The copper market has been jolted by disruptions at Indonesia’s Grasberg mine, with ripple effects spreading across supply forecasts and price expectations. With the mine operator declaring force majeure, Goldman Sachs slashed its mine supply outlook for 2025 and 2026, turning a projected surplus into deficit territory.“A prolonged disruption at the Grasberg mine could drive copper prices even higher, while intensifying supply challenges for smelters already facing feedstock shortages,” analysts at ING said ...

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is experiencing a notable pullback, with major indexes extending losses for a third consecutive session, driven by profit-taking and concerns over equity valuations [1][2] - Afternoon trading reflects a cautious mood as market participants digest economic data and corporate news [1] Market Indexes Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down approximately 0.2%, or 76 points, closing at 46,121.28 [2] - The S&P 500 (SPX) slipped between 0.4% and 0.7%, heading towards its longest slide in over a month, after falling to 6,637.97 [2] - The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) traded 0.3% to 0.7% lower, following a dip to 22,497.86 [2] Sector Performance - Mixed performance across sectors, with profit-taking evident in the technology segment; seven out of 11 sectors in the S&P 500 ended in negative territory [3] - The Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) advanced 1.3%, while the Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) and Real Estate Select Sector SPDR (XLRE) saw declines of 1.2% and 1%, respectively [3] Copper Market Impact - A surge in copper prices is noted after Freeport-McMoRan declared force majeure on supplies from its Grasberg mine due to a fatal mudslide, causing copper prices to rise by 1.1% [4] - Shares of copper producers like Anglo-American and Glencore saw gains due to this supply disruption [4] Homebuilders Performance - Homebuilders like Lennar (LEN) and D.R. Horton (DHI) are experiencing gains, attributed to a 20.5% surge in U.S. sales of new homes in August 2025, reaching an annual rate of 800,000 units [5] Upcoming Economic Data - Key U.S. inflation data (PCE) is anticipated, which could significantly influence market direction [6] - Weekly jobless claims data and the latest GDP estimate are also set to be released, providing insights into the labor market and economic health [6] Federal Reserve Commentary - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's remarks on equity prices being "fairly highly valued" and a measured approach to interest rate cuts continue to weigh on investor sentiment [7] - Stronger-than-expected economic reports may reduce the urgency for aggressive rate reductions [7] Corporate Earnings Reports - Notable companies like Costco Wholesale (COST), Accenture (ACN), and CarMax (KMX) are scheduled to report fiscal fourth-quarter results, which will be closely watched for insights into consumer spending [8][9] Individual Stock Movements - Technology stocks, particularly in the AI space, are facing profit-taking; Nvidia (NVDA) shares fell 0.8% and Oracle (ORCL) fell 1.7% due to valuation concerns [10] - Intel (INTC) shares rose over 5% on news of seeking investment from Apple, while IBM (IBM) rose more than 5% following positive trial results using its quantum computing technology [11] - Starbucks (SBUX) shares slipped almost 1% due to layoffs and store closures, while CarMax (KMX) tumbled 19.8% after reporting weaker-than-expected profits [12] - Lithium Americas (LAC) soared 95.8% on reports of potential U.S. government investment in its lithium project [13] Market Environment - The market is navigating a complex environment characterized by a resilient economy, cautious Federal Reserve, and re-evaluation of high-growth stock valuations [14]

CEO.CA's Inside the Boardroom: Super Copper CEO on Chile's Copper Boom, the Castilla Project and BitcoinSeptember 25, 2025 1:19 PM EDT | Source: CEO.CA Technologies Ltd.Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 25, 2025) - CEO.CA ("CEO.CA"), the leading investor social network in junior resource and venture stocks, shares exclusive updates with CEOs of junior mining explorers.Founded in 2012, CEO.CA, a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLabs, Inc., is one of the most popular free financial we ...

