The partial US government shutdown, now in its fourth day on Tuesday, has dampened investor sentiment as markets await the House's approval of a funding deal President Trump worked out with Democrats. The funding lapse may be short-lived, however, with the House possibly voting on the spending bill later today. The partial shutdown has already prompted the Bureau of Labor Statistics to delay the release of today’s Dec JOLTS job opening report and Friday’s Jan nonfarm payrolls report.Richmond Fed President T ...

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Market Overview - U.S. stock markets began 2026 positively, with major indexes like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite rising by 1.7%, 1.4%, and 1% respectively in January, while the Russell 2000 increased by over 5% [2] Investment Opportunities - Five stocks with favorable Zacks Rank and momentum for February include Amphenol Corp. (APH), Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX), Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA), Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE), and KLA Corp. (KLAC), all rated as Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) with a Momentum Score of A [3] Amphenol Corp. (APH) - Amphenol benefits from a diversified business model and holds a 33% market share in AI-powered data center interconnects, with strong demand for high-speed and power interconnect products [5][6] - Increased spending on defense technologies and strong demand across Commercial Air, Industrial, and IT Datacom sectors support top-line growth [6] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 24.1% and 30.2% respectively, with a 1.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [9] Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) - Seagate is experiencing strong demand driven by cloud and AI, with a focus on balancing performance and cost efficiency [10] - High-capacity nearline production is booked through 2026, ensuring strong demand visibility [11] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 24.6% and 52.6% respectively, with a 6.5% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [14] Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA) - Ulta's retail model combines mass, prestige, and luxury beauty, driving consistent customer engagement [15] - Strong loyalty programs and digital capabilities enhance customer relationships and repeat purchases [16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 6.1% and 11.4% respectively, with a slight improvement in earnings estimates [18] Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE) - Coeur Mining is a primary silver and gold producer with operations in the Americas, including key properties in Mexico, Bolivia, Nevada, and Alaska [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 30.2% and over 100% respectively, with a 10.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last month [20] KLA Corp. (KLAC) - KLA is benefiting from strong demand in the semiconductor industry, particularly in AI infrastructure and advanced packaging [21] - The company’s leadership in process control systems supports revenue growth amid increasing design complexity [22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 7.92% and 8.8% respectively, with a 1.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [23]

Core Insights - The January Global Mining Power Rankings highlighted Agnico Eagle, Hycroft Mining Holding, and Sidney Resources as leaders, driven by positive investor sentiment, stronger commodity prices, and effective execution in 2025 [1][2] Large-Cap Companies - Agnico Eagle secured first place with 9.2% of votes, benefiting from consistent production across multiple countries, disciplined cost control, and a strong third quarter performance, which helped the stock outperform global peers [4][5] - The company's shares increased by 89% in Toronto and approximately doubled in New York over the past year, supported by a strategic portfolio streamlining and investments in critical minerals [5][6] - Other notable large-cap companies included Rio Tinto and Newmont, both receiving 7.1% of votes, with Rio Tinto benefiting from firm iron ore prices and Newmont focusing on portfolio optimization [7] Small-Cap Companies - Hycroft Mining Holding emerged as the small-cap winner with 4.2% of votes, driven by renewed interest in large-scale gold and silver assets and progress on technical work at its Hycroft mine [8][10] - Snowline Gold Corp and Vizsla Silver Corp were notable mentions, with Snowline achieving a total return of about 209% in 2025 and Vizsla experiencing exploration success despite security challenges [11][12] Micro-Cap Companies - Sidney Resources Corp. topped the micro-cap category with 11.7% of votes, attributed to its expansion in the Warren Mining District and advancements in exploration and proprietary mining technology [13][15] - The company emphasized responsible growth and long-term value creation through disciplined exploration and ethical practices [16] - Other notable micro-cap companies included Xtra Energy and BrightRock Gold, focusing on critical minerals and exploration progress, respectively [17][18]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. dollar is experiencing significant volatility due to unpredictable government policies and concerns over Federal Reserve independence, leading to potential capital flight and a reassessment of U.S. assets by global investors [1]. Group 1: Dollar Volatility and Market Impact - The dollar has seen a decline of almost 2% in one week in January, reaching four-year lows, before rebounding sharply, which has caused turmoil in the metals market [1]. - Gold prices fell by 5% following the dollar's rebound, marking its largest daily drop since the early 1980s, while silver and copper also experienced significant declines from recent peaks [1]. - The global currency market, valued at nearly $10 trillion a day, has become more volatile, with the euro/dollar exchange rate volatility reaching its highest level since July [1]. Group 2: Investor Sentiment and Asset Management - Foreign investors hold approximately $70 trillion in U.S. assets, having more than doubled their holdings over the past decade, but are now reassessing their exposure due to the dollar's instability [1]. - A disorderly decline of the dollar, defined as a 5% monthly loss, could lead to a drastic sell-off of long-dated Treasuries and tighten U.S. financial conditions significantly [1]. - Investment managers are shifting towards a neutral stance, reducing exposure to stocks and gold, and employing options strategies to hedge against uncertainty in Treasury yields [1].

