.

iPhone 17e takes stunning videos with the ability to record in 4K with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps. iPhone 17e also records video in Spatial Audio for immersive listening with AirPods® or Apple Vision Pro®, and enables more ways to edit video sound with Audio Mix. With wind noise reduction, powerful machine learning algorithms automatically reduce unwanted noise for better audio quality.

Groundbreaking Safety and Communication Capabilities

iPhone 17e helps users stay connected and get assistance when it matters most. When outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, users can text friends and family with Messages via satellite; connect with emergency services using Emergency SOS via satellite; and reach roadside assistance providers with Roadside Assistance via satellite. The Find My app lets users share their location via satellite, reassuring friends and family of their whereabouts while traveling off the grid. Crash Detection can detect a severe car accident and automatically dial emergency services if a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone. 6

iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence

iPhone 17e comes with iOS 26 , delivering a beautiful new design, powerful Apple Intelligence capabilities, and meaningful improvements to the apps users rely on every day. 7 The new design with Liquid Glass makes apps and system experiences more expressive and delightful, bringing greater focus to content while keeping iOS instantly familiar and introducing even more ways to personalize iPhone. Apple Intelligence allows users to communicate across languages with Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime®, Phone, and with AirPods. 8 Visual intelligence now extends to a user’s iPhone screen, letting them search, ask questions, and take action on the content they’re viewing. 9 To help users eliminate distractions, Call Screening can screen calls from unknown numbers and automatically ask the reason for calling, while Hold Assist can hold on the line until a live agent is available. 10 In Messages, users can now choose to screen messages from unknown senders by filtering them to a dedicated folder so they don’t clutter up the conversation list.

iPhone 17e and the Environment

Apple 2030 is the company’s ambitious plan to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by the end of this decade by reducing product emissions from their three biggest sources: materials, electricity, and transportation. iPhone 17e is made with 30 percent recycled content, 11 including 85 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. It is manufactured with 55 percent renewable electricity, like wind and solar, across the supply chain. iPhone 17e is designed to be durable, repairable, and also offers industry-leading software support, while meeting Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled. 12

Pricing and Availability

  • iPhone 17e will be available in black, white, and soft pink in 256GB and 512GB storage capacities, starting at $599 (U.S.) or $24.95 (U.S.) per month for 24 months. 13
  • Customers in more than 70 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Türkiye, the UAE , the UK , and the U.S. , will be able to pre-order iPhone 17e beginning at 6:15 a.m. PST this Wednesday, March 4, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 11.
  • iPhone 17e Silicone Case with MagSafe will be available in six colors — black, anchor blue, light moss, vanilla, bright guava, and soft pink — for $49 (U.S.) and is compatible with the Crossbody Strap. iPhone 17e Clear Case with MagSafe will also be available for $49 (U.S.).

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

1 The display has rounded corners that follow a beautiful curved design, and these corners are within a standard rectangle. When measured as a standard rectangular shape, the screen is 6.06 inches diagonally. The actual viewable area is smaller.

2 Apple’s satellite features are included for free for two years starting at the time of activation of a new iPhone 14 or later, and are not available in all markets. For Emergency SOS via satellite availability, visit support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426 . For Messages via satellite availability, visit support.apple.com/en-us/120930 . For Roadside Assistance via satellite availability, visit support.apple.com/en-us/105098 . Apple’s satellite features were designed for use in open spaces with a clear line of sight to the sky. Performance may be impacted by obstructions such as trees or surrounding buildings.

3 Based on data from FDM | CCS Insight from 2023 to mid-2025, comparing average trade-in price of working-condition smartphones from major brands in key markets.

4 iPhone 17e is splash-, water-, and dust-resistant. It was tested under controlled laboratory conditions and has a rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes). Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions. Resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage is not covered under warranty.

5 A 20W or higher power adapter is required to fast-charge iPhone 17e.

6 Crash Detection is designed for four-wheel passenger vehicle crashes with certain mass, G-force, and speed profiles consistent with severe, life-threatening crashes. It was designed for severe, life-threatening, high-impact front and rear, side-swipe, T-bone, and rollover crashes. Crash Detection is available worldwide on iPhone 14 or later, Apple Watch® Series 8 or later, Apple Watch SE®, and Apple Watch Ultra® or later.

