Gold fell below US$3,000 per ounce this week before rocketing to a new all-time high.
Gary Wagner, executive producer at TheGoldForecast.com, explains why that happened and how he expects the yellow metal to perform in the long term as market turmoil continues.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
The gold price reached yet another record high on Friday (April 11), breaking US$3,200 per ounce.
The precious metal has gained significant momentum since the beginning of the year. In morning trading on Friday it surged past the US$3,200 mark, climbing as high as US$3,244.33 per ounce.
The rise comes after a week of chaos caused by US President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again global tariff scheme.
Gold chart, April 4 to April 11, 2025.
During the week, Trump reversed course on some of the tariff measures he announced on April 2.
Those measures included a 10 percent tariff on all but a handful of countries, including Canada and Mexico, with more severe reciprocal tariffs to come into effect this week. However, on Wednesday (April 9), Trump announced he would pause the additional tariffs for 90 days, saying more than 70 countries had contacted him to make deals.
Trump may have also been feeling pressure from economic advisors as a surge in treasury yields signaled a potential economic crisis brewing in the US bond market. Normally a safe haven during market volatility, the bond market saw a significant selloff this week as US tariffs and worries about the US economy’s stability spooked traders.
Although the pause gave most countries some breathing room, tariffs against China were left on the table. After much back and forth, US tariffs levied against China have now increased to 145 percent.
The net effect of Trump’s actions has been political and financial turmoil, sparking selloffs in major stock markets and pushing prices for safe-haven assets like gold to fresh records.
Additionally, China, Japan and South Korea agreed on March 30 to seek deeper free trade ties in response to the threat of tariffs from the US government. The deal marks a significant move by the three countries following decades of US diplomacy to maintain close relationships with Japan and South Korea.
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (April 11) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
At the time of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$81,535.55 and up 3.5 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range has seen a low of US$78,669.30 and a high of U$82,999.65.
Bitcoin performance, April 11, 2025.
Chart via TradingView
Bitcoin found support following President Trump’s announcement of a 90-day pause on new tariffs, which has alleviated some investor concerns over a potential global recession.The pause has contributed to a broader market rebound, and improved investor sentiment.
Ethereum (ETH) is priced at US$1,548.41, an 4.0 percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,487.25 and a high of US$1,572.87.
Despite rattling financial markets and pushing Bitcoin nearly 20 percent lower since early February, President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff policy may paradoxically signal bullish momentum for crypto in the weeks ahead.
The trade war, which began in earnest on Feb. 1 with tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico, has escalated to include over 100 percent duties on a wide array of goods. While these moves initially stoked fears of stagflation, a toxic mix of low growth and high inflation, newer data suggests the market may have overreacted.
Inflation breakevens, the spread between traditional Treasury yields and TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities), have steadily declined since February. The five-year breakeven rate dropped from over 2.6 percent to 2.32 percent, and the 10-year fell to 2.19 percent, signaling that long-term inflation expectations are cooling.
Observers argue that the price spikes from tariffs may be a one-off adjustment, and without corresponding wage increases, consumers could reduce spending — ultimately dragging prices lower.
In a move cheered by the crypto industry, President Trump has signed into law a bill nullifying an IRS rule that controversially expanded the definition of “broker” to include decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms.
The regulation, finalized in the waning days of the Biden administration, would have required DeFi protocols — which operate without intermediaries — to report detailed user transaction data to the IRS, something crypto developers argued was both technically unfeasible and legally dubious.
With bipartisan support, both chambers of Congress passed the reversal using the Congressional Review Act. The decision is part of Trump’s broader pledge to position the US as a global crypto leader.
In his first week back in office, he created a federal working group on cryptocurrency regulation and signed an executive order to build a national Bitcoin reserve.
Trump’s administration has also repeatedly criticized the Biden-era IRS framework as stifling innovation and creating legal liabilities for developers.
New York could soon become one of the first US states to formally integrate cryptocurrency into government operations.
A newly filed bill, Assembly Bill A7788, introduced by Assemblymember Clyde Vanel, proposes to allow state agencies to accept crypto — including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash — for a wide range of payments such as taxes, fees, rent, and fines.
