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MP Materials, US Department of Defense Strike Saudi Rare Earths Refinery Deal

MP Materials (NYSE:MP) and the US Department of Defense have entered into a joint venture with Saudi Arabia’s Maaden to build a rare earths refinery in the Kingdom, marking the first major project under a new US-Saudi critical minerals cooperation framework signed in Washington this week.

The binding agreement gives both the US and MP a collective 49 percent stake in the refinery.

Maaden will hold not less than 51 percent, and the refinery will be built in Saudi Arabia, where it will process feedstock from both local deposits and international sources. Once operational, it will produce separated light and heavy rare earth oxides for customers in the US, Saudi Arabia and allied countries.

Rare earths are essential for the production of weapons systems, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and high-performance electronics. Secure supply has become increasingly important due to China’s sector dominance.

James Litinsky, MP’s founder and CEO, said the company views the partnership as an extension of its strategic role in Washington’s efforts to diversify global supply chains. “We are honored that the U.S. government asked MP to partner on a project of this magnitude and importance for America and its allies,” he said.

Maaden CEO Bob Wilt said the project fits squarely within the Kingdom’s national mining and industrial strategy.

“This JV is a significant step forward in the development of this important global sector, underpinned by the support of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources,” Wilt noted.

The joint venture was negotiated under a critical minerals framework signed by senior US and Saudi officials this week. The document is intended to formalize cooperation on rare earths, battery metals and other strategic inputs.

For Washington, the initiative reflects an effort to reshape supply chains away from geopolitical competitors. For Riyadh, it supports a long-term plan to leverage energy resources and expand its footprint in high-tech materials markets.

Financially, the deal is structured to be light in capital for MP.

The Department of Defense will fund the entire US contribution to the venture on a non-recourse basis, allowing MP to deploy technical expertise in separation and refining without taking on debt tied to the refinery’s construction.

The Saudi venture also connects to MP’s growing public-private alignment with the US defense sector.

In July, the company and the Department of Defense announced a multibillion-dollar partnership to accelerate the buildout of a domestic rare earth magnet supply chain. Under the partnership, MP is also constructing a second magnet manufacturing facility known as the 10X Facility, which is expected to begin commissioning in 2028.

When completed, MP’s total US magnet output will reach roughly 10,000 metric tons annually.

Beyond government partnerships, MP has also moved into large-scale commercial magnet supply. Also in July, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and MP announced a US$500 million long-term agreement that will supply Apple with magnets manufactured in the US using 100 percent recycled rare earths feedstock.

Under the arrangement, MP will expand its Fort Worth, Texas, Independence factory to produce components for hundreds of millions of Apple devices starting in 2027. Apple and MP spent nearly five years jointly developing recycling techniques to meet the company’s performance and design requirements.

MP will add a dedicated recycling line at Mountain Pass to support commercial scale as magnet production ramps.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Crypto Market Update: Bitcoin Price Logs Weakest Month Since 2022

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (November 21) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$83,590.70, down by 10.4 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$81,868.75 and its highest was US$91,971.75.

Bitcoin price performance, November 21, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin’s slide continues as it heads for its worst month since the 2022 crypto crash.

The largest cryptocurrency fell and touched US$81,000 on Friday before recovering to around US$84,166, extending a monthly decline of about 23 percent that marks its heaviest drop since June 2022.

Despite pro-crypto messaging from the Trump administration and a year of strong institutional adoption, Bitcoin has now fallen more than 30 percent from its early-October record high.

The downturn accelerated following the massive October 10 liquidation event that erased US$19 billion in leveraged positions and wiped roughly US$1.5 trillion from the combined value of all cryptocurrencies.

Institutional flows reflect the same caution. US-listed Bitcoin ETFs have recorded a record US$3.79 billion in outflows this month, surpassing February’s previous high, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone seeing more than US$2 billion in redemptions.

In total, about US$1.2 trillion has been wiped from crypto markets over the past six weeks, according to CoinGecko data.

Ether (ETH) was at US$2,736.63, down 11.2 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest price on Friday was US$2,675.70 and its highest was US$3,033.20.

Altcoin price update

  • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.94, down by 12.2 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest price of the period was US$1.86 and its highest was US$2.13.
  • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$128, down by 13 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$123.30 and its highest was US$141.97.

Fear and Greed Index snapshot

As of Friday, CMC’s Crypto Fear & Greed Index has plunged to 11, firmly in “extreme fear” and its lowest level since late 2022.

Reports of large-scale whale liquidations have added to the uncertainty, amplifying pressure across an already fragile market. Further, traders brace for potential Federal Reserve inaction on rate cuts. CME’s FedWatch now shows only 37.6 percent expecting a 25-basis-point cut in December, while more than 62 percent anticipate no change, a reversal from near-even odds just a week ago.

Prediction market Polymarket reflects the same trend, pricing a 63 percent chance of no move after sentiment flipped late Tuesday.

CMC Crypto Fear and Greed Index, Bitcoin price and Bitcoin volume.

Chart via CoinMarketCap.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bitcoin logs weakest month since 2022

Bitcoin is heading for its steepest monthly decline since the wave of corporate failures that hit the crypto sector in 2022, with the token sliding below US$82,000 on Friday.