Core Insights - The artificial intelligence sector is showing signs of a potential significant correction, with AI stocks, particularly the "Magnificent Seven," making lower highs since December 2024, diverging from broader market performance [1][20] - Investors are increasingly seeking hedging strategies and alternative opportunities as AI unicorn valuations reach $2.7 trillion despite limited revenue and profits [2][24] Defensive Hedging Instruments - Volatility ETFs, such as ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (UVXY), provide leveraged exposure to short-term VIX futures, effective during market stress, with current VIX hedging premiums at 2.2% for a one-year put option on the S&P 500 [3] - ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (VIXY) offers non-leveraged volatility exposure, historically delivering exceptional returns during market crises [4] - Inverse ETFs like ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) deliver three times the inverse daily performance of the Nasdaq-100, surging 30% during recent market volatility [5][6] Treasury Bonds and TIPS - Long-duration Treasury bonds, particularly iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT), benefit from flight-to-quality dynamics during equity corrections, averaging 2.1% gains during significant VIX spikes [7] - Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) offer protection against inflation and downside protection during market stress [8] Defensive Sector ETFs - Consumer staples and utilities sectors provide stability during market corrections, with Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) offering exposure to recession-resistant companies [9] - iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU) provides exposure to the utilities sector, known for stable demand and consistent dividend yields [10] Sectors Primed to Soar During an AI Correction - The energy sector may benefit from AI's power demands, with companies like Constellation Energy anticipating 10% annual earnings growth through 2028 driven by AI demand [11] - Basic materials, particularly copper, are essential for AI infrastructure, with significant demand growth expected [12][13] - Small-cap value stocks are historically positioned to outperform during corrections in expensive growth stocks, with the Russell 2000 Value index showing strong relative performance [14][15] Geographic Diversification - Emerging market equities provide low correlation to US tech stocks, offering diversification benefits during AI corrections, with ETFs like Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) gaining popularity [16][17] Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - REITs offer portfolio protection during stock market corrections due to low correlation with equities and consistent dividend income [18][19] Current Market Dynamics and Timing Considerations - Hedge fund positioning indicates increasing caution toward US stocks, with major funds adjusting portfolios amid the AI boom [20] - Market technicals suggest the S&P 500 must hold above 5860–5885 to avoid confirming a drop into the 5600 region, which could trigger a larger correction [21]

Group 1: Supply Forecast Changes - Goldman Sachs has lowered its global copper supply forecast for 2025 and 2026 due to disruptions at the Grasberg mine in Indonesia [1] - The bank estimates a potential loss of 525,000 metric tons of copper supply, leading to a reduction of 160,000 tons in the second half of 2025 and 200,000 tons in 2026 [3][9] - Grasberg's production is expected to decline by 250,000 to 260,000 tons in 2025 and by 270,000 tons in 2026 [4] Group 2: Impact on Freeport McMoRan - Freeport McMoRan has declared force majeure and halted mining activities to prioritize the rescue of trapped workers, with two bodies recovered so far [2] - The company anticipates very low production in the fourth quarter of 2025, with operations potentially restarting next year [5][6] - Grasberg accounts for half of Freeport's proven reserves and 70% of its projected copper and gold output through 2029, leading to a share price drop of over 21% since the update [7] Group 3: Market Implications - The disruption has shifted the global copper market from a projected surplus of 105,000 tons in 2025 to a deficit of 55,500 tons, while 2026 is expected to remain in a small surplus [8] - Goldman Sachs revised its estimates for global mine production growth for 2025 to 0.2%, down from 0.8%, and for 2026 to 1.9%, down from 2.2% [9] - The supply risks support Goldman's bullish outlook on copper prices, reaffirming a target of $10,750 per ton by 2027 [9] Group 4: Price Forecasts - Goldman sees upside risks to the December 2025 LME price forecast of $9,700 per ton, with potential prices in the $10,200-$10,500 range [10] - Current contracts are priced at $10,336 per ton, reflecting a 3% increase on the day [10]