7 Features are subject to change. Some features, applications, and services may not be available in all regions or all languages. For more information on iOS 26, visit apple.com/os/ios .

8 Live Translation in Messages supports English (U.S., UK), Dutch, French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain), Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Turkish, and Vietnamese. Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime, and with AirPods supports English (U.S., UK), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain), Chinese (Mandarin, simplified), and Chinese (Mandarin, traditional). Live Translation with AirPods works on AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation or AirPods Pro 2 and later with the latest firmware when paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone.

9 Visual intelligence is available on any Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone. Some capabilities may not be available in all languages and regions. For more details, see support.apple.com/en-us/121115#visual-intelligence .

10 Call Screening supports Cantonese (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao), English (U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, UK), French (Canada, France), German (Germany), Japanese (Japan), Korean (Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China mainland, Taiwan, Macao), Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain). Hold Assist supports English (U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, UK), French (France), Spanish (U.S., Mexico, Spain), German (Germany), Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese (Japan), and Mandarin Chinese (China mainland).

11 Product recycled or renewable content is the mass of certified recycled material relative to the overall mass of the device, not including packaging or in-box accessories.

12 Breakdown of U.S. retail packaging by weight. Adhesives, inks, and coatings are excluded from Apple’s calculations.

13 Customers in the U.S. who shop at Apple using Apple Card® can pay monthly at 0 percent APR when they choose to check out with Apple Card Monthly Installments, and they’ll get 3 percent Daily Cash® back — all up front. More information — including details on eligibility, exclusions, and Apple Card terms — is available at apple.com/apple-card/monthly-installments .

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple Newsroom ( www.apple.com/newsroom ), or email Apple’s Media Helpline at media.help@apple.com .

© 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, Super Retina XDR, Ceramic Shield, MagSafe, Find My, Face ID, Apple Intelligence, iPhone Air, AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, FaceTime, Apple Store, Apple Trade In, AppleCare, AppleCare+, AppleCare One, iCloud+, Apple Invites, HomeKit, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Card, and Daily Cash are trademarks of Apple. iOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco and is used under license. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260302227994/en/

Press Contacts:

Blair Ranger
Apple
blair_ranger@apple.com

Stephanie Ng
Apple
sng26@apple.com

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

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With blazing performance, more memory, enhanced connectivity, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, iPad Air is a fantastic value

Apple® today announced the new iPad Air® featuring M4 and more memory, giving users a big jump in performance at the same starting price. With a faster CPU and GPU, iPad Air boosts tasks like editing and gaming, and is a powerful device for AI with a faster Neural Engine, higher memory bandwidth, and 50 percent more unified system memory than the previous generation. With M4, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3, 1 and up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1. 2 The new iPad Air also features the latest in Apple silicon connectivity chips, N1 and C1X, delivering fast wireless and cellular connections — and support for Wi-Fi 7 — that empower users to work and be creative anywhere. 3 Available in two sizes and four gorgeous finishes that users love, the 11-inch iPad Air is super portable, and the 13-inch model provides an even larger display for those who want more space to multitask. With game-changing iPadOS® 26 capabilities, advanced cameras, all-day battery life, a powerful app ecosystem, and support for accessories like Apple Pencil Pro® and Magic Keyboard®, iPad Air delivers a remarkable and versatile experience for anyone who wants to do more on iPad®, from students and creators, to business users and gamers. 4

With the same starting price of just $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model, the new iPad Air is an incredible value. And for education, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549, and the 13-inch model starts at $749. Customers can pre-order iPad Air starting Wednesday, March 4, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 11.

‘iPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality,’ said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. ‘With its blazing performance thanks to M4, incredible AI capabilities, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, there’s never been a better time to choose or upgrade to iPad Air.’