Its November losses have now reached roughly 25 percent, reversing much of the momentum that carried prices to record highs in early October.

Overall, data from CoinGecko shows the total crypto market value dipping back under US$3 trillion as Ether and mid-cap tokens recorded similar double-digit declines.

Analysts link the downturn to cascading liquidations that began on October 10, when nearly US$19 billion in leveraged bets were wiped out in a single session. Selling pressure intensified again this week with a two-day liquidation tally topping US$2 billion, according to CoinGlass.

Long-dormant whale activity has added to uncertainty after a wallet holding Bitcoin since 2011 unloaded more than US$1.3 billion in late October.

S&P stocks shed US$2.7 trillion

A sharp pullback across US equities sparked another wave of risk-off trading in crypto, sending Bitcoin to its weakest level in seven months.

The S&P 500’s nearly 4 percent decline on Thursday erased more than US$2.7 trillion in market value, according to Bloomberg calculations, overshadowing an earlier bounce driven by enthusiasm around AI-linked earnings.

Crypto assets fell in tandem, with Bitcoin briefly revisiting the US$85,000 range and total liquidations surpassing US$800 million for the day.

Coinbase rolls out Ether-backed loans

Coinbase has launched a new lending feature that allows eligible US users to borrow up to US$1 million in USDC by using Ether as collateral.

The product is integrated with the Morpho protocol on Base, though users interact with it entirely through Coinbase’s interface. Borrowers keep exposure to ETH’s price movements while accessing liquidity without having to sell their holdings.

The company says the service is available across most US states, with the exception of New York due to regulatory requirements.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Tech Weekly: NVIDIA Earnings Impress, Bezos Launches AI Startup

We also break down next week’s catalysts to watch to help you prepare for the week ahead.

In this article:

    This week’s tech sector performance

    This week, the stock market displayed a mixed performance amid ongoing uncertainty about artificial intelligence (AI) company valuations and policy decisions from the US Federal Reserve.

    On Monday (November 17), both the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) and the Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) fell below their 50 day moving averages for the first time since late April, a significant technical breakdown. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) also closed below this important threshold for the first time since October 10.

    Tuesday (November 18) saw continued volatility and some attempted stabilization attempts, but market participants remained cautious. Heavyweight tech and chip stocks were down ahead of NVIDIA’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) earnings call on Wednesday (November 19), but a global relief rally followed the firm’s upbeat earnings report and raised Q4 guidance. However, enthusiasm was short-lived, with markets pulling back on midday Thursday (November 20) after September US jobs numbers temporarily dashed hopes of a December interest rate cut from the Fed.

    Comments made at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum further contributed to market caution, with Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) President John Waldron warning that markets could still face further declines.

    In contrast, former Barclays (NYSE:BCS) CEO Bob Diamond offered a more optimistic view, calling the recent selloff a “healthy correction” rather than the start of a bear market.

    Later on Thursday and into Friday (November 21), the odds of a December rate cut rose again as Fed officials, including San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly and New York Fed President John Williams, signaled concerns about slowing economic growth and a cooling labor market. Markets surged on the back of the news to end the trading day sharply higher after a volatile week that saw all three major indexes post losses.

    This renewed optimism quelled some selling pressure going into the weekend, although investor caution around AI valuations and Fed policy remains prevalent.

    3 tech stocks moving markets this week

    1. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)

    NVIDIA reported stronger-than-expected Q3 earnings with revenue of US$57 billion, beating expectations of US$55 billion, and earnings per share of US$1.30 versus the predicted US$1.25. The company also offered an optimistic Q4 revenue forecast of US$65 billion, surpassing analysts’ expectations of US$62 billion.

    However, he also noted that the sustainability of this growth depends on continued investor confidence.

    He warned that, similar to past tech bubbles like the dot-com era, AI companies today may be overvalued, with expectations currently outpacing reality. Murillo cautioned that while AI is making breakthroughs, its practical applications are still limited, and there is risk that an AI bubble could burst, impacting even large tech giants.

    Despite recent share price declines amid debates of an AI bubble, CEO Jensen Huang reassured investors, stating, “There’s been a lot of talk about an AI bubble. From our vantage point, we see something very different.”

    After a midweek gain of over 5 percent due to its earnings report, NVIDIA posted a weekly loss of 3.79 percent.

    2. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

    Alphabet rallied in early trading on Monday after Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A,NYSE:BRK,B) disclosed a US$4.3 billion stake in the company and reduced its stake in Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). Alphabet then released Gemini 3 on Tuesday. The updated AI model has enhanced reasoning, coding and multimedia, alongside Antigravity, a Gemini-powered coding platform, and Nano Banana Pro, its latest detailed image-generation model.

    The week’s momentum was further fueled by reports that Google is on the verge of securing a US$1 billion annual deal with Apple to power the next-generation Siri, underscoring its dominant AI position across rival platforms.

    The company ended the week 4.86 percent higher.

    3. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

    Apple was the steady pillar of tech resilience this week.

    With no obvious catalyst driving its price action this week, the company has maintained gains and investor interest following the strong earnings and product launches from earlier weeks.

    Consistency speaks to Apple’s enduring market strength and the confidence investors have in its long-term growth trajectory as it integrates AI across its product and services ecosystem.

    The company posted a modest advance of 0.99 percent for the week.

