Nasdaq Commodities

FXEmpire.com - Chinese Silver Demand Demand for silver in China is rising. Priced in US dollars, silver closed at $32.96 on May 17th (Shanghai exchange). Arbiters buy silver at or below $30.00 in the US and sell it at a premium to China. Just a reminder that there is far more fia

FXEmpire.com - Natural Gas Technical Analysis Natural gas has been on a tear as of late and we are most certainly overbought. That being said, you can’t short this market. It’s far too volatile. And of course, what most people do not realize is natural gas really isn’t that big o

FXEmpire.com - Natural Gas Futures Rise Amid Storage Decline and Production Cuts Natural gas futures surged higher on Friday, edging closer to the key 200-day moving average at $2.769. This upward movement is fueled by reduced storage levels, lower production, and anticipated dem

FXEmpire.com - Market Overview Oil prices remained relatively stable in Asian trade on Friday, poised for a mildly positive week. The softer dollar, shrinking U.S. inventorie

John Feneck, partner and portfolio manager at Feneck Consulting, shared his thoughts on gold, silver, copper and uranium, outlining his outlook for these commodities and stocks he's currently watching. Starting with gold, he said he thinks it's proven itself as a safe-haven asset, with more "smart money" now getting involved. At the same time, he sees gold-mining companies starting to put on positive performances. "We're off to the races in gold producers in terms of doing well at the earnings level, and that gets the attention of big money ... (and) that's what's needed to generate more interest in the space," Feneck said.In terms of silver, he's encouraged to see it getting close to the crucial US$30 per ounce level after last year's rangebound trading. Moving forward, it's possible US$25 to US$26 may become support instead of resistance. Precious metals stocks on his radar at the moment include Newmont Mining (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM), Dakota Gold (NYSEAMERICAN:DC), Golden Cariboo Resources (CSE:GCC,OTC Pink:GCCFF), PTX Metals (CSE:PTX,OTCQB:PANXF), Guanajuato Silver Company (TSXV:GSVR,OTCQX:GSVRF) and Silver X Mining (TSXV:AGX,OTCQB:AGXPF).Copper prices have also rising in 2024, and Feneck is looking at small- and mid-cap companies that haven't moved yet. Among those are NevGold (TSXV:NAU,OTCQX:NAUFF) and Vortex Metals (TSXV:VMS,OTCQB:VMSSF). Moving over to uranium, Feneck remains bullish and is interested in juniors. He mentioned F3 Uranium (TSXV:FUU,OTCQB:FUUFF) and Standard Uranium (TSXV:STND,OTCQB:STTDF) as companies on his list. Watch the interview above for more from Feneck on the resource sector and the companies he's eyeing. Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.