Even More Performance with M4

M4 brings a significant boost in performance to the new iPad Air, empowering users to be productive and creative wherever they are — from aspiring creatives working with large files to travelers editing content on the go. Featuring an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3 and up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1. 5 Users will notice the blazing speed of M4 in everything they do — with Apple Creator Studio™, compositing photos in Pixelmator Pro® or editing video in Final Cut Pro® is quicker than ever. With the 9-core GPU of M4, iPad Air supports second-generation hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing for incredible graphics performance. M4 delivers over 4x faster 3D pro rendering with ray tracing performance compared to iPad Air with M1, offering more accurate lighting, reflections, and shadows for extremely realistic gaming experiences. 2

Next-Level Power for AI

M4 is also powerful for AI, with faster memory bandwidth and an incredibly fast Neural Engine — benefiting everyone from college students transcribing lecture notes, to creators storyboarding a new project, to business users polishing emails. With the new iPad Air, unified memory jumps 50 percent, to 12GB, and memory bandwidth increases to 120GB/s, helping users run AI models faster. The 16-core Neural Engine is 3x faster than that of M1 and is perfect for everyday tasks that use on-device AI, like searching for subjects and texts in photos, or leveraging powerful AI features in apps like Goodnotes and Onform: Video Analysis App. 2 The Neural Engine also powers capabilities in Apple Creator Studio apps, like removing the background of video footage with Scene Removal Mask in Final Cut Pro.

N1 and C1X Come to iPad Air for Faster Connectivity

iPad Air features N1, an Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. 3 N1 brings better performance when connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, and improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop®. Cellular models of iPad Air also feature C1X, a cellular modem designed by Apple that offers up to 50 percent faster cellular data performance — and for active cellular users, C1X offers up to 30 percent less modem energy usage than iPad Air with M3. 1 Cellular models of iPad Air allow users to enjoy GPS capabilities, so they can navigate with even more confidence. Users can also enjoy 5G cellular support, helping them stay connected for work or leisure all around the world. 6 And with eSIM, users can quickly and securely add a new plan, connect and transfer existing cellular plans digitally, and stay in touch with family and friends regardless of Wi-Fi availability — ideal for business travelers, students on campus, and anyone working on the go.

iPadOS 26 Supercharges the iPad Experience

iPadOS 26 offers powerful features that help users handle creative and professional tasks with ease, pushing the capabilities of iPad even further.

  • The beautiful new design is crafted with Liquid Glass, a translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings while reacting to users’ input, and dynamically transforming to bring greater focus to the content they care about most.
  • An entirely new, powerful, and intuitive windowing system helps users control, organize, and switch between apps, all while maintaining the simplicity of iPad. And with a new menu bar, users can access the commands available in an app with a simple swipe down from the top of the display, or by moving their cursor to the top.
  • Users can manage, access, and organize files with a supercharged Files app that features an updated List view and new folder customization options. With folders in the Dock, users can conveniently access downloads, documents, and more from anywhere. Additionally, they can set a default app for opening specific files or file types.

Advanced Accessories for iPad Air

From sketching ideas to getting work done, Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard unlock new levels of creativity and productivity on iPad Air. 4 Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro offer users two incredible options. Apple Pencil (USB-C) is a great value for essential tasks like note taking and sketching, and Apple Pencil Pro delivers the ultimate experience, enabling users to take advantage of capabilities such as squeeze and barrel roll to bring their ideas to life in entirely new ways. Apple Pencil Pro also supports Find My®, helping users locate it if misplaced.

Magic Keyboard for iPad Air provides an amazing typing experience and expands what users can do, with a built-in trackpad ideal for precision tasks like selecting text, and a 14-key function row that allows easy access to features like screen brightness and volume controls. It attaches magnetically, and the Smart Connector® immediately connects power and data without the need for Bluetooth; a machined aluminum hinge also includes a USB-C connector for charging. Magic Keyboard for iPad Air has a magical floating design customers love, and comes in black and white.

Ideal for iPad and iPad Air Upgraders

With game-changing improvements over iPad and earlier iPad Air models, there’s never been a better time to upgrade.