The proposed legislation would authorize agencies to enter agreements with crypto payment providers, ensuring that final settlements are made in fiat currency to shield state budgets from crypto market volatility.
More importantly, the bill stipulates that debts would not be considered legally settled until the state receives full fiat payment, preserving the integrity of public finance processes.
Agencies may also charge service fees to offset transaction costs and volatility hedging. While this is not the first time such a proposal has emerged — similar bills were introduced in previous legislative sessions but failed to advance — the current climate of growing mainstream adoption and Trump-era pro-crypto sentiment may improve its chances.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
World Copper Ltd. (‘World Copper’ or the ‘Company’; TSXV: WCU, OTCQB: WCUFF, FSE:7LY0) is pleased to provide an update on the proposed sale of its Zonia Copper project in Arizona (‘Zonia’ or the ‘Project’) to an arms length third party (the ‘Purchaser’) for CAD $26M in cash (the ‘Purchase Price’), payable in tranches, as previously announced on February 19, 2025 (the ‘Proposed Transaction’).
The Purchaser is a metals and mining investment manager with two decades of leadership in investing in and developing mining projects. Pursuant to the terms of the binding letter agreement among the Purchaser, World Copper and World Copper’s Arizona subsidiary (‘Subco’), the Purchaser has approximately 35 days remaining in the 90-day due diligence period, and the Company continues to work diligently with the Purchaser to assist with the completion of the Purchaser’s due diligence on the Project.
The payment of the CAD $26M cash Purchase Price shall be payable as to CAD $8M to World Copper at closing of the Proposed Transaction (the ‘Closing’), an additional instalment of CAD $8M on or before the 15-month anniversary of Closing, and a final instalment of CAD $10M on or before the 30-month anniversary of Closing, subject to the Purchaser’s right to accelerate the additional instalments. Until the payment of the Purchase Price is received in full, it is proposed that the shares of Subco will be held in escrow, and the Purchaser will grant World Copper a security interest over such shares and the Project. If the Purchaser fails to make any instalment payment for the Purchase Price, the shares of Subco will be returned to World Copper and the Purchaser will retain no interest in the Subco shares or the Project.
The Company recently held highly productive discussions and meetings with key representatives including the Buyers’ senior executives. These meetings have significantly reaffirmed the transaction progress, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to complete the transaction.
‘This transaction essentially provides our shareholders with a 260% premium to our current trading price. We are encouraged by the strong alignment and momentum between both parties,’ said Gordon Neal, President & CEO.
The Company will provide further updates as milestones are achieved and material developments occur.
The Company also reports that, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, Section 1.3(c) of Policy 4.2, and further to the at-the-market (‘ATM’) offering of shares made pursuant to the Prospectus Supplement dated July 17, 2024, World Copper issued 11,501,000 common shares and raised gross proceeds of $579,654 pursuant to ATM distributions during the period January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025. Bank of Montreal (‘BMO’) received fees of $17,389 during the period. We further confirm that no new Insider or Control Person (as defined in Policy 1.1), has been or will be created in connection with the ATM offering.
ABOUT WORLD COPPER LTD.
World Copper Ltd., headquartered in Vancouver, BC, is a Canadian resource company focused on the exploration and development of its copper porphyry projects: Escalones in Chile, and Zonia in Arizona. Two of these projects have estimated resources with significant soluble copper mineralization, and each has additional copper porphyry targets with exciting potential to expand the resource base.
Detailed information is available at World Copper’s website at www.worldcopperltd.com, and for general Company updates you may follow us on our social media pages via Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of
WORLD COPPER LTD.
‘Gordon Neal ‘
Gordon Neal
Chief Executive Officer and President
For further information, or to schedule a Zoom meeting with Management, please contact:
Gordon Neal or Michael Pound
Phone: 604-638-3287
E-mail: info@worldcopperltd.com
For all Investor Relations inquiries, please contact:
John Liviakis
Liviakis Financial Communications Inc.
Phone: 415-389-4670
For all Public Relations inquiries, please contact:
Nancy Thompson
Vorticom, Inc.