    NVIDIA, Alphabet and Apple performance, November 17 to 21, 2025.

    Chart via Google Finance.

    Top tech news of the week

              Tech ETF performance

              Tech exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track baskets of major tech stocks, meaning their performance helps investors gauge the overall performance of the niches they cover.

              This week, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) declined by 5.28 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) saw a weekly loss of 5.14 percent.

              The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) decreased by 4.63 percent.

              Tech news to watch next week

              With fewer major tech earnings reports expected next week, market focus will likely shift to key economic data releases. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) will deliver its Q3 results on November 25.

              Analysts predict earnings of around US$2.48 per share, representing approximately 15 percent year-on-year growth. Revenue estimates hover around US$27.29 billion, suggesting nearly 12 percent annual growth.

              Important economic reports include the US Consumer Confidence Index on November 25 and the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index on November 26.

              US markets will close on November 27 for Thanksgiving and have a shortened session on November 28. November 28 will also bring Canada’s Q3 GDP release.

              Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

              This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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              Editor’s Picks: Gold and Silver Prices Stay Steady, Barrick Faces Breakup Rumors

              The gold price remained fairly steady this week after last week’s brief uptick, largely trading between US$4,000 and US$4,100 per ounce.

              As is often the case, its sister metal silver was more volatile, jumping briefly above the US$52 per ounce level midway through the period.

              The precious metals faced some pressure on Thursday (November 20) after the release of September US jobs data. The Department of Labor report, which was delayed due to the government shutdown, came in stronger than expected, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 119,000 for the month — more than double the gain of 50,000 estimated by analysts.

              The jobs numbers have dampened expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its December meeting, as have minutes from the central bank’s latest meeting.

              ‘This (data) essentially confirms what the Fed discussed in October — a slowing yet stable jobs market. A December rate cut now appears increasingly unlikely’ — Peter Grant, Zaner Metals

              The minutes highlight the divide among Fed officials, who were not all in favor of October’s rate reduction. They also state that while ‘several participants’ believe lowering rates could be appropriate next month, ‘many’ want to leave rates unchanged.

              Fed Chair Jerome Powell said previously that a December cut isn’t a ‘foregone conclusion.’

              Aside from that, the minutes indicate broad approval for the end of quantitative tightening (QT) on December 1. Adrian Day of Adrian Day Asset Management highlighted the end of QT in our recent interview, saying that he sees a potential transition to quantitative easing ahead.

              Bullet briefing — Barrick faces turmoil, MP does Saudi refinery deal

              Barrick Mining faces more turmoil

              Turmoil continued for gold and copper producer Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) this week after a series of company developments made headlines.

              First, Reuters reported that Barrick’s board is considering splitting the company into two different entities: one focused on North America, and the other on Africa and Asia.

              Four sources familiar with the firm’s thinking told the news outlet that Barrick’s African assets could also be sold outright, as could the Pakistan-based Reko Diq mine — essentially undoing Barrick’s 2019 merger with Africa-focused Randgold Resources.

              Barrick didn’t respond to requests for comment, but later in the week news hit that activist investor firm Elliott Investment Management has taken a ‘large stake’ in Barrick.

              Sources told the Financial Times that Elliott is now among Barrick’s 10 top investors, meaning its stake is worth at least US$700 million. Elliott hasn’t shared information about what it would like Barrick to do, but is reportedly ‘encouraged’ by the idea of breaking the company in two.

              Barrick has faced numerous headwinds recently, including the seizure of a key gold mine in Mali and the departure of CEO Mark Bristow. Bristow, who took the helm at Barrick after it joined forces with Randgold, abruptly stepped down in September after facing criticism.

              Although shares of Barrick are up close to 130 percent year-to-date, the company has underperformed compared to its peers in the gold space.

              Bristow is not the only person to leave Barrick lately — the last piece of news about the company this week is that two senior managers and a top executive have departed. CEO Mark Hill announced the changes in a memo seen by Bloomberg, saying the company is looking to evolve its operating model so that it’s in line with strategic priorities.

              MP’s latest rare earths deal

              Rare earths miner MP Materials (NYSE:MP) and the US Department of Defense are teaming up on a strategic joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden).

              The deal, which will see the three entities collaborate on a Saudi Arabian rare earths refinery, comes after the US and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic framework on securing critical supply chains. The refinery will process rare earths feedstock from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, and will be able to produce both light and heavy rare earths.

              Under the Trump administration, the US has ramped up efforts to break China’s rare earths dominance, boosting relationship with MP Materials in the process — in July, the defense department agreed to buy US$400 million worth of preferred stock in the company, a move that MP called a ‘transformational public-private partnership.’

              Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

              This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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              Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Sigma Lithium Flips the Switch with 64 Percent Gain

              Statistics Canada released October’s consumer price index (CPI) data on Monday (November 17). The figures showed that inflation softened during the month, falling to 2.2 percent year-over-year from 2.4 percent in September.

              The agency cited a 9.4 percent decrease in gasoline prices as the main contributing factor, following a 4.1 percent decrease the previous month. However, less gasoline prices, CPI actually rose by 2.6 percent in both October and September.

              Statistics Canada also noted slowing grocery prices, reporting a 3.4 percent year-over-year increase in October compared to the 4 percent recorded in September. Additionally, October saw the largest month-on-month drop in grocery prices since September 2020 at 0.6 percent.