Big performance gains: Upgraders will enjoy enhanced speed and responsiveness with 12GB of unified memory and 120GB/s of memory bandwidth, and will experience even more seamless windowing in iPadOS 26. Users coming from iPad Air with M1 will see up to 2.3x faster performance, with over 4x faster 3D pro rendering with ray tracing performance. 5

Advanced Center Stage® camera, mics, and speakers: Users coming from iPad Air with M1 will also enjoy a front 12MP Center Stage camera located along the landscape edge, as well as landscape stereo speakers. For upgraders coming from M1, the 13-inch model delivers even better sound quality, which is great for enjoying music and videos.

Powerful Apple Intelligence™ capabilities: Built seamlessly into iPadOS with groundbreaking privacy, Apple Intelligence provides upgraders and new iPad users with intuitive features that make their experience even more helpful and powerful. 7

Even more value: Users coming from previous-generation iPad Air models will get faster connectivity with N1 and C1X, and M1 upgraders will also get 128GB of starting storage. iPad Air with M4 has the same starting price at just $599 for the 11-inch model, and $799 for the 13-inch model.

iPad Air and the Environment

Apple 2030 is the company’s ambitious plan to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by the end of this decade by reducing product emissions from their three biggest sources: materials, electricity, and transportation. iPad Air is made with 30 percent recycled content, 8 including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. It is manufactured with 40 percent renewable electricity, like wind and solar, across the supply chain. iPad Air is designed to be durable and repairable, and also offers industry-leading software support, while meeting Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled. 9

Pricing and Availability

  • The 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air with M4 will be available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations.
  • The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and $749 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The 13-inch iPad Air starts at $799 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and $949 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
  • With education savings, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549 (U.S.), and the 13-inch iPad Air starts at $749 (U.S.).
  • Magic Keyboard, available in black and white, is compatible with the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air. The 11-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $269 (U.S.), and the 13-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $319 (U.S.). With education savings, the 11-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $249 (U.S.), and the 13-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $299 (U.S.).

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

1 Results are compared to 13-inch iPad Air (M3) units with 8-core CPU and 8GB of unified memory.

2 Results are compared to iPad Air (5th generation) units with 8-core CPU and 8GB of unified memory.

3 Wi-Fi 7 is available in countries and regions where supported.

4 Accessories sold separately.

5 Testing was conducted by Apple in January and February 2026. See apple.com/ipad-air for more information.

6 Data plan is required. 5G is available in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on 5G support, contact carrier and see apple.com/ipad/cellular .

7 Apple Intelligence is available in beta with support for these languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see support.apple.com/en-us/121115 .

8 Product recycled or renewable content is the mass of certified recycled material relative to the overall mass of the device, not including packaging or in-box accessories.

9 Breakdown of U.S. retail packaging by weight. Adhesives, inks, and coatings are excluded from Apple’s calculations.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple Newsroom ( www.apple.com/newsroom ), or email Apple’s Media Helpline at media.help@apple.com .

© 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPad Air, iPadOS, Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard, iPad, Apple Creator Studio, Pixelmator Pro, Final Cut Pro, AirDrop, Apple Pencil, Find My, Smart Connector, Apple Intelligence, Apple Store, AppleCare, AppleCare+, Apple Care One, Apple Card, and Daily Cash are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Apple
s_eisenhart@apple.com

Tara Courtney
Apple
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 2, 2026 / NextSource Materials Inc. (TSX:NEXT,OTC:NSRCF)(OTCQB:NSRCF) (‘NextSource’ or the ‘Company’) announces that it has entered into a binding agreement (the ‘Agreement’) with Syrah Resources Limited (‘Syrah’) for the supply of natural graphite fines for NextSource’s planned battery anode facility (‘BAF’) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (‘UAE’).

Under the terms of the Agreement, NextSource will source a minimum of approximately 34,000 tonnes and up to 68,000 tonnes of natural graphite fines in total over a seven-year period, with annual committed and optioned volumes subject to specific conditions precedent being satisfied.

These conditions include the commencement of commercial production at NextSource’s BAF in the UAE and successful qualification and final approval of the use of Syrah’s graphite by NextSource and it’s downstream offtake customer. Pricing is expected to be determined quarterly and by referencing an independently reported natural graphite fines price index, with adjustments for product grade and shipping costs.

If the conditions have not been satisfied or waived by December 31, 2026, Syrah may terminate the Agreement without liability. If the conditions have not been satisfied or waived by December 31, 2027, NextSource may terminate the Agreement without liability.