Office: 212-532-2208 | Mobile: 917-371-4053
Follow Us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorldCopperLtd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldCopperLtd
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldcopperltd
Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements with respect to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: ‘believes’, ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘plans’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘scheduled’ or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained copper and precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Company’s projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Company’s projects and the Company’s ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, requirements for additional capital, actual results of exploration activities, including on the Escalones Project and the Cristal Project, the reasonability of the economic assumptions at the basis of the results of the PEA for the Zonia Project, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, future prices of copper, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in the Private Placement, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals (including acceptance of the Private Placement by the TSXV), permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics, including the impact of an epidemic or pandemic on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as the risk factors described in the Company’s annual and quarterly management’s discussion and analysis and in other filings made by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.
Source
Click here to connect with World Copper Ltd. (TSXV: WCU, OTCQB: WCUFF, FSE:7LY0) to receive an Investor Presentation
Forte Minerals Corp. (‘Forte’ or the ‘Company’) ( CSE: CUAU ) ( OTCQB: FOMNF ) ( Frankfurt: 2OA ) is pleased to provide an update on its planned 1,500-metre diamond drill program at its 100%-owned Pucarini Gold Project (‘Pucarini’ or the ‘Project’) located in the Southern Peru Miocene High-Sulfidation Epithermal Gold Belt. The program is set to commence towards the end of Q2 2025 with preparations currently underway.
Figure 1 – High Sulphidation Epithermal Gold Targets from Gold Geochemistry and Surface Alteration Geology.
Figure 2 – Proposed Geological Model Along Section Line A-A’ in Figure 1(Looking NE) with High Sulphidation Epithermal Gold and Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum Targets.
Planned Drill Program Overview
The upcoming five-hole, 1,500-metre drill program will systematically test high-priority targets identified through geological mapping, geophysical surveys, and geochemical analysis.
Figure 3 – Proposed Drill Program – Gold Geochemistry Imposed on the 3D Inversions of IP Chargeability-Resistivity and Magnetic Susceptibility Geophysical Data.
The 1,000-hectare Pucarini claim hosts multiple gold-bearing advanced argillic alteration zones within a 3.6 x 1.8 km alteration footprint. Surface geochemistry has returned anomalous gold values coinciding with resistivity, chargeability, and magnetic anomalies, highlighting multiple untested targets for drilling. The main target indicated by the soil and rock gold anomaly spans 1.2 km x 700 m within this advanced argillic alteration zone. The coincidence of gold, molybdenum, and copper surface anomalies is supported by a coherent high chargeability anomaly (> 18 mV/V) from the 3D inversion of the IP geophysical survey data with dimensions of 1.5 km along strike x 600 m wide x 400 m deep; to detection limit depth of the IP geophysical survey, which remains open at depth.
The main target also coincides with a high magnetic susceptibility anomaly in the system’s center from the 3D inversion of the surface total magnetic intensity geophysical data, suggesting the roots of a deeper porphyry system. This program will mark the first-ever drill program on the property, unlocking its untapped potential.
Figure 4 – Proposed Drill Program – Molybdenum Geochemistry Imposed on the 3D Inversions of IP Chargeability-Resistivity and Magnetic Susceptibility Geophysical Data.
Surface rock fragments were analysed using the ASD TerraSpec® mineral spectrometer (‘ TerraSpec ‘) which is optimally designed to identify important hydrothermal alteration minerals commonly associated with high sulphidation epithermal gold and porphyry copper systems. Figure 5 provides a compilation of the TerraSpec data where higher-temperature hydrothermal alteration minerals (diaspore, illite, paragonitic illite, muscovitic illite, paragonite, muscovite, sericite, and alunite-Na) and lower-temperature alteration minerals (alunite, alunite-K, alunite-KNa, halloysite, kaolinite, smectite, montmorillonite, and dickite) correlate with high sulphidation advanced argillic alteration and anomalous gold in rock and soil geochemistry. The higher temperature hydrothermal alteration minerals also correlate with anomalous molybdenum in rock and soil geochemistry suggesting a phyllic alteration zone associated with a telescoped porphyry system.
