Core Viewpoint - Cove Kaz Capital Group has entered into agreements with Tau-Ken Samruk National Mining Company to advance the development of tungsten deposits in Kazakhstan, marking a significant milestone for the venture [1][2]. Group 1: Project Details - Cove Kaz Capital Group will hold a 70% ownership interest in Severniy Katpar, while Tau-Ken Samruk will own the remaining 30% [2]. - Development costs for the project are estimated at $1.1 billion, with production expected to contribute approximately 15% of current global tungsten output [2]. - The feasibility studies indicate mineral resources compliant with JORC standards, containing 1.4 million tonnes of tungsten trioxide, which represents around 70% of Kazakhstan's estimated tungsten resources [2]. Group 2: Production Plans - Planned production output includes 5,000 tonnes per annum from Northern Katpar and 7,000 tonnes per annum from Upper Kairakty [3]. - The deposits are located in the Karaganda mining district, known for its strong infrastructure [3]. Group 3: Strategic Importance - Cove Kaz is progressing towards a definitive feasibility study that will include establishing refining capacities in Kazakhstan to produce ammonium paratungstate and other tungsten compounds [4]. - The project is supported by the Export-Import Bank of the US and the US International Development Finance Corporation, which are providing financing of up to $900 million and $700 million, respectively [5]. Group 4: Economic Impact - The project is expected to create approximately 2,000 jobs during the construction and operation phases, contributing to foreign direct investment and long-term economic growth [6].

Group 1 - Optima Health PLC is acquiring PAM Healthcare for approximately £100 million in cash, enhancing its scale in the UK and Ireland market [1] - Helium One Global Ltd reported a six-fold increase in flow rates at its ITW-1 well in Tanzania's southern Rukwa basin, initiating a formal farmout process for development [1] Group 2 - Buccaneer Energy Plc announced that output has doubled in an Organic Oil Recovery pilot at its Pine Mills field in Texas, with plans to expand the recovery process across the field later this year [2] - Rome Resources Plc has extended high-grade tin mineralization at its Kalayi project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with fresh drilling revealing multi-meter intercepts and two rigs currently operating on site [2] Group 3 - Pantheon Resources PLC has commenced seismic reprocessing at its Kodiak project in Alaska and is preparing for a potential Theta West-2 appraisal well, pending funding [3] - Valereum PLC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Integra Foundation regarding tokenized real estate assets, aiming to enhance issuance, distribution, and secondary market liquidity [3]

Group 1: Market Overview - The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.4% shortly after the opening bell, with major bourses and most sectors in positive territory [1] - In London, the FTSE 100 was 0.15% higher, Germany's DAX advanced 0.34%, and France's CAC 40 gained 0.1% [1] Group 2: Geopolitical Context - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged a "deep divide" in the transatlantic partnership, warning that the post-World War Two rules-based order "no longer exists" [2] - The Munich Security Conference highlighted the need for greater defense spending to enhance Europe's strategic autonomy, including discussions of a common nuclear shield [2] Group 3: Corporate Earnings - Mining and metals multinational BHP Group will update investors on its finances on Monday [3] - Companies such as Airbus, Nestlé, and Renault are scheduled to report their results later this week [3] Group 4: Economic Indicators - Japan's Nikkei advanced 0.2%, with economic growth in the country at 0.2% annualized for the December quarter, lagging behind the expected 1.6% [4]

The S&P/ASX 200 began the week on a positive note as Australian shares edged up with modest gains on Monday (February 16, 2026). Gains in technology, gold and healthcare stocks countered weakness in miners and financials, with the half-year earnings season swinging into full gear. The S&P/ASX 200 closed up Monday, gaining 19.50 points or 0.22% to 8,937.10, after last week's 2.4% rally that marked its strongest weekly performance in ten months. According to the ASX website, the top-performing stocks in the ...

Group 1: Metals Sector - Jefferies analysts raised price targets for gold and copper miners, indicating a bullish outlook on precious and base metals [2][9] - Newmont's target increased to $158 from $136 and Barrick Gold's target raised to $66 from $60 [2] - Mid-tier players like Alamos Gold and Endeavour Mining also saw target increases to $61 and C$112 respectively [2] Group 2: Travel Sector - Jefferies cut its price target for Expedia from $285 to $240, reflecting concerns over potential headwinds in the digital booking space [3][9] - The firm remains optimistic about the aviation recovery in North America, raising Air Canada's target to C$22 from C$18 [3] Group 3: Economic Data and Currency - Japan's Q4 2025 GDP growth was below analyst forecasts, leading to a dovish outlook for the Bank of Japan and pushing the EUR/JPY exchange rate above 181.50 [4][9] - Industrial Production remained flat at -0.1% month-over-month in December, but Capacity Utilization rebounded by 1.3% [5] Group 4: Corporate Developments - ByteDance is enhancing safeguards against unauthorized use of IP and likenesses in response to concerns over its Seedance 2.0 project [6][9] - Jefferies raised its target for Moderna to $37 from $30, indicating a stabilizing outlook for the biotech company [7] - TD Cowen analysts upgraded Magna International's price forecast from $58 to $75, signaling confidence in the automotive supplier's growth trajectory for 2026 [7]