Strategic Rationale

This Agreement forms part of NextSource’s broader supply chain strategy to establish diversified feedstock sources for its planned downstream anode facilities. The Company believes this approach, taking into account feedstock from its Molo Graphite Mine in Madagascar (‘Molo’), both derisks operations and enhances operational flexibility to support the ramp-up and potential expansion of the UAE BAF.

The Company has been stockpiling SuperFlake® concentrate from Molo and has ample inventory to fulfil the volumes of anode active material (‘AAM’) required under its binding offtake with Mitsubishi Chemical well into 2028. The Mitsubishi Chemical offtake agreement is for the supply of approximately 9,000 tonnes per annum (‘tpa’) of AAM over a multi-year period.

NextSource continues to evaluate other third-party feedstock sources while prioritizing the use of SuperFlake® graphite concentrate from Molo as the primary and preferred feedstock source for the UAE BAF.

This additional feedstock flexibility is particularly important in light of the Company’s February 5, 2026 announcement of a letter of intent with a second major Japanese anode material producer. If finalized, this would further increase expected demand for AAM from the UAE BAF. When combined with the Mitsubishi Chemical offtake agreement, these customer commitments are expected to fully utilize and potentially exceed the planned Phase 1 production capacity of the UAE BAF, reinforcing the importance of establishing multiple qualified feedstock sources to underpin future expansion of the UAE BAF.

Hanré Rossouw, President and CEO of NextSource, commented:

‘This agreement strengthens our long‑term strategy to build a resilient and diversified supply chain for our Abu Dhabi BAF. While Molo remains our primary and preferred feedstock, securing optionality with high‑quality third‑party material enhances our flexibility as we scale production to meet growing demand for anode active material. It is a disciplined step that supports both our near‑term ramp‑up and our broader growth ambitions.’

Syrah Resources is an Australian Securities Exchange listed industrial minerals and technology company that owns and operates the Balama Graphite Operation in Mozambique and an active anode material facility in the United States.

About NextSource Materials Inc.

NextSource Materials Inc. is a battery materials company based in Toronto, Canada that is intent on becoming a vertically integrated global supplier of battery materials through the mining and value-added processing of graphite and other minerals.

The Company’s Molo graphite project in Madagascar is one of the largest known and highest-quality graphite resources globally, and the only one with SuperFlake® graphite. The Molo mine has begun production through Phase 1 mine operations. NextSource’s corporate presentation can be accessed and downloaded here.

The Company is also developing a significant downstream graphite value-add business through the staged rollout of Battery Anode Facilities (BAF) capable of large-scale production of coated, spheronized and purified graphite for direct delivery to battery and automotive customers, in a fully transparent and traceable manner. The Company is now in the process of developing its first BAF in the UAE and has executed a multi-year offtake agreement for the supply of anode active material with Mitsubishi Chemical Corp of Japan.

NextSource Materials is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘NEXT’ and on the OTCQB under the symbol ‘NSRCF’.

For further information about NextSource Materials, please visit our website at www.nextsourcematerials.com or contact us at +1.416.364.4911 or email Brent Nykoliation, Executive Vice President at brent@nextsourcematerials.com.

Safe Harbour: This press release contains statements that may constitute ‘forward-looking information’ or ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as ‘plan’, ‘expect’, ‘project’, ‘intend’, ‘believe’, ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’, ‘potential’, ‘possible’ and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘could’, ‘expected’ or ‘should’ occur. Forward-looking statements include any statements regarding, among others, that non-binding LOI’s and term sheets will progress to definitive agreements and the timing thereof, timing of construction, development and completion of the BAF, timing and completion of front-end engineering and design, timing of FID, the phased development plan of the BAF as well as the Company’s intent on becoming a fully integrated global supplier of critical battery and technology materials. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and, in some instances, to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These risks include that the non-binding term sheets will not progress to definitive agreements, the parties to the non-binding term sheet will not be satisfied with their due diligence review, risks related to the construction and development of the BAF, the potential supply of natural graphite fines for NextSource’s planned BAF from Syrah or other qualified 3rd party sources, the risk that a positive FID decision may never be reached as well as other risk factors set forth in the Company’s latest Annual Information Form (which includes the disclosed risk related specifically to the development commissioning and operation of the BAF) There is no assurance that the definitive agreements will be completed with the above noted timeframe or at all. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive there from. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

SOURCE: NextSource Materials Inc.