Figure 5 – Gold and Molybdenum Rock and Soil Geochemistry Correlated with Gridded Low and High Temperature TerraSpec Data
CEO Patrick Elliott commented: ‘We are excited about the potential at Pucarini and are finalizing preparations for our inaugural drill program. Given the strong surface geochemistry, extensive alteration, and compelling geophysical signatures, we believe this project presents a promising opportunity for discovery. While waiting for the rainy season to conclude before mobilizing, our team is actively engaged in planning and ensuring all logistics are in place for a successful program.’
Figure 6 – Gold Rock Geochemistry, Vuggy Silica, Iron Oxides and Hydrothermal Alteration.
Furthermore, the Company has terminated the option agreement with Alta Copper Corp. originally entered into on June 26, 2017. Pursuant to the option agreement, Forte had an option to acquire a 60% interest in the Don Gregorio Cu-Au Porphyry Project located in the Department of Cajamarca, Northern Peru by making cash payments totaling $500,000 USD ($100,000 was paid by Forte) and performing 10,000 m of drilling within 3 years of acquiring drill permits. Due to insurmountable community issues, access to the property was never granted, and the Company was not able to perform the environmental studies needed to acquire the DIA drilling permits, including community approvals for the DIA drill permits. The project was returned in good standing to Alta Copper Corp’s Peruvian subsidiary Cobriza Metals. A termination agreement was executed April 8 th , 2025.
QUALIFIED PERSON AND NI 43-101 DISCLOSURE
Richard Osmond, P.Geo., is the Company’s Qualified Person (‘ Qualified Person ‘) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.
ABOUT Forte Minerals CORP
Forte Minerals Corp. is an exploration company with a strong portfolio of high-quality copper (‘ Cu ‘) and gold (‘ Au ‘) assets in Perú. Our strategic partnership with GlobeTrotters Resources Perú S.A.C. (‘ GTR ‘) grants us access to a comprehensive project pipeline, enabling us to target the most promising opportunities. This collaboration focuses on historically discovered, drill-ready targets, driving significant value in Cu and Au resource development.
On behalf of Forte Minerals CORP.
(signed) ‘Patrick Elliott’
Chief Executive Officer
For further information, please contact:
Forte Minerals Corp.
office: 604-983-8847
info@forteminerals.com
www.forteminerals.com
Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’), including those identified by the expressions ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘may’, ‘should’ and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors.
Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, including the effects of COVID-19. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the statements will prove to be accurate or that management’s expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the ‘CSE’) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8aa724a4-5df5-4511-ad56-1f339d8ef6db
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e3138532-bcd9-496c-8fd3-f6d4f86780f5
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/33b39d4d-7f89-439f-aff7-7aab874b5068
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a5f6eed-7ca5-4122-b0a9-c7e49191c8af
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f43b598b-bd40-4b64-b725-4d7d1c8b249d
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Bold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: BOL) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Bold’) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 6,000,000 working capital units (the ‘WC Units’) of the Company at a price of $0.05 per WC Unit for up to $300,000 and up to 10,000,000 Flow Through units (the ‘FT Units’) at a price of $0.06 per FT Unit for up to $600,000 both of which constitute the ‘Offering.’
The Offering
Each WC Unit comprises one (1) common share of the Company priced at $0.05 and one full common share purchase warrant (a ‘WC Warrant‘) entitling the holder to acquire one (1) common share at a price of $0.06 until two years (24 months) following the closing of the Offering. The proceeds from the WC Units will be used for general working capital, property maintenance, exploration and expenses of the offering.
Each FT Unit comprises one common share of the Company priced at $0.06 and one half (1/2) of a common share purchase warrant. One full common share purchase warrant (a ‘FT Warrant’) and $0.08 will acquire an additional common share until eighteen (18) months following the closing of the Offering. The proceeds from the sale of the FT Units will be used for exploration work that qualifies for Canadian Exploration Expenses (CEE).
In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay a finder’s fee to qualified finders in consideration for their assistance with the Offering. The finder’s fees may be payable in cash and/or securities of Bold at the discretion of the Company and in accordance with the rules of the TSXV.
All securities to be issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a statutory four (4) month and one (1) day hold period and regulatory approval.