Lots of ASX 200 companies report this week, and earnings season volatility could intensify as expectations are tested.Last week reminded us how quickly sentiment can turn. AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) tumbled 30% after its update. REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) shares opened down 18% on results day before clawing back some ground. CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) fell 11% following its interim numbers, adding to an already tough 12 months.As we covered in our recent earnings watchlist, reporting season is rarely about headlines alone. I ...

Group 1 - Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) is considered one of the best undervalued European stocks to buy, with an upgrade from Hold to Buy by Erste Group due to its superior return on equity compared to competitors [1] - Analyst Hans Engel predicts that Rio Tinto's sales will grow more strongly in 2026, with significant contributions from copper production in Mongolia [1] - The firm anticipates that silver production will increase alongside copper production, enhancing the company's growth prospects [2] Group 2 - Rio Tinto has met its 2025 production targets for all commodities, achieving copper output of 883,000 tonnes, which exceeds the upper end of its projection range of 875,000 tonnes [2] - The company reported record quarterly iron ore output in Western Australia's Pilbara region during the fourth quarter, with a 4% increase compared to the same period in 2024 [2] - Rio Tinto's operations are segmented into Copper, Iron Ore, Aluminium, and Minerals [3]

Core Viewpoint - USA Rare Earth is positioning itself to address the critical supply chain gap in the U.S. for permanent magnets, which are primarily produced overseas, particularly in China [1][3]. Company Overview - USA Rare Earth aims to mine rare-earth elements and manufacture finished magnets, reducing U.S. dependence on foreign exports [3][4]. - The company controls the Round Top Deposit in Texas, which contains 15 of the 17 rare-earth elements, and plans to commission the mine by 2028 [6]. Market Potential - There is a surging demand for permanent magnets, which could significantly benefit USA Rare Earth if successful in its operations [4]. - The company is developing a magnet manufacturing facility in Oklahoma, projected to produce 5,000 metric tons of sintered permanent magnets annually starting in 2026 [7]. Financial Considerations - For an investment of $10,000 to grow into $1 million, USA Rare Earth stock would need to increase 100-fold, resulting in a valuation exceeding $424 billion [9]. - The company is currently 100% reliant on external funding and has no history of commercial operations, which poses financial risks [8]. Strategic Initiatives - USA Rare Earth operates a research lab in Colorado to pilot rare-earth separation techniques, potentially saving millions in operational costs [7]. - The integration of mining, research, and manufacturing could position USA Rare Earth as one of the few fully integrated rare-earth companies outside of China [8].

Core Viewpoint - MP Materials and USA Rare Earth are both focused on establishing a supply chain for rare-earth metals and magnets in the U.S., with differing levels of risk and development stages impacting potential investor returns [1]. Company Overview MP Materials - MP Materials operates the Mountain Pass mine in California, the only active rare-earth metals mine in the U.S., and has a magnet factory in Fort Worth, Texas, with plans for a second facility to increase domestic magnet output to an estimated 10,000 metric tons [3]. - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $10 billion, with a current stock price of $58.03 and a 52-week range of $18.64 to $100.25 [4]. - MP Materials received a $400 million investment from the Department of Defense in July 2025, which includes an agreement to purchase 100% of future production from its second magnet factory [6]. USA Rare Earth - USA Rare Earth controls the Round Top deposit, one of the largest heavy rare-earth element deposits in the U.S., but is currently pre-revenue and aims for commercial production by 2028 [5]. - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $2.9 billion, with a current stock price of $19.43 and a 52-week range of $5.56 to $43.98 [6]. - In early 2026, USA Rare Earth received a $1.6 billion funding package from the Trump administration to develop its mine and build its first magnet factory in Oklahoma [5]. Market Context - Both companies address the critical issue of U.S. reliance on China for rare-earth metals and magnets, but they are at different stages of development, with MP Materials generating revenue while USA Rare Earth has potential for future upside if it successfully opens its first mine [7]. - The success of both companies is speculative and hinges on the continued demand for domestically produced permanent magnets [8].

Company Overview - Proactive is a financial news publisher that provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company operates with a team of experienced and qualified news journalists across 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 delivered by the company 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 recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company employs automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all content is edited and authored by humans to maintain best practices in content production and search engine optimization [5]