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Gains ownership and control over one of the largest, strategically located, prolific geologic environments for critical and precious metals in Quebec, Canada

Nuvau Minerals Inc. (TSXV: NMC,OTC:NMCPF) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Nuvau’) has achieved a significant milestone on the road toward a production restart at its flagship Matagami Property. The Company has completed the acquisition (the ‘Earn-In Transaction’), from Glencore Canada Corporation (‘Glencore Canada’), of interests in certain properties comprising the Matagami mining camp (collectively, the ‘Property’), located in the Abitibi region of central Québec, Canada, pursuant to a second amended and restated earn-in agreement dated January 28, 2026 among the Company, Nuvau Minerals Corp. (the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, ‘Nuvau Corp.’) and Glencore Canada (the ‘Earn-In Agreement’).

This landmark achievement marks a major step toward our goal of the restart of mining operations at the Matagami property,’ said Peter van Alphen, Nuvau’s CEO. ‘It reflects both our team’s unwavering commitment and the strong support behind our project. We are now eager to continue to build on our exploration momentum while advancing the technical and economic studies required to deliver a robust restart plan for our critical mineral assets.’

The Matagami mining camp is a 1,379-square-kilometre exploration and mining property, one of the largest in Canada, and is strategically located in a prolific geological environment for both critical and precious metals.

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Figure 1: Position of Nuvau’s Matagami property in Canada and within the northern Abitibi advanced projects and operations

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The Matagami Property
Located in the northern Abitibi, the Matagami Property is comprised of 2,389 titles, including 1,237 square kilometres of exploration claims and 4.5 square kilometres of mining rights property. This includes the past-producing:

  • Bracemac-McLeod mine, which is still permitted and has key infrastructure in place
  • Perseverance mine, with potential for shallow remnant and mineralization extension.

When combined with Nuvau’s existing 138 square kilometres of exploration claims, this land package is one of the largest mining and exploration properties in Eastern Canada.

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Figure 2: Detailed map of the exploration claims and mining rights involved in the transaction.

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The transaction excludes the property rights related to the Matagami Lake Processing Plant and the current Tailing Storage Facility, for which Nuvau has a 24-month right such rights from Glencore Canada.

Since entering into the earn-in agreement with Glencore in 2022, Nuvau has established a track record of success on the property, including the:

  • Discovery of gold mineralization within the Bracemac Mine in July 2025;
  • Discovery of gold anomalies in till in May 2025;
  • Acquisition of the Thundermine property in 2024;
  • Extension of mineralization at the past-producing McLeod Cu-Zn deposit in 2024;
  • Discovery of the Renaissance Cu-Zn Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) in 2023.

In addition, Nuvau demonstrated the economic potential of a near term production restart at the Matagami property with the Preliminary Economic Analysis (PEA) it published in 2023. The Company intends to update this PEA in 2026 to include additional geological and technical information as well as current commodity prices ahead of a Pre-Feasibility Study planned for 2027. The PEA leverages existing mine, processing and transportation infrastructure within the Matagami camp, all in close proximity to the town of Matagami at the heart of the northern Abitibi.

The Earn-In Transaction
In connection with the completion of the Earn-In Transaction:

  • Nuvau Corp. incurred an aggregate of $30,000,000 in exploration, development and related expenditures on the Property on or before March 25, 2025.
  • Glencore retained a 2% net smelter returns (‘NSR’) royalty on the Property, subject to an aggregate maximum NSR royalty of 3.5% inclusive of existing royalties on any mining claim, pursuant to a royalty agreement entered into between Glencore Canada and Nuvau Corp.