A first closing of 600,000 FT Units and 1,760,000 WC Units for gross proceeds of $124,000.00 has been effected. The securities issued are subject to a hold period expiring on August 12, 2025. In order to allow for the completion of additional subscriptions to the Offering, a further closing is expected to occur when fully subscribed or on April 28, 2025.
Ring of Fire News
In other news, Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations, leaders of the Northern Road Link project, have recently expressed support for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s stated commitment to invest $1 billion in road infrastructure to the Ring of Fire and to improve the federal permitting process. The March 19th, 2025 article by Northern Road Link may be accessed at Northern Road Link News Update.
About Bold’s Koper Lake Project in the Ring of Fire
Bold has a vested 10% carried interest (to production) in the Black Horse Chromite NI-43-101 Inferred Resource of 85.9 Mt @ 34.5% Cr2O3 at a cutoff grade of 20% Cr2O3 (KWG/CACR Website 2023). Bold has a 40% working interest in all other metals found within the claims and is the All Other Metals’ Project Operator. Bold also owns a right of first refusal on a 1% Net Smelter Royalty covering all metals produced from the property. The Koper Lake Property is located adjacent to and contiguous with Wyloo Ring of Fire’s (formerly Noront Resources Ltd.) Blackbird Chromite deposit and within 300 m of the Eagles Nest Nickel-Copper Massive Sulphide Deposit in the permit stage.
The Ring of Fire access and infrastructure development continues within the environmental permitting process. The two closest First Nations are acting as proponents for the all-weather access and supply roads. Information about Bold’s Ring of Fire projects, the Ring of Fire infrastructure development and various critical mineral articles can be accessed on the Bold Critical and Battery Minerals page.
The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Coleman Robertson, B.Sc., P. Geo., V.P. Exploration of the Company and a qualified person (QP) for the purposes of NI 43-101
Bold Ventures management believes our suite of Battery, Critical and Precious Metals exploration projects are an ideal combination of exploration potential meeting future demand. Our target commodities are comprised of: Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd) and Chromium (Cr). The Critical Metals list and a description of the Provincial and Federal electrification plans are posted on the Bold website here.
About Bold Ventures Inc.
The Company explores for Precious, Battery and Critical Metals in Canada. Bold is exploring properties located in active gold and battery metals camps in the Thunder Bay and Wawa regions of Ontario. Bold also holds significant assets located within and around the emerging multi-metals district dubbed the Ring of Fire region, located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario.
For additional information about Bold Ventures and our projects please visit boldventuresinc.com or contact us at 416-864-1456 or email us at info@boldventuresinc.com.
| ‘Bruce A MacLachlan’ | ‘David B Graham’ |
| Bruce MacLachlan | David Graham |
| President and COO | CEO |
Direct line: (705) 266-0847
Email: bruce@boldventuresinc.com
Neither 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 release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘will’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to such risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION
IN THE UNITED STATES
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248148
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With Canada’s energy and critical minerals sectors at a crossroads, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has unveiled a sweeping plan to overhaul the country’s resource project approvals process, fast tracking 10 major projects and pledging over US$1 billion in funding to open up Ontario’s mineral-rich Ring of Fire region.
At a Monday (April 7) press conference held in Terrace, BC, Poilievre introduced his “One-and-Done” policy — a streamlined permitting system aimed at eliminating regulatory bottlenecks and cutting multi-year wait times, which he blames for stalling development and weakening Canada’s global economic position.
Under the proposal, a new Rapid Resource Project Office would act as a centralized hub to manage all regulatory approvals across the federal and provincial levels. Each project would be subject to a single application and environmental review, with decisions promised within a year and a target of six months.
“After the Lost Liberal decade, Canada is poorer, weaker, and more dependent on the US than ever before, especially as a market for our natural resources,” Poilievre said in a release. “My ‘One-and-Done’ rule will quickly and safely unleash Canada’s natural resources by rapidly approving the projects Canadians need more of now: mines, roads, LNG terminals, hydro projects, and nuclear power stations, so we can stand on our own two feet and stand up to the Americans.’