              On Thursday (November 20), StatsCan released September’s monthly mineral production survey.

              The data shows that gold production declined month-over-month, while copper and silver output increased.

              Gold production fell to 16,978 kilograms compared to 17,651 kilograms in August. Meanwhile, copper production rose significantly to 36.23 million kilograms from 30.47 million, and silver production jumped to 28,384 kilograms from 24,801 kilograms.

              Shipments, however, increased broadly in September. Gold shipments rose to 19,025 kilograms from 16,289 kilograms in August, and silver shipments jumped to 33,296 kilograms from 25,636. Copper shipments increased the most, spiking to 44.04 million kilograms from 27 million.

              For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news round-up.

              Markets and commodities react

              Canadian equity markets were in retreat this week.

              The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) was flat, gaining just 0.19 percent over the week to close Friday (November 21) at 30,160.65.

              Meanwhile, the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) lost 1.3 percent to 854.76. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) had another bad week, dropping 3.44 percent to close at 145.59.

              The gold price fell 0.43 percent to US$4,065.32 by 4:00 p.m. EST Friday. The silver price fared worse, dropping 1.07 percent to US$50.02.

              Meanwhile, in base metals, the COMEX copper price ended the week down 0.3 at US$5.07 per pound.

              The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) dropped 2.01 percent to end Friday at 546.41.

              Top Canadian mining stocks this week

              How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

              Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

              Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

              1. Sigma Lithium (TSXV:SGML)

              ​Weekly gain: 64.01 percent
              Market cap: C$1.48 billion
              Share price: C$13.67

              Sigma Lithium is a lithium mining company advancing its Grota do Cirilo operation in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

              Operations at the Greentech processing facility were commissioned in 2023, with an annual nameplate capacity of 270,000 metric tons of lithium oxide concentrate. The company is currently constructing its Phase 2 expansion that will more than double that capacity.

              In its third-quarter results released on November 14, Sigma reported that net revenue increased to US$28.5 million, 69 percent higher than Q2 and 36 percent higher than the same period in 2024.

              The report also stated that Sigma upgraded its mining operations in Q3 with the goal of reaching the plant’s full capacity of 300,000 metric tons in 2026. As part of this process, Sigma is doubling its mining fleet. The company expects production to resume by the end of November, with full operational capacity expected in Q1 2026.

              The report boosted Sigma’s share price, as did climbing lithium prices, which have gained more than 10 percent in November and more than 50 percent since bottoming out in June.​

              2. Li-FT Power (TSXV:LIFT)

              ​Weekly gain: 52.63 percent
              Market cap: C$201.24 million
              Share price: C$4.35

              Li-FT is a lithium exploration company advancing its flagship Yellowknife lithium project in the Northwest Territories, Canada.

              The 1,843 hectare property, located east of the city of Yellowknife, hosts 13 spodumene-bearing pegmatites. Its current combined inferred resource estimate across eight of those pegmatites stands at 50.38 million metric tons of ore grading 1 percent lithium oxide for 1.25 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

              The company also owns the Cali project in the Northwest Territories, and the Pontax, Rupert and Moyenne projects in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada.

              On Tuesday, Li-FT filed a final base shelf prospectus to replace the previous prospectus that expired on October 21. The company said the new filing will permit it to offer common shares, warrants, subscription receipts, units or debt securities up to a total of C$200 million until it expires in December 2027.

              Li-FT also said it was changing its financial year-end from November 30 to December 31 to better align with the timing of the company’s financial reporting and with its peers.

              The company is another lithium stock benefiting significantly from rising lithium prices this week.​

              3. LithiumBank Resources (TSXV:LBNK)

              Weekly gain: 45.59 percent
              Market cap: C$32.45 billion
              Share price: C$0.50

              LithiumBank is a lithium exploration and development company advancing its Boardwalk and Park Place lithium brine projects in Alberta, Canada, both of which overlap with the Leduc and Swan Hills formations.

              Boardwalk consists of 395,369 acres of brine-hosted licenses about 85 kilometers east of Grand Prairie in an area with a history of hydrocarbon extraction.

              According to Boardwalk’s mineral resource estimate from a February 2025 technical report, the project hosts a measured resource of 1.67 million metric tons of LCE with an average grade of 81.2 milligrams per liter (mg/L), and an indicated resource of 3.52 million metric tons of LCE with an average grade of 81.8 mg/L, all within the Leduc formation.

              Park Place, located 50 kilometers south of Boardwalk, consists of 1.4 million acres of licenses. A June 2024 mineral resource estimate demonstrated an inferred resource of 10.08 million metric tons LCE with a grade of 79.4 mg/L at the Leduc aquifer, and 11.6 million metric tons of LCE with an average grade of 80.9 mg/l at the Swan Hills aquifer.

              The most recent news from the company came on Thursday, when LithiumBank reported that, following its award of C$3.9 million in funding for certain milestones through Alberta’s Emission Reduction Act in July, it is working to acquire a second past-producing well at Boardwalk.

              LithiumBank is focused on commencing near-term production at Boardwalk using modular direct lithium extraction plants, which the company said it believes this second well can likely support.

              Rising lithium prices also helped support LithiumBank this week.