Core Insights - Ivanhoe Mines is in advanced discussions with Gécamines and Mercuria to supply the U.S. with critical minerals from the Kipushi Mine, which is known for its ultra-high-grade zinc-copper-lead-germanium-gallium production [1][5] - Project Vault, a $12 billion initiative, aims to build a strategic reserve of critical minerals in the U.S., combining $1.67 billion in private capital with a $10 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank [2][3] Group 1: Project Vault and Its Implications - Project Vault was officially launched on February 2, 2026, in the Oval Office, with key figures from the mining and manufacturing sectors in attendance, including Robert Friedland and Mary Barra [3][4] - The initiative is designed to enhance supply chain security for critical minerals, which are essential for various industries [2] Group 2: Kipushi Mine Production and Resources - The Kipushi Mine's 2026 production guidance is set at 240,000 to 290,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate, which also includes significant quantities of germanium and gallium [8] - The mine's 2018 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources are estimated at 11.78 million tonnes, with a zinc grade of 35.34%, and contain approximately 9.2 billion pounds of zinc and 24.4 million ounces of germanium [9] Group 3: Strategic Importance of Minerals - Germanium and gallium are identified as strategic metals used in various high-tech applications, including electronic devices and solar power arrays [10] - The demand for these critical minerals has surged due to advancements in technology, particularly in AI and big data centers [9]

Company Overview - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The news team operates from key finance and investing hubs including London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, and Perth [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The content includes insights across various sectors such as biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Utilization - Proactive is a forward-looking company that adopts technology enthusiastically to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

MONTREAL, Feb. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc. (TSXV: CDPR) (OTCMKTS: GPPRF) (BVL: CDPR) (the “Corporation”) announces the appointment of Ms. Lara Smith to its Board of Directors. An internationally recognized expert in the field of financial evaluation, project economics and risk assessment, Ms. Lara Smith has almost two decades of experience on a variety of global projects across the mining and industrial sectors. With a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Statistics and Economics ...

Core Viewpoint - Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) is recognized for its low forward PE ratios and has seen a significant stock price increase, leading to an upgraded price target by BofA Securities from $15 to $17 while maintaining a Buy rating [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Ratings - Vale's shares rose by 47% in 2025, outperforming its industry peers [1]. - BofA Securities has increased its price target for Vale S.A. to $17, reflecting confidence in the company's future performance [1]. Group 2: Operational Strengths - The firm highlighted Vale's solid operational execution, robust free cash flow (FCF) yields, and de-risking as key factors for its stock's outperformance in 2025 [2]. - Vale has regained its status as the world's leading iron ore miner, indicating strong market positioning [2]. Group 3: Future Outlook - BofA identified five reasons for Vale S.A. being a top pick for 2026: portfolio versatility, growth in iron ore and copper, improved cost and spending discipline, stronger cash generation compared to competitors, and advancements in operational de-risking [3]. - Vale S.A. operates in the production and sale of iron ore and iron ore pellets, essential for steelmaking, both in Brazil and internationally [3].

Group 1 - Texas Pacific Land Corp. (TPL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Bolt Data & Energy to develop large-scale data center campuses, contributing one-third of the $150 million capital raised for the project [3][4] - The data center campuses are expected to start with a capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW) and aim for a total capacity of 10 GW, with potential tenants including major tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon [4][5] - TPL's investment in this project positions it as a cornerstone investor in the AI data center market, highlighting the growing demand for AI processing capabilities [3][4] Group 2 - The Texas data center market is rapidly expanding, with several projects announced, including Project Matador by Fermi America with a planned capacity of 11 GW and Bolt's project with 10 GW [12] - Existing data centers are becoming technologically obsolete, creating additional demand for new facilities that can meet the evolving power and cooling requirements of advanced AI chips [13][16] - The rapid advancement in chip technology, particularly from NVIDIA, is driving the need for data centers that can handle increased power consumption and cooling demands [10][18] Group 3 - The water demand for data centers and power plants is significant, with a large-scale data center potentially requiring around 67 million barrels of water annually, which is more than the water needed for the associated power plant [92][93] - TPL's water resources are becoming increasingly valuable, with water revenues exceeding 35% of total revenues in 2024, reflecting a strong growth trajectory [101][104] - The company operates a capital-light business model, focusing on source water and saltwater disposal, which positions it favorably in the expanding data center ecosystem [102][104]