Among the most significant commitments is the LNG Canada Phase II expansion in Northern BC, which would double liquefied natural gas output from 14 million to 28 million metric tons annually.
The expansion has faced numerous delays due to emissions caps and concerns over power supply.
A Conservative government, Poilievre said, would repeal federal legislation he calls obstructive — notably Bill C-69, which he brands the “No Pipelines – No Development Law” — and lift the emissions cap that could impede Phase II.
Also at the top of Poilievre’s list is development of the Ring of Fire — a vast area in Northern Ontario rich in chromite, nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals essential for electric vehicles and defense technologies.
Three weeks ago, Poilievre pledged that a Conservative government would approve all federal permits for Ring of Fire projects within six months and commit C$1 billion over three years to build a long-awaited access road connecting mineral deposits and Indigenous communities to the provincial highway network.
“We could boost our economy with billions of dollars, allowing us to become less dependent on the Americans, while our allies overseas would no longer have to rely on Beijing for these metals, turning dollars for dictators into paychecks for our people,” Poilievre said at the time, emphasizing the importance of supply chain security.
He also said companies operating in the Ring of Fire would be allowed to redirect a portion of their federal corporate taxes directly to local Indigenous groups, a move he argues would foster economic reconciliation and local buy in.
In addition to LNG Canada Phase II and the Ring of Fire road, Poilievre named nine other projects that his government would prioritize for review and approval:
Each of these projects has faced lengthy delays under the current review framework, Poilievre said, and would be reviewed immediately to identify and remove administrative barriers.
At a campaign stop in Calgary, Alberta, Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney introduced the ‘One Project, One Review’ policy, which is intended to expedite approvals for major mining projects in Canada.
The initiative aims to eliminate redundant federal and provincial environmental assessments by recognizing provincial evaluations, thereby streamlining the permitting process. The policy is designed to accelerate the development of critical minerals, such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are essential for clean energy technologies.
By reducing regulatory delays, the government would seek to enhance Canada’s competitiveness in the global mining sector and support its transition to a sustainable energy future.
Carney told the crowd his goal is to make Canada an ‘energy superpower.’
“We are going to aggressively develop projects that are in the national interest in order to protect Canada’s energy security, diversify our trade, and enhance our long-term competitiveness — all while reducing emissions,” Carney explained in a written statement on Wednesday (April 9). “We can lead the energy transition while ensuring affordable energy at home and building the strongest economy in the G-7.”
He pledged to expand Canada’s critical mineral exploration tax credit to cover minerals used in defense, semiconductors, energy and cleantech. Carney also plans to broaden eligible exploration expenses to include technical studies and extend the clean manufacturing tax credit to support brownfield site development.
‘This is huge,” Pierre Gratton, CEO of the Mining Association of Canada, told Bloomberg. “It includes an awful lot of stuff that we’ve been advocating for for a while, and not getting.”
He added, “This could really help increase Canadian production of critical minerals in the short- to medium-term.”
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (April 9) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.
At the time of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$82,060.13 and up 7.2 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range has seen a low of US$76,842.48 and a high of US$82,665.31.
Bitcoin performance, April 9, 2025.
Chart via TradingView.
Bitcoin is back to trading near levels seen earlier in the week following an announcement from the White House that tariffs against most countries will be paused for 90 days, after which reciprocal tariffs will be lowered to 10 percent. China is an exception — tariffs against the country have been boosted immediately to 125 percent.
Ethereum (ETH) is priced at US$1,633.44, an 11.9 percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,459.15 and a high of US$1,661.40.
The US government’s Bitcoin holdings have dropped by nearly US$2 billion in value since April 2 — dubbed “Liberation Day” by President Donald Trump — following a steep market selloff triggered by tariff announcements.
According to Arkham Intelligence, the 198,012 BTC held by federal agencies declined in value from US$17.24 billion to US$15.21 billion in just under a week as Bitcoin slid from over US$87,000 to below US$77,000.
An executive order made by Trump in March established a strategic Bitcoin reserve sourced from seized assets, further tying federal coffers to price swings in the cryptocurrency. The losses come as the administration ramps up global economic pressure, testing the volatility of its newly created digital reserve.
The Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) held a hearing on Wednesday to examine why current regulations may not apply to digital asset activities, and to explore which of these activities trigger US securities laws. Members of the subcommittee also discussed how Congress can address challenges through legislative action that reduces legal uncertainty while encouraging innovation.
At the hearing, Rodrigo Seira, special counsel to law firm Cooley, told the subcommittee that current securities laws are not flexible enough to account for digital assets, citing a long list of crypto projects that have tried and failed to register their products with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“It is clear that the current securities regulatory framework is not a viable option to regulate crypto. It fails to achieve its stated policy goals,” Seira said in his opening remarks.
“(T)he idea that crypto projects can come in and register with the SEC is demonstrably false.”
Seira admitted that it is critical to apply federal regulations to crypto promoters; however, “virtually no crypto projects have successfully registered their tokens under federal securities laws and lived to tell the tale.”
Representative Bryan Steil, head of the subcommittee, praised the progress that lawmakers have made, mentioning last week’s passing of the STABLE Act in the House of Representatives, before directing the subcommittee to the next stage of the process, namely comprehensive digital asset market structure legislation.
Pakistan is turning to Bitcoin mining and AI data centers as a solution for its surplus electricity problem, aiming to repurpose excess power into revenue-generating infrastructure.
Bilal Bin Saqib, head of the country’s Crypto Council, told Reuters that mining sites will be selected based on regional energy overcapacity, with former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao advising on the initiative.
Despite regulatory ambiguity, Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries in global crypto adoption and boasts over 15 million users. The move also emphasizes youth blockchain upskilling and fostering innovation in fintech through regulatory sandboxes to boost exports and economic resilience.
Crypto exchange Kraken is teaming up with Mastercard (NYSE:MA) to roll out crypto debit cards across the UK and Europe, enabling users to spend digital assets at more than 150 million merchants.
The partnership builds on Kraken Pay, which allows seamless crypto-to-fiat transactions in over 300 currencies.
The new physical and digital cards — set to launch in the coming weeks — are aimed at expanding crypto’s real-world utility and normalizing digital asset payments.
Kraken CEO David Ripley views this as a critical step toward integrating crypto into everyday commerce, while Mastercard has underscored its commitment to innovating in digital finance and supporting blockchain initiatives.
Binance announced on Tuesday (April 8) its decision to delist 14 tokens — BADGER, BAL, BETA, CREAM, CTXC, ELF, FIRO, HARD, NULS, PROS, SNT, TROY, UFT and VIDT — from its platform on April 16.
The decision follows a comprehensive evaluation that included a review of project commitment and trading volume. The outcome also incorporated the results of Binance’s newly introduced ‘Vote to Delist’ mechanism, which allows users to vote on potentially underperforming tokens based on their BNB holdings.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Nordic Resources (NNL:AU) has announced Major Finland Gold Transaction
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There are 17 rare earth elements (REEs) in all — 15 lanthanides plus yttrium and scandium. It’s a fairly diverse group, with each rare earth mineral having different applications, pricing and available supply.
However, REEs are often placed in the same basket because they do not occur separately from each other in nature. Aside from that, separation is tricky — before modern methods were available, the process was too difficult and expensive to pursue.
Despite the market’s complexity, it’s worth taking a closer look at the different rare earths and their uses. As global governments take steps to meet energy transition goals, demand is expected to grow immensely, creating opportunities for investors with knowledge of the sector. Read on to learn more about this important group of critical metals.
Many rare earth investors will be familiar with the adage that rare earth minerals are not that rare — in fact, according to the US Geological Survey, most rare earths are more plentiful in the Earth’s crust than gold, silver and platinum.
As of 2024, there were more than 90 million metric tons of rare earth reserves. Rare earths can be found in carbonatite deposits, alkaline igneous systems, ion-adsorption clay deposits and monazite-xenotime-bearing placer deposits.
The key point to note is that even though REEs are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust worldwide, “minable concentrations are less common than for most other mineral commodities,” as per the US Geological Survey.
In terms of the availability of specific elements, lanthanum and cerium are relatively abundant in rare earths mineral deposits, while neodymium and praseodymium are much less so; meanwhile, erbium, ytterbium and lutetium are rare. Yttrium is as common as lanthanum and cerium in some types of deposits, but scandium is also very rare.