              4. Abcourt Mines (TSXV:ABI)

              Weekly gain: 41.67 percent
              Market cap: C$72.45 million
              Share price: C$0.085

              Abcourt Mines is a gold mining and development company focused on ramping up operations at its Sleeping Giant gold mine in the Abitibi region of Québec.

              Sleeping Giant hosts an underground mine along with a mill capable of processing 750 metric tons per day. The property consists of four mining leases covering an area of 458 hectares and 69 claims.

              A July 2023 preliminary economic assessment demonstrates an after-tax net present value of US$77.5 million with an internal rate of return of 33.3 percent over a payback period of 2.2 years.

              The company has been working on restarting mining operations at the site throughout 2025, and achieved its first gold pour in September.

              The most recent news came on November 11, when the company released an update from Sleeping Giant. In the announcement, the company stated that in October it had milled 2,563 metric tons of ore with a head grade of 6 grams per metric ton of gold, producing 475 ounces of gold.

              Abcourt also said progress at the site was continuing with one stope in production and two more under development. Additionally, civil engineering was underway at the tailings facilities in preparation for a planned lift in summer 2026.

              5. Pure Energy Minerals (TSXV:PE)

              Weekly gain: 38.1 percent
              Market cap: C$10.19 million
              Share price: C$0.29

              Pure Energy is a lithium exploration company that owns a 3 percent net smelter return (NSR) on the Clayton Valley lithium brine project in Nevada, United States.

              The project consists of 950 placer claims covering 9,450 hectares. In September 2024, Pure Energy announced that its project partner, SLB, had completed an earn-in to acquire a 100 percent stake in Clayton Valley, leaving Pure Energy with its NSR.

              Through 2023 and into 2024, SLB completed construction of a direct lithium extraction pilot plant at the site, with the first lithium production occurring in March 2024.

              This Thursday, Pure Energy released its management discussion and analysis for the quarter ending September 30, 2025. In the report, the company restated its position in Clayton Valley, noting that it is receiving annual payments of US$400,000 from SLB until commercial production, after which time it will receive its 3 percent NSR on minerals produced.

              Pure Energy’s share price increased significantly this week alongside rising lithium prices.

              FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

              What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

              The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

              How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

              As of May 2025, there were 1,565 companies listed on the TSXV, 910 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,899 companies, with 181 of those being mining companies.

              Together, the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

              How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

              There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

              The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

              These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

              How do you trade on the TSXV?

              Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

              Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

              Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

              Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

              This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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              U.S. added 119,000 jobs in September, but there are signs of a weakening labor market

              The United States added 119,000 jobs in September, a stronger-than-expected figure and a sign that the economy was adding jobs at a healthy clip before government shutdown.

              But the details of the report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics paint a more mixed picture, that of a labor market that has recently begun to look wobblier amid high-profile layoff announcements from a host of blue-chip companies.

              September’s employment gains were concentrated in health care, food and drinking establishments, and social assistance. Manufacturing shed 6,000 jobs, continuing a trend in a sector the Trump administration has touted as a key target of its economic policies. Transportation and warehousing also lost 25,300 jobs.

              The unemployment rate climbed from 4.3% to 4.4% in September, though the pickup was due in part to an increase in the labor force, which the BLS said gained 450,000 new potential workers.

              The pace of wage growth slowed.

              Thursday’s report was originally supposed to be released Oct. 3, but it was shelved because of the government shutdown. Jobs data collected for October will be released Dec. 16 as part of the full report covering November, the BLS said Wednesday.

              The absence of official economic reports over the past six weeks has made it difficult to accurately assess the current state of the jobs market.

              But data from private and alternative sources has painted a worrisome portrait amid signs of softening consumption among many households and stubborn price increases.

              Over the past few weeks, Amazon, General Motors, IBM, Microsoft, Paramount, Target and UPS have announced plans to eliminate tens of thousands of jobs. Their ranks were joined Thursday by Verizon, which announced the start of layoffs affecting 13,000, according to an internal memo.

              About 39,000 workers received layoff notices in October, according to data tracked by the Cleveland Federal Reserve — a number last seen in May and before that only during times of crisis.

              A separate report released this month by the research firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas counted 153,000 job cuts announced in October, though some analysts give less weight to its data over methodology questions.

              Whatever the exact total, those who do find themselves without work are now experiencing an average unemployment spell of 24.5 weeks — nearly six months. That’s the worst reading since November 2017.

              Tiffany Price, South Florida general manager for Job News USA, a job listings service, said many companies face budget cuts and have effectively frozen hiring. And what companies are still hiring are offering lower compensation rates that more experienced workers may have trouble accepting.

              The number of employers who attended a recent Job News jobs fair at Amerant Bank Arena in Broward County, Florida, was nearly half the figure of a year ago, while attendance among workers held steady at about 2,000 potential applicants, Price said.

              Still, many organizations report difficulties finding qualified workers, she said. On both the employer and the employee sides, a “post and pray” job application strategy has taken hold that leads to worse outcomes for both, she said. More successful outcomes on both fronts have come from local relationships and face-to-face outreach.

              A bright spot has been local government, Price said — something that is reflected in the national data, which shows employment in local government roles has continuously expanded since the Covid-19 pandemic recovery set in.

