Core Insights - The 21st century is heavily reliant on rare earths and critical minerals, with China controlling a significant portion of the supply chain, which poses geopolitical risks [1] - The energy transition is essential for national security, and companies involved in extracting critical minerals are crucial for future infrastructure [2] Company Summaries - **Rio Tinto**: A diversified mining conglomerate with a market cap of $180 billion, producing iron ore, aluminum, copper, and diamonds. It has a profit margin of 19% and generates $18 billion in EBITDA annually. The company is developing the Rincon lithium project and has a forward P/E of 13x, with revenue of $53.7 billion in the last twelve months [3][4] - **Vale**: A Brazilian company with a market cap of $69 billion, producing nickel and copper alongside iron ore. It has a profit margin of 14% and a dividend yield of 17%. Q3 2025 revenue was $10.4 billion, up 7% year over year, with a net income of $2.68 billion [5][6] - **Lithium Americas**: Currently not producing, but developing the Thacker Pass lithium deposit in Nevada. The company has a market cap of $1.95 billion and reported $3.1 million in revenue with a net loss of $197.7 million in Q3 2025. The stock has increased by 103% over the past year [7][8] - **Albemarle**: The largest lithium producer globally, facing a significant drop in gross margins from 42% in 2022 to 1.6% in 2024. Despite a $1.2 billion loss, the company is showing signs of recovery with Q2 2025 gross margins at 14.8%. The market cap is $22 billion, and the stock has risen by 115% over the past year [9][10] - **MP Materials**: The only significant rare earth producer in North America, operating the Mountain Pass mine. Despite a revenue of $53.6 million and a net loss of $41.8 million in Q3 2025, the stock has surged by 225% over the past year, trading at 53x sales. Analysts rate it highly due to potential defense contracts [11][12][13] Investment Outlook - MP Materials offers high-risk, high-reward exposure to rare earths, while Albemarle is positioned for recovery in lithium prices. Lithium Americas represents a speculative investment in U.S. independence, whereas Vale and Rio Tinto provide diversified exposure with lower volatility and dividends [14]

Core Insights - Cascade Copper Corp. has announced positive assay results from its Centrefire Copper and Gold Project, indicating strong mineralization of copper, gold, and silver across a significant strike length [1][4][10] - Ongoing magnetic inversion modeling is revealing excellent priority target areas for further exploration, including mapping, sampling, and potential drilling [1][17] Exploration Results - The second batch of samples confirmed mineralization along a 10-kilometer strike, with notable results including 1.80% Cu and 0.776 g/t Au from specific samples [4][9][10] - The mineralization is associated with Banded Iron Formation (BIF) and Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) styles, suggesting a high potential for further discoveries [10][18] Magnetic Inversion Modeling - The modeling has identified disrupted magnetic trends at both near-surface and depth levels, indicating potential mineralized zones similar to the Main Gossan Zone [4][15] - The integration of historical and new magnetic data has outlined several large zones of interest, extending up to 10 kilometers along strike from the Main Gossan Zone [17][18] Next Steps - The company plans to delineate drill targets based on the recent results and has submitted a drill permit, with approval expected in Q1 2026 [18] - An extension of the VTEM survey is planned to enhance geological interpretation in areas with limited outcrop exposure [18]

USA Rare Earth signed a non-binding agreement with the Commerce Department to receive $1.6 billion in funding to accelerate US production of key rare-earth elements https://t.co/D5W5eW9zAM ...

Gold's recent rally has lifted mining company stocks with it. ...

What could break China’s grip on rare earths? The Economist’s business affairs editor, @r_shanbhogue, explores the alternatives: https://t.co/VfFpdyJVWFVideo supported by @Mishcon_de_Reya https://t.co/zWnrFI97zj ...

Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2026) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC) (TRADEGATE: 9SC) (OTCQB: MNXXF) ("Manganese X" or the "Company") supports the formation of G7-anchored buyer's clubs for critical minerals, a strategy aimed at securing allied, ethical and resilient supply chains for the global energy transition presented by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos. The G7 buyer's clubs' approach is designed to aggregate demand and s ...