Rare earth minerals are usually divided into ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ varieties based on their atomic weight. While the concentration of different REEs varies within each given deposit, every deposit is usually dominated by either heavy or light rare earths, with some elements being much more abundant.
Rare earth elements and rare earth metals refer to the specific category of 17 elements on the periodic table, and rare earth minerals refers to the minerals, such as monazite, that contain these metals.
While some use the phrase rare earth minerals to refer to the metals themselves, rare earths are not minerals in the strict sense of the term. Due to their chemical properties, the 17 rare earth elements are classified as metals on the periodic table. However, rare earth elements are not found as pure metals in nature, but are rather locked up in minerals that are mined and refined to obtain the metals.
The term rare metals instead refers to a loosely defined group of resources, including tantalum, niobium, indium, zirconium and gallium. These metals are genuinely rare and valuable, but they are not members of the REE category. However, their important use in technologies such as microtechnologies, superconducting magnets, touch screens and new energy technologies can often lead them to be confused with rare earth elements.
As mentioned, although REEs are grouped together in the ground, their applications vary widely.
In the light rare earth category, cerium is used as a polishing agent for different types of glass, including LCD screens. Cerium is the most abundant rare earth, and is about as common in the Earth’s crust as copper.
Lanthanum is used as a catalyst for refining petroleum and to improve the alkali resistance of glass, especially in camera lenses. This light REE is also used to make the carbon arc lights used by the motion picture industry.
Europium is used in chemical formulations for LEDs, CRT displays and florescent bulbs.
As for heavy rare earths, yttrium is also used in LEDs and florescent bulbs. While erbium has several uses, it’s most commonly used to make glass optical fibers as it can amplify network signals.
As mentioned earlier, one of the REEs that is rare in terms of mine supply is scandium, a critical metal that is as strong as titanium, as light as aluminum and as hard as ceramic. There are a number of new applications emerging for scandium, including alloys for high-end sports equipment, as well as for automotive and airplane parts.
Rare earths are also critical to modern defense systems and military equipment such as radar, guidance systems, precision-guided munitions, lasers, satellites and night vision goggles.
Several rare earth metals are essential to rare earth magnets, which you can learn more about below.
Rare earth magnets are stronger in terms of weight or volume than any other magnet type. The REEs praseodymium, neodymium, samarium and dysprosium are often used in rare earth magnets, which are finding increasing uses, especially when space is limited.
Magnets made from neodymium, boron and iron, called neodymium magnets, are the strongest available, and these magnets can be found in the motors of wind turbines, as well as electric vehicles. Fellow rare earth elements dysprosium or terbium are sometimes added to neodymium magnets to improve their ability to operate at high temperatures.
Samarium-cobalt magnets are favored in military applications such as jet engines and missile systems because these magnets can operate at extremely high temperatures.
Praseodymium and dysprosium are also commonly used in industrial magnets in order to improve coercivity and resistance to corrosion.
One of the most promising markets for rare earth magnets is electric vehicle motors. However, it’s important to note that permanent neodymium magnets are not strictly necessary to the construction of any electric vehicle. In fact, Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model S main motor does not contain any type of magnet.
Applications for rare earth magnets are rapidly growing as new technologies evolve. However, lack of secure supply has driven some industries to seek out alternative technologies that don’t require REE magnets.
Still, rare earth magnets are not going away anytime soon. REEs are an important part of the technology that drives modern life. They can be found in smartphones, computers and televisions, and are an important component in green energy technologies such as wind turbines and many electric vehicle motors. Plus, their role in defense technology makes rare earth sources critical.
Understanding the different types of rare earths is the first step toward making an investment in this space. It’s also useful to understand rare earth supply and demand dynamics, from the top-producing countries to the nations with the top rare earth reserves. Being aware of the outlook for the rare earth industry can also help investors make the right moves.
For investors who decide they are interested in the longer-term potential for the rare earth metals sector, there are plenty of ways to invest in rare earths, including the biggest rare earth companies and the top rare earth stocks.
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.