              “It’s a weird market,” she said.

              Questions about the health of the labor market now dominate discussions about whether the Federal Reserve should continue to cut interest rates. On Monday, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said a December cut was needed to stem further job-market deterioration.

              “My focus is on the labor market, and after months of weakening, it is unlikely that the September jobs report later this week or any other data in the next few weeks would change my view that another cut is in order,” he said.

              In his speech last month announcing a 0.25% rate cut, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was more circumspect, saying it appeared that the jobs market was weakening only gradually and signaling he was not ready to guarantee a December rate cut was inevitable.

              The Fed’s divisions were laid bare in meeting notes released Wednesday from the October rate-setting meeting that showed a sharp split among policymakers about the risk that lower rates would spur already-elevated inflation by making it easier for consumers and businesses to borrow money.

              “Most participants noted that, against a backdrop of elevated inflation readings and a very gradual cooling of labor market conditions, further” interest-rate cuts “could add to the risk of higher inflation becoming entrenched,” the notes said.

              So far, many economic analysts have been reluctant to call it a full-blown jobs crisis, pointing to data from state-level claims for unemployment that remain subdued and recent reports from the payrolls processor ADP showing a slight rebound in new hires.

              “Fears of a renewed labour market downturn, amid reports of mass layoffs at several large firms, are not reflected in still-muted jobless claims or the pick-up in hiring in the ADP private payrolls report,” Thomas Ryan, North America economist for Capital Economics research group, wrote in a note published last week.

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              Bargain hunters drive Walmart sales and outlook higher

              Shoppers are still flocking to Walmart.

              The company raised its full-year earnings and sales outlook Thursday, heading into the crucial holiday shopping season.

              Walmart also offered fresh signs that it is shedding its original identity as a strictly down-market brick-and-mortar operation by growing its e-commerce business and increasing its market share of higher-income shoppers.

              Walmart’s shares closed more than 6% higher Thursday, even as the broader market suffered a dramatic sell-off. The stock is up more than 18% this year.

              The biggest retailer and grocer in the United States acknowledged the added financial pressures on lower-income households but said middle-income families are holding up. Walmart saw more sales growth in its grocery and health and wellness product categories than in general merchandise.

              ‘As pocketbooks have been stretched, you’re seeing more consumer dollars go to necessities versus discretionary items,’ Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said on a call with analysts Thursday morning.

              The company reported that same-store sales for Walmart U.S. rose 4.5% in the quarter that ended Oct. 31, exceeding analysts’ expectations.

              “The team delivered another strong quarter across the business. eCommerce was a bright spot again this quarter. We’re gaining market share, improving delivery speed, and managing inventory well,” outgoing CEO Doug McMillon said in a statement.

              Walmart reported 27% growth in e-commerce sales globally.

              Walmart also announced that it will move from trading on the New York Stock Exchange to the tech-heavy Nasdaq next month. It’s the latest sign of America’s largest private employer working to position itself as tech-forward in order to compete with Amazon.

              The discounter’s third-quarter earnings come amid growing questions about whether Americans contending with tariffs, corporate layoffs and accelerating inflation are still confidently spending on retail.

              As a bellwether for the U.S. economy and consumer confidence, Walmart’s strong earnings and guidance indicate that consumers are still shopping — at least at the lower end of the retail price point.

              The company announced last week that McMillon will step down in January. McMillon, 59, started at Walmart as an associate in the 1980s and has helmed the company since 2014.

              Under his leadership, Walmart improved pay and benefits for many employees, renovated hundreds of stores and boosted its e-commerce and delivery programs, especially during the Covid pandemic.

              John Furner, CEO of Walmart U.S., will take over the top job Feb. 1. Since 2019, Furner has led Walmart’s American operations — by far the largest slice of the company, with around 1.6 million of Walmart’s approximately 2.1 million total associates worldwide.

              Walmart is leading the retail race against longtime rival Target, which Wednesday reported a drop in third-quarter sales and cut its full-year profit guidance.

              Target’s sales have faltered over the last few years, with some consumers expressing frustration over what they said were disorganized stores and rollbacks of the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

              In October, Target said it would cut about 1,800 corporate jobs.

              Target is hoping for a fresh start in the new year. Incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke will take over Feb. 1, the same day Furner becomes CEO of Walmart.

              The struggling retailer said Wednesday that it plans to increase its investment in stores and technology next year by 25%.

              Since January, U.S. businesses have had to contend with ever-changing tariffs under the Trump administration. Walmart has navigated the uncertainty by raising prices on some items, while swallowing some tariff costs on others. In the three months that ended Oct. 31, prices at Walmart U.S. rose around 1% overall, with higher prices on electronics, toys and seasonal items in particular due to tariff pressures.

              In the grocery section, Walmart expects egg prices to drop but anticipates the record-breaking beef prices will stay high, in part from cattle herds shrinking over the last few decades.

              Prices for other grocery staples are also up, though the Trump administration’s rollback of tariffs on many food items last week could offer some relief.

              Despite the rising prices, Walmart is offering its annual Thanksgiving menu deal for 10 at less than $4 per person. It’s less expensive than last year’s package, but it also contains fewer items.

              The company is also expanding its use of artificial intelligence, teaming up with OpenAI to allow customers to buy from Walmart within ChatGPT. Walmart has not detailed the terms of the partnership or shared when the new option could be available.

