Benchmark three-month copper futures climbed to as high as US$13,965/t on the LME, taking year-to-date gains to around 12%. All other major base metals followed higher, with aluminium hitting a three-year high.
Gold is hovering around US$5,550 and silver near US$120…
Too many strong performers to mention.
What’s everyone’s favourite pick right now?
Across Markets…
The Australian sharemarket was lower on Thursday, led by interest-rate-sensitive stocks and a sell-off in miners after reports that US President Donald Trump may scrap a rare-earths price floor.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index was down by 39.10 points, or by 0.4 per cent to 8885.80 at 2.03pm AEDT, with 10 of the 11 sectors off. Losses came as the Australian dollar bounced to a fresh three-year high against the US dollar, rising to US70.39¢.
Shares in rare earths producers have crashed after unconfirmed reports in the United States suggested the Trump administration may abandon plans to set price floors for rare earths. Lynas dived 8.2 per cent and Iluka Resources by 14.3 per cent, as the latter also flagged a $565 million pre-tax hit in its financial year for the year to December 31.
Gold miners were boosted as the precious metal yet again set a record as it climbed above $US5500 an ounce. Northern Star firmed 1.3 per cent, Evolution Mining 1 per cent and Newmont 1.6 per cent.
The prospect of an interest rate rise next week by the Reserve Bank of Australia weighed on stocks that generally don’t enjoy rate rising cycles such as tech and retailers. JB Hi-Fi fell 2.2 per cent, Harvey Norman 1.4 per cent and WiseTech Global 1.8 per cent.
Energy was the sole sector higher, boosted by a 2.2 per cent climb in Whitehaven Coal as it reported stronger production and sales in the December quarter, supported by improving metallurgical coal prices and lower unit costs. Uranium miners rallied as prices surged past $US100 a pound for the first time in two years. Deep Yellow soared 11 per cent and Boss Energy 2.8 per cent.
Source: AFR
Barton Gold Advances Activities at Tunkillia, Challenger, and Tarcoola Projects
Barton Gold (ASX: BGD) (OTCQB: BGDFF) has reported another quarter of advanced activities at its Tunkillia, Challenger, and Tarcoola gold projects in South Australia.
The company completed 18,900 metres of ++Phase 1 upgrade drilling++ at Tunkillia’s high-value Stage 1 and Stage 2 open pits, ahead of schedule and under budget.
The high-grade assays infill the central S1 and northern S1 and S2 pit areas, which have been modelled to produce $1.3 billion in operating cash and payback development by a multiple of three in 2.5 years at assumed prices of $5,000 per ounce gold and $50/oz silver.
A definitive feasibility study is underway for Stage 1 of the brownfields Challenger project utilising the Central Gawler mill, with Barton targeting the start of works by year-end.
TSF1 Tailings Plant
Barton completed geotechnical drilling the historical TSF1 tailings storage facility during the period to facilitate fine-grinding test work and mine design.
The program included five sonic drill holes to recover materials for lab testing, 24 holes for cone penetration and further laboratory testing, and three holes each for vein shear and bulk density testing.
The company also conducted a high-resolution gravity survey over the northern part of the project area targeting near-mine repeats of high-grade quartz vein lodes.
SRK Consulting will now complete mining studies for the project, while Tetra Tech Coffey will manage the design of a storage lift for the operation and GPA Engineering will support engineering, metallurgy, and process plant design.
Tolmer Diamond Drilling
Diamond drilling in December at the Tolmer prospect confirmed the local structural model analogous to the eastern portion of historical Tarcoola goldfield, which hosts Barton’s Perseverance mine.
Barton drilled three holes for 595.3m in the ‘eastern gold zone’ to identify structural controls and guide future targeting.
Planning is underway for follow-up drilling in the ‘western silver zone’ discovered in March where multiple rounds of drilling identified broad, shallow mineralisation and delivered a best assay of 6m at 4,747 grams per tonne silver from 46m including 1m at 17,600g/t.
The company raised $15 million in a share placement and a further $660,000 in a share purchase plan during the quarter to advance its work programs.
Barton had $17.2m in cash at end December, and a further $4.5m in interest-bearing deposits posted as security for rehabilitation performance bond guarantee facilities.
Source: SmallCaps
Company: Fin Resources Ltd (ASX:FIN)
Sector: Gold/Mining
Deal Type: Placement
Latest Entry Price: $0.0065
Today’s Price Change: $0.012 -14.29%
Company: Locksley Resources Ltd (ASX:LKY)
Sector: REE & Antimony/Mining
Deal Type: Placement
Latest Entry Price: $0.04
Today’s Price Change: $0.185 -2.63%
Company: CuFe Ltd (ASX:CUF)
Sector: Copper/Mining
Deal Type: Placement
Latest Entry Price: $0.016 with 1:2 option, strike $0.025
Today’s Price Change: $0.045 +7.14%
Company: Tasman Resources Ltd (ASX:TAS)
Sector: Gold/Silver/Mining
Deal Type: Placement
Latest Entry Price: $0.0125 with 1:2 option, strike $0.02
Today’s Price Change: $0.049 +2.08%
Company: Tambourah Metals Ltd (ASX:TMB)
Sector: Gold/Mining
Deal Type: Placement
Latest Entry Price: $0.04
Today’s Price Change: $0.055 -1.79%
Company: Biotron Ltd (ASX:BIT)
Sector: Biotech
Deal Type: Placement
Latest Entry Price: $0.003 with 1:2 option, strike $0.02
Today’s Price Change: $0.004 Unchanged
Company: Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM)
Sector: REE
Deal Type: Placement
Latest Entry Price: $0.015
Today’s Price Change: $0.025 -3.85%
Company: Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:NEU)
Sector: Biotech
Deal Type: On-market purchase
Latest Entry Price: $1.20 – $1.50
Today’s Price Change: $16.85 -1.81%
Company: Dimerix Ltd (ASX:DXB)
Sector: Biotech
Deal Type: Rights Issue
Raise Amount: $800,000
Latest Entry Price: $0.08 with 1:1 option, strike $0.126
Today’s Price Change: $0.510 -3.77%
Sector: Blockchain
Deal Type: Placement
Raise Amount: $1M
Latest Entry Price: $0.02 with 1:1 option $0.08 strike
Today’s Price Change: $0.028 +3.70%
Company: Critica Limited (ASX:CRI)
Sector: REE
Deal Type: Placement
Raise Amount: $1M
Latest Entry Price: $0.0075 with a 1:1 CRIO
Today’s Price Change: $0.032 -5.88%
Sector: Lithium
Deal Type: IPO
Raise Amount: $8.6M
Latest Entry Price: $0.09 with 1:2 PL3O
Today’s Price Change: $0.11 Unchanged
Sector: Cybersecurity & AI
Deal Type: Placement
Raise Amount: $1.7M
Latest Entry Price: $0.01 with 1:3 option $0.02 strike
Today’s Price Change: $0.008 Unchanged
Sector: Gold/Mining
Deal Type: Placement
Raise Amount: $2.3M
Latest Entry Price: $0.026 with 1:2 option $0.032 strike
Today’s Price Change: $0.049 Unchanged
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