As per the terms of the Earn-In Agreement, within 60 days of the closing of the Earn-In Transaction, Nuvau Corp. will also be required to pay Glencore Canada (i) $5,000,000 in cash, and (ii) an additional $5,000,000 payable in cash, common shares of the Company (‘Common Shares‘), or a combination thereof at Nuvau Corp.’s election, subject to required stock exchange and other regulatory approvals and provided that any share issuance does not result in Glencore having beneficial ownership of more than 9.9% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares immediately following issuance.

For a period of 24 months following the closing of the Earn-In Transaction, Nuvau will also retain the right to acquire certain excluded property (including the Matagami Lake Processing Plant and Tailings Storage Facility) from Glencore Canada for a payment of $5,000,000 (payable in cash, Common Shares, or a combination thereof), subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and regulatory requirements, all as more particularly described in the Earn-In Agreement.

For more information regarding the Earn-In Transaction, please refer to the Earn-In Agreement, a copy of which has been filed and is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company’s issuer profile.

About Nuvau
Nuvau Minerals (TSXV: NMC,OTC:NMCPF) is a Canadian mining and exploration company advancing its assets through the exploration and development stage. The Company’s principal asset is the past-producing Matagami mining district in the Abitibi region of Québec.

Nuvau controls a 1,379 square kilometre land package and benefits from access to permitted mining infrastructure, including an option on a 3,000 tpd concentrator, through an earn-in agreement with Glencore Canada. Its strategy combines near-term resource development and a potential mine restart with district-scale exploration targeting zinc-copper VMS deposits and newly recognized gold potential in the camp.

Backed by Québec investors, Nuvau is executing a multi-year exploration and resource growth program to advance the camp toward a renewed production decision while generating new discoveries.

Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Bastien Fresia P. Geo. (Qc), Director of Technical Services and a ‘qualified person’ for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

Further Information
Peter van Alphen
President and CEO, Nuvau Minerals Inc.
416-525-6063
pvanalphen@nuvauminerals.com

Cautionary Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements‘) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘anticipate’, ‘will’, ‘estimates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘expects’ and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning: the completion and timing of any remaining post-closing filings and registrations with governmental authorities; the timing and form of payments contemplated by the Earn-In Agreement (including any election to satisfy a portion of such payments in Common Shares), and if applicable, the receipt of any required stock exchange and other regulatory approvals; the potential future acquisition of the excluded property and satisfaction of applicable conditions related thereto; and the timing and ability of the Company to advance the Property to production decision and the overall potential of the Property. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements are set out in the Company’s public disclosure record available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company’s issuer profile. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

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Rakuten Securities has launched a new platinum-focused investment trust, expanding access to precious metals exposure in Japan at a time of rising global interest in commodities.

The Rakuten Platinum Fund broadens the range of investment options available to Japanese retail investors by offering indirect exposure to platinum through a fund-of-funds structure.

Rather than holding physical platinum, the fund invests via a master fund that allocates to physical platinum-backed exchange traded funds (ETFs).

The fund operates without foreign exchange hedging as a default, meaning investors are exposed to yen-denominated movements in global platinum prices.

Structured as an additional type investment trust, the fund also has no fixed investment term and allows daily subscriptions and redemptions. It has a trust capital ceiling of approximately US$641 million, with a minimum threshold of 1 billion yen.

A key feature expected to drive retail demand is its eligibility for inclusion in a Nippon Individual Savings Account (NISA). Modelled on the UK’s Individual Savings Account (ISA), the scheme allows qualifying investors to receive tax exemptions on dividends and capital gains for an unlimited period, subject to investment limits.

This positions the new fund as a tax-efficient vehicle for individuals seeking exposure to platinum within a long-term savings framework.

The launch aims to capitalize on growing investor interest in platinum globally. A recent World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) report saw holdings in platinum ETFs increase by a net 234,000 ounces in 2025, driven by positive sentiment following a platinum price breakout and its sustained discount to gold.

Platinum’s price momentum has been notable. The metal surged more than 90 percent from the second quarter onward in 2025, climbing above US$1,900 per ounce in December. After silver, it was the second best-performing metal of the year.

Structural supply challenges, including a projected supply shortfall of more than 692,000 ounces, were a key driver of the rally, alongside strong industrial demand from the automotive sector and emerging clean energy technologies. Lower interest rates from the US Federal Reserve also boosted investment appetite for precious metals.