Core Viewpoint - Fury Gold Mines Limited has appointed Mr. Phillips S. Baker Jr. as an independent director to its Board of Directors, bringing extensive mining experience and leadership to the company [1][4]. Group 1: Appointment Details - Mr. Phillips S. Baker Jr. has nearly four decades of mining experience, previously serving as CEO of Hecla Mining Company from 2003 until his retirement in 2024 [2]. - Under Mr. Baker's leadership, Hecla became the largest silver producer in the U.S. and Canada, focusing on a strategic portfolio of long-lived assets [2]. - Mr. Baker has held various leadership roles, including Chair of the National Mining Association from 2017 to 2020, and has received multiple industry awards [3]. Group 2: Company Strategy and Outlook - The Chair of Fury Gold Mines, Brian Christie, expressed confidence in Mr. Baker's ability to contribute to the company's strategic goals, particularly in advancing the Eau Claire project and enhancing shareholder value [4]. - Mr. Baker highlighted the potential of Fury's assets in the James Bay region, indicating they are well-positioned for production, either through a stand-alone mill or custom milling [4]. - Fury Gold Mines is well-funded, supported by a strong cash position and its investment in Dolly Varden Silver Corp, which holds 12.9% of issued shares [5].

UK's key equity index FTSE 100 was up marginally a few minutes before noon on Monday with stocks turning in a mixed performance. Mining stocks found support as prices of gold and silver moved up sharply, while shares from consumer sector were under some selling pressure.The mood in the market was cautious amid fears of a U.S. government shutdown, and concerns about trade after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that his administration would impose 100 tariffs on Canada if it strikes a trade deal with China ...

Government Shutdown and Funding Package - The odds of a government shutdown by January 31 surged to 79% on Kalshi and 80% on Polymarket, significantly increasing from 11.5% and 9% respectively [4][5] - Senate Democrats have vowed to block a $1.2 trillion funding package that includes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [3][5] - The situation escalated following the shooting of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, by federal immigration agents, galvanizing Democratic opposition to the funding measure [4] Trade Relations and Agreements - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada has "no intention" of pursuing a free-trade agreement with China, emphasizing stronger safeguards in various sectors [6][7] - Carney confirmed that Canada respects its obligations under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement and will notify the other parties before pursuing any trade deal [7] Gold Market Dynamics - Gold prices have surpassed $5,000 per ounce, reaching $5,095, marking a significant increase of 2.1% and building on an 8.5% gain from the previous week [8] - The decline of the U.S. dollar, with the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index falling 1.6%, has made precious metals more affordable, contributing to the rise in gold prices [8] - Silver also reached a record high, increasing by 6.5% to $109 [8] Investment Opportunities - USA Rare Earth shares jumped by 51% following reports of a $1.6 billion investment from the Trump administration for a 10% equity stake, marking the largest U.S. government commitment to the rare earth sector to date [11]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a mixed performance, with the Dow Jones index falling over 250 points during the session and closing lower by approximately 285 points at 49,098.71 [1] - The Dow Jones lost 0.5% last week, while the S&P 500 fell about 0.4%, closing at 6,915.61, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.28% to reach 23,501.24 [1] Analyst Ratings and Insights - Benzinga's Analyst Ratings API provides high-quality stock ratings through partnerships with major sell-side banks, offering insights that can serve as trading indicators for outperforming the stock market [3] - Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings, which can be sorted by analyst accuracy [4] Top Analyst Picks - **MKS Inc (NASDAQ:MKSI)**: Cantor Fitzgerald maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $200 to $300, indicating a potential upside of around 38% [5] - **HP Inc (NYSE:HPQ)**: Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating and reduced the price target from $25 to $22, suggesting a potential upside of about 13% [5] - **Bristow Group Inc (NYSE:VTOL)**: Jones Trading initiated coverage with a Buy rating [5] - **Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC)**: Stifel maintained a Hold rating and increased the price target from $35 to $42, expecting a decline of around 6% [5] - **Freeport-McMoRan Inc (NYSE:FCX)**: UBS maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $60 to $70, anticipating an increase of about 11% [5][6]