              This week, Target announced its own collaboration with OpenAI.

              Walmart has lagged behind rival Amazon in AI-driven e-commerce — Amazon debuted its Rufus shopping assistant in February 2024, more than a year before Walmart launched its counterpart, Sparky.

              This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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              GOP wrestles with Obamacare fix as Trump looms over subsidy fight

              Congressional Republicans are sorting out what their plan to tackle expiring Obamacare subsidies will be, but they acknowledge that, ultimately, President Donald Trump will be the deciding factor. 

              Senate Democrats turned the latest record-breaking shutdown into a push to extend the subsidies, which were enhanced during the pandemic under former President Joe Biden and are set to sunset by the end of this year. 

              Many Republicans recognize that the subsidies must be dealt with as healthcare premiums begin to skyrocket, but most don’t want to extend them in their current form. 

              And both chambers are eyeing different approaches, which could further complicate the path forward to reaching a deal by the end of the year.

              In the upper chamber, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has guaranteed Senate Democrats a vote on a proposal of their choice. However, whatever kind of legislation they put on the floor has to be bipartisan, given the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold, in order to pass. 

              Whether a plan can be bipartisan is still in the early stages, and a roadblock could be the GOP’s desire to include the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds from covering the costs of abortions.   

              Thune said the major question was ‘will the Democrats accept applying Hyde to any changes or reforms that might be made?’

              ‘I mean, I think there’s an openness, because, you know, we’ve got members, and a lot of members, who are very interested in addressing the affordability of healthcare,’ he said. ‘The question is, what’s the best way to do it?’

              Senate Republicans have floated proposals since before the shutdown ended, but there is some consensus growing behind taking subsidy money and putting it directly into healthcare savings accounts (HSAs) for Americans — something Trump has backed and was first floated by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. 

              Scott and Republicans scoffed at Senate Democrats’ proposal to extend the subsidies for one year, and contended doing so would send billions directly to insurance companies. They also want reforms and guardrails like the Hyde Amendment language. 

              ‘They pay for abortions. Republicans are not going to vote to have taxpayers pay for abortions under their COVID-19 Biden subsidies,’ Scott told Fox News Digital.

              Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., also has his own proposal that would similarly transfer funds directly to the consumer rather than to insurance companies.

              Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, told Fox News Digital that whichever plan Republicans went with would originate in his committee and from the Senate Finance Committee, where he hoped that ‘we have something which is bipartisan.’ 

              He also noted that the Hyde Amendment language is important to Republicans, but that in the end, all roads lead back to Trump. 

              ‘Anybody looking for something which actually can be signed into law has got to look at the kind of direction that President Trump has given,’ he said. 

              In the House of Representatives, meanwhile, multiple top Republicans are eyeing a second ‘big, beautiful bill’ via the budget reconciliation process — this time focused mostly on healthcare.

              ‘We’ve got a variety of options for affordability, but most importantly, we want to make healthcare affordable,’ Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital of plans for a second reconciliation bill. ‘We want it to be transparent, we want it to be competitive. Not a single Republican voted for any of these provisions over the last 15 years, and yet prices have gone up, so it’s a shame.’

              The reconciliation process allows the party in power to change federal budgetary law while completely sidelining the minority, by effectively allowing legislation to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold in favor of a simple majority.

              House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., told Fox News Digital a healthcare-focused reconciliation effort ‘may come to pass.’

              ‘It depends on whether the Democrats are serious about actually bringing down healthcare premiums for Americans. And I’m not talking about subsidized healthcare premiums, I’m talking about actual healthcare premiums,’ Harris said. ‘If they’re not serious, then it’s going to have to be done through reconciliation.’

              Harris also backed the idea of an HSA, telling reporters, ‘It works with the functionality of a debit card. You can go to any provider, and that provider has to give you the most favorable rate.’

              A senior House GOP lawmaker also told Fox News Digital that Republicans were in the process of working on legislation specifically aimed at reforming different sectors of the healthcare system.

              Tentative plans include reforms on cost-sharing reductions, or CSRs, pharmaceutical reform, and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms, the lawmaker said.

              CSRs are a discount facilitated by the federal government, written under Obamacare, which help lower how much people pay for deductibles and copayments.

              PBMs, meanwhile, act as intermediaries between drug companies and insurers — a system critics have said chiefly serves to inflate the cost of prescription drugs for consumers.

              But another House Republican who spoke on the condition of anonymity was skeptical that the GOP could pass another reconciliation bill after the long and politically precarious process of Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill.’

              ‘I don’t even see close to the votes for another reconciliation,’ the second GOP lawmaker said. ‘I think some of us are a little snake-bit on where the money that was supposed to go places, isn’t going where it’s supposed to go.’

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              Trump admin gives $10k bonuses to air traffic controllers with perfect attendance during government shutdown

              Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford announced Thursday that hundreds of air traffic controllers and technicians who worked during the government shutdown will receive bonus checks.

              TheDepartment of Transportation (DOT) said in a statement that 776 air traffic controllers and technicians will be awarded $10,000 for their ‘patriotic work to ensure the safety of the skies during the Democrats’ 44-day government shutdown.’