Even as total platinum demand is projected to fall 5 percent to 7.82 million ounces in 2025, investment demand is expected to rise 6 percent to 742,000 ounces, according to the WPIC.

Investors have been drawn to platinum as a relative value play amid record gold prices, fueling inflows into ETFs as well as purchases of physical bars and coins.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 2, 2026 / NextSource Materials Inc. (TSX:NEXT,OTC:NSRCF)(OTCQB:NSRCF) (‘NextSource’ or the ‘Company’) announces that Mr. Jaco Crouse has resigned from his position as Chief Financial Officer after accepting a senior role with another organization. Mr. Crouse will remain employed by the Company for a transition period of up to four months to support an orderly handover of responsibilities.

Mr. Crouse has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2024, during which time he played a key role in strengthening the Company’s financial discipline, supporting capital markets activities, and advancing NextSource’s development strategy. The Company thanks Mr. Crouse for his contributions and wishes him success in his new role.

The Company is working with Mr. Crouse to ensure an orderly and comprehensive handover of responsibilities. As part of a structured succession planning approach, the Board will coordinate with external advisors to progress the search for a new Chief Financial Officer. Interim arrangements will be communicated as appropriate.

Hanré Rossouw, President and CEO of NextSource, commented:

‘On behalf of the Board and management team, I would like to thank Jaco for his contribution and commitment during a critical period of growth and transformation for NextSource. We appreciate his support in ensuring a smooth transition and wish him every success in his next chapter.’

The Company remains focused on executing its strategic priorities, including advancing its Battery Anode Facility development, progressing toward Final Investment Decision, and delivering on its integrated battery materials strategy.

About NextSource Materials Inc.

NextSource Materials Inc. is a battery materials company based in Toronto, Canada that is intent on becoming a vertically integrated global supplier of battery materials through the mining and value-added processing of graphite and other minerals.

The Company’s Molo graphite project in Madagascar is one of the largest known and highest-quality graphite resources globally, and the only one with SuperFlake® graphite. The Molo mine has begun production through Phase 1 mine operations. NextSource’s corporate presentation can be accessed and downloaded here.

The Company is also developing a significant downstream graphite value-add business through the staged rollout of Battery Anode Facilities (BAF) capable of large-scale production of coated, spheronized and purified graphite for direct delivery to battery and automotive customers, in a fully transparent and traceable manner. The Company is now in the process of developing its first BAF in the UAE and has executed a multi-year offtake agreement for the supply of anode active material with Mitsubishi Chemical Corp of Japan.

NextSource Materials is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘NEXT’ and on the OTCQB under the symbol ‘NSRCF’.

For further information about NextSource Materials, please visit our website at www.nextsourcematerials.com or contact us at +1.416.364.4911 or email Brent Nykoliation, Executive Vice President at brent@nextsourcematerials.com.

Safe Harbour: This press release contains statements that may constitute ‘forward-looking information’ or ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as ‘plan’, ‘expect’, ‘project’, ‘intend’, ‘believe’, ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’, ‘potential’, ‘possible’ and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘could’, ‘expected’ or ‘should’ occur. Forward-looking statements include any statements regarding, among others, that non-binding LOI’s and term sheets will progress to definitive agreements and the timing thereof, timing of construction, development and completion of the BAF, timing and completion of front-end engineering and design, timing of FID, the phased development plan of the BAF as well as the Company’s intent on becoming a fully integrated global supplier of critical battery and technology materials. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and, in some instances, to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These risks include that the non-binding term sheets will not progress to definitive agreements, the parties to the non-binding term sheet will not be satisfied with their due diligence review, risks related to the construction and development of the BAF, the potential supply of natural graphite fines for NextSource’s planned BAF from Syrah or other qualified 3rd party sources, the risk that a positive FID decision may never be reached as well as other risk factors set forth in the Company’s latest Annual Information Form (which includes the disclosed risk related specifically to the development commissioning and operation of the BAF) There is no assurance that the definitive agreements will be completed with the above noted timeframe or at all. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive there from. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

SOURCE: NextSource Materials Inc.

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