Housing Market Overview - Existing home sales reached 4 million, surpassing expectations of 3.96 million, indicating a slight consolidation in the data over recent months [2] - New home sales have seen a significant upward adjustment, with mortgage applications stabilizing as mortgage rates have decreased, providing a boost to home building stocks [3][4] - The current housing market is not experiencing deceleration in sales, and there is potential for buyers to re-enter the market to absorb excess inventory [5] Interest Rates and Economic Dynamics - The 10-year yield has been rising, which may impact home purchases, especially as it approaches 4.3% [8] - There is a seasonal slowdown to consider, but lower interest rates in the long term could lead to increased input prices for home builders, particularly for lumber and copper [8] Commodity Prices and Supply Chain Issues - Recent supply disruptions in copper production, particularly from Freeport McMoRan, are expected to increase pricing pressure in the refined copper market [11] - The shortage of copper ore is concerning for home builders, as recycled copper supplies are also stretched [12] - Companies with domestic copper mining operations, such as Southern Copper and Rio Tinto, may benefit from the current supply constraints [13][14] Economic Indicators - The GDP revision showed a surprising increase to 3.8% from a previous 3.3%, indicating stronger economic growth than anticipated [16] - Initial jobless claims were better than expected, suggesting resilience in the labor market, which may influence future Federal Reserve rate decisions [19][20]

Core Viewpoint - Kodiak Copper Corp. successfully closed an oversubscribed bought deal financing, raising a total of $8,050,120, which will support the advancement of its MPD Project in British Columbia and other corporate purposes [1][3][8]. Financing Details - The financing included the issuance of 6,050,000 charity flow-through units at $1.00 each, generating gross proceeds of $6,050,000, and 3,226,000 non-flow-through units at $0.62 each, generating gross proceeds of $2,000,120 [6][8]. - Each warrant from the offering allows the holder to purchase one non-flow-through common share at an exercise price of $0.95 for 24 months [2][3]. Shareholder Participation - Konwave AG, Kodiak's largest shareholder, participated in the financing, maintaining its equity ownership [2]. - Insiders subscribed for a total of 79,000 HD Units, contributing $48,980 to the gross proceeds [7]. Use of Proceeds - Net proceeds from the HD Units will be allocated for working capital, general corporate purposes, and advancing the Company's project in Arizona [8]. - The gross proceeds from the charity flow-through units will be used to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses on the Company's project in British Columbia [8]. Future Outlook - The Company anticipates announcing its maiden resource estimate for the MPD Project later this year, which is expected to be a significant catalyst for growth [3][10]. - Kodiak Copper is focused on expanding its known mineralized zones and exploring untested targets within the MPD Project [10].

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. miner has declared force majeure on contracted supplies from its Grasberg mine in Indonesia due to a fatal mudslide accident, leading to an extension of price gains in the market [1] Group 1 - The declaration of force majeure indicates that the company is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations due to unforeseen circumstances [1] - The Grasberg mine is a significant source of supply, and disruptions here can impact global commodity prices [1] - The fatal mudslide accident raises concerns about operational safety and potential regulatory scrutiny for the company [1]

Core Viewpoint - Gunnison Copper Corp. has successfully completed its first copper sales from the Johnson Camp Mine, marking a significant milestone in revenue generation and operational progress for the company [2][3][4]. Company Overview - Gunnison Copper Corp. operates the Johnson Camp Mine in southeast Arizona, with a production capacity of up to 25 million pounds of copper cathode annually [2][5]. - The company is focused on developing multiple copper assets within the Cochise Mining District, which contains 12 known deposits [7]. First Copper Sales - On September 15, 2025, Gunnison completed its inaugural copper sales, selling 225,371 pounds of finished copper cathode at an average price of US$4.64 per pound, generating gross proceeds of approximately US$1,046,194 [3][4]. - The sales represent the first revenue from the Johnson Camp Mine and highlight the company's rapid progress since achieving first copper production [4][6]. Production and Technology - The Johnson Camp Mine commenced production in the last week of August 2025, ahead of schedule, and has maintained an excellent health and safety record [5][6]. - The copper produced is fully sourced from the United States, contributing to American energy independence and supporting domestic supply chains [5][6]. - The company plans to utilize Nuton® technology for future copper production, which is expected to enhance recovery rates and increase domestic copper production [6][15]. Economic Assessment - The Gunnison Copper Project has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of over 831.6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31%, and a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) indicates a net present value (NPV) of US$1.3 billion and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 20.9% [8].

Group 1 - Freeport's copper production from the Grasberg mine in Indonesia will be affected until 2026 due to a tragic accident [1] - Citi analyst Alexander Hacking provided the estimates regarding the impact on production [1]