              ‘These patriotic men and women never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdown,’ Duffy said in a statement. ‘Democrats may not care about their financial well-being, but President Trump does.’

              The secretary added, ‘This award is an acknowledgment of their dedication and a heartfelt appreciation for going above and beyond in service to the nation.’

              DOT said checks would only be sent to workers who maintained perfect attendance during the recent shutdown and that the payments should arrive by Dec. 9, in time for the holidays.

              ‘I am profoundly proud and grateful for the air traffic personnel who worked during extraordinary operational challenges to keep the National Airspace System (NAS) running safely during the longest government shutdown,’ Bedford said in a statement. ‘Their dedication represents the highest levels of public service.’

              The announcement came after President Donald Trump previously floated the idea of rewarding controllers who remained on the job, writing in a post on Truth Social last week, ‘For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country.’

              ‘For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU,’ Trump added.

              On Nov. 13, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem handed out $10,000 bonus checks to Transportation Security Administration TSA agents at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport who continued working during the shutdown.

              Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.

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              House GOP campaign chair wants Trump ‘out there on the trail’ in midterm battle for majority

              The chair of the House Republican campaign arm says the Democrats’ sweeping victories in this month’s 2025 elections are a ‘wake-up call’ for GOP voters.

              And Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, who’s chairing the National Republican Congressional Committee for a second straight election cycle, said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that he wants President Donald Trump ‘out there on the trail’ in next year’s midterm elections, when the party defends its razor-thin House majority.

              Democrats won the only two races for governor this year, in New Jersey and Virginia, by double digits, and also scored big wins in ballot box showdowns in battlegrounds Georgia and Pennsylvania and left-tilting New York City and California.

              Plenty of Republicans have discounted the Democrats’ high-profile victories, since they mostly occurred in blue-leaning states, since they mostly occurred in blue-leaning states.

              Hudson noted the top elections took place in ‘Democrat states,’ but added, ‘I think our big takeaway as Republicans is the Democrats were energized. They turned out at record levels. Republicans turned out in normal levels.’

              ‘I think there’s a wake-up call there to conservatives and Republicans who are happy with the direction of the country. They’re glad President Trump’s back in the White House. But if they want to keep this momentum going, they’ve got to show up and vote,’ he emphasized.

              Many of Trump’s MAGA supporters are considered low-propensity voters, who head to the polls only when Trump is on the ballot. But Trump won’t be on the ballot in the 2026 midterms.

              Hudson, who noted that ‘House Republicans are very closely aligned with President Trump, and we’re supporting his agenda,’ said that ‘we want him out there on the trail, campaigning with our candidates. I think he brings a lot of energy.’

              Pointing to ‘a lot of folks who don’t vote when he’s not on the ballot,’ Hudson said, ‘I don’t need all of them to show up, but I need some of them. And so having President Trump out there will be a big benefit for us.’

              Those requests for the MAGA motivator are already coming in to the president’s political team.

              Matt Van Epps, the Republican nominee in next month’s special congressional election for a vacant GOP-held House seat in Tennessee, has asked for Trump to campaign in person with him ahead of the Dec. 2 election.

              Democrats were laser-focused on affordability on the 2025 campaign trail.

              Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said his party’s candidates met ‘voters at the kitchen table. . . . From New Jersey and Virginia and New York, to Georgia and beyond, Democrats ran campaigns relentlessly focused on costs and affordability.’

              And Martin emphasized the 2025 elections were a preview of things to come in next year’s midterms.

              ‘In ‘26, we’ll do it again. We’ll run a National Coordinated Campaign to win races up and down the ballot to provide a check on the out-of-control Trump administration and its Republican rubber stamps,’ he argued.

              Hudson, pointing to former President Joe Biden, said ‘there are challenges out there with the economy, because Biden broke it, and House Republicans, working with President Trump, are going to fix it, and we’re working very hard to do that. ‘

              ‘Certainly, we could always improve the way we communicate with our voters about it,’ he added. ‘But we are laser focused on the issues that matter to them. You know, it’s the cost of things, it’s the security in their neighborhood, it’s a secure border. We are very focused on that, and we’ve delivered a lot of things that are going to make their lives better.’

              And looking ahead to next year, he added, ‘come tax season, a lot of families are going to be really happy to see they’ve got a lot more take-home pay, and that’s because of Donald Trump and House Republicans.’

              Hudson, in step with fellow Republicans, aimed to link Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a socialist who pushed a far-left platform on the campaign trail this year, to House Democrats who may face challenging re-elections next year.

              ‘The entire Democrat Party has shifted to the left. This is Mamdani’s party now,’ Hudson charged. ‘And every single House Democrat needs to answer for his policies, and they need to let their constituents know, do they stand with Mamdani or not?’

              The power in power, which nowadays is clearly the Republicans, traditionally faces political headwinds in the midterm elections.

              And Hudson was interviewed as two new national polls indicated Democrats with the upper hand in the 2026 battle for the House majority.

              But Hudson said: ‘The only number I’m concerned about is three. We have three Republicans in seats Kamala Harris carried.’

              And he highlighted that Democrats have ‘thirteen sitting in seats Donald Trump won. They’ve got 21 more sitting in seats that Donald Trump barely lost. So there, there are only a few seats up for grabs this time, most of them are Democrat seats.’

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