Interest in lithium continues to grow due to its role in the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs). As a result, more and more attention is landing on the top lithium-producing countries. About 80 percent of the lithium produced globally goes toward battery production, but other industries also consume the metal. For example, 7 percent of lithium is used in ceramics and glass, while 4 percent goes to lubricating greases.According to the US Geological Survey, lithium use in batteries has increased in recent years due to the use of rechargeable batteries in portable electronic devices, as well as in electric tools, EVs and grid storage applications. Manufacturers commonly use lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide in these batteries rather than lithium metal. Lithium-ion batteries also include other important battery metals, such as cobalt, graphite and nickel.As demand for lithium continues to rise, which countries will provide the lithium the world requires? The latest data from the US Geological Survey shows that the world’s top lithium-producing countries are doing their best to meet rising demand from energy storage and EVs — in fact, worldwide lithium production rose sharply from 2022 to 2023, coming in at 180,000 metric tons (MT) of lithium content last year (not including US production), compared to 146,000 MT in 2022. ​What are the top lithium-producing countries? Australia, Chile and China were the top three lithium countries in 2023, and Brazil and Zimbabwe rose significantly in the ranks. Read on for an overview of global lithium production by country. As the EV lithium-ion battery market continues to grow, it’s likely these countries will vie for larger roles in supplying the metal in the years to come. 1. Australia Mine production: 86,000 MTKicking off this lithium production by country list is Australia, which produced 86,000 MT of lithium last year, up from 74,700 MT the year before. Following that increase, it's likely the country's lithium production will see a decline in 2024 as demand for EVs has stalled in the current slowing economic climate, leading to much lower lithium prices. In fact, Australia's lithium miners have already begun to curb production rates. Who owns Australia's largest lithium mines? The Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia is operated by Talison Lithium, a subsidiary that is jointly owned by miners Albemarle (NYSE:ALB), Tianqi Lithium (OTC Pink:TQLCF,SZSE:002466) and IGO (ASX:IGO,OTC Pink:IPDGF). Greenbushes has been in operation for over a quarter of a century, making it the longest continuously running mining area in the state. Mount Marion, a joint venture between Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN,OTC Pink:MALRF) and Ganfeng Lithium (OTC Pink:GNENF,SZSE:002460,HKEX:1772), is another key lithium mine in Australia. The mine is located in the Yilgarn Craton, southwest of Kalgoorlie.Australia also holds over 4.8 million MT of identified JORC-compliant lithium reserves, which puts it behind Chile. It is worth noting that most of the country’s lithium supply is exported to China as spodumene. 2. Chile Mine production: 44,000 MTLithium miners in Chile increased the nation's output from 38,000 MT of lithium in 2022 to 44,000 MT last year, making it the second top lithium producer in the world. Unlike Australia, where lithium is extracted from hard-rock mines, Chile’s lithium is found in lithium brine deposits.The Salar de Atacama salt flat in Chile generates roughly half the revenue for SQM (NYSE:SQM), a top lithium producer. The Salar de Atacama is also the home of another top lithium brine producer — US-based Albemarle. In April 2023, market participants and lithium miners were surprised by the Chilean government's plans to nationalize the lithium industry. While ultimately it wasn't a true nationalization, the country is moving to gain controlling stakes in lithium assets in the Salar de Atacama and Maricunga through its state-owned mining company Codelco.SQM has signed an arrangement with Codelco that will allow it to continue operations in the Salar de Atacama until 2060. The two companies will create a new entity for the operations, with Codelco owning 50 percent plus one share of the company. Albemarle recently agreed to a deal that will give it the option to raise its production quota by meeting certain conditions. In March 2024, Chile also opened over two dozen other salt flats for private investment. Freedom_wanted / ShutterstockLithium brine operations in Chile's Salar de Atacama. 3. China Mine production: 33,000 MTChina came third for lithium production in 2023, beating fourth place Argentina significantly. The Asian country saw its lithium supply grow to 33,000 MT last year from 22,600 MT the year prior.China is the largest consumer of lithium due to its electronics manufacturing and EV industries. It also produces more than two-thirds of the world’s lithium-ion batteries and controls most of the world’s lithium-processing facilities. China currently gets the majority of its lithium from Australia, but it is looking to expand its capacity.In January of this year, China announced the discovery of a massive million-metric-ton lithium deposit in the country's Sichuan Province. However, China's lithium production capacity is unlikely to increase much in 2024 as slowing EV demand in the country has in turn dampened demand for lithium. 4. Argentina Mine production: 9,600 MTLithium producer Argentina’s output ticked up by 3,010 MT from 2022, with the nation putting out 9,600 MT in 2023.It’s well known that Bolivia, Argentina and Chile make up the Lithium Triangle. Argentina’s Salar del Hombre Muerto district hosts significant lithium brines, and its reserves are enough for at least 75 years.At present, lithium mining in the country consists of two major brine operations currently in production and 10 projects that are in development. Analysts at consultancy firm Eurasia Group project that Argentina’s lithium production has the potential to grow approximately tenfold by 2027, as per CNBC.One of the largest lithium miners in Argentina is Arcadium Lithium (ASX:LTM,NYSE:ALTM), the result of the January 2024 merger of Livent and Allkem. The new entity is the third largest lithium producer in the world. 5. Brazil Mine production: 4,900 MTLithium production in Brazil has taken off in the last several years, catapulting it onto the list of the top lithium-producing countries. After achieving output of 400 MT or less from 2011 to 2018, the country’s production hit 2,400 MT in 2019. Brazil saw another significant jump last year, when its lithium output rose by 2,270 MT over 2022's 2,630 MT. Brazil's government plans to invest more than US$2.1 billion by 2030 into expanding the nation's lithium production capacity. At the state level, in 2023 the Minas Gerais government launched the Lithium Valley Brazil initiative, which is aimed at promoting investment in lithium mining. The program includes four publicly listed lithium companies with assets in the state's Jequitinhonha Valley: Sigma Lithium (TSXV:SGML,NASDAQ:SGML), Lithium Ionic (TSXV:LTH,OTCQX:LTHCF), Atlas Lithium (NASDAQ:ATLX) and Latin Resources (ASX:LRS,OTC Pink:LRSRF). 6. Zimbabwe Mine production: 3,400 MTZimbabwe's lithium output has grown exponentially in a short space of time. Just a few years ago, in 2021, the African nation's output came in at only 710 MT. As of 2023, that figure has grown by 378 percent to reach 3,400 MT of the battery metal. Total reserves in Zimbabwe stand at 310,000 MT, as per the US Geological Survey.In December 2022, Zimbabwe banned the export of raw lithium in an effort to build out the nation's capacity to process battery-grade lithium domestically. The ban excludes companies that are already developing mines or processing plants in Zimbabwe. Lithium concentrate is now on track to become Zimbabwe's third biggest mineral export, behind gold and platinum-group metals, reported Reuters in November 2023. Lithium-producing countries in Africa have attracted much attention from Chinese firms in recent years, especially Zimbabwe. Sinomine Resource Group (SZSE:002738), for example, bought a stake in Zimbabwe's emerging lithium industry with the purchase of the Bikita mine, the African nation's oldest lithium mine.Zimbabwe's other key lithium mines include Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt's (SHA:603799) Arcadia mine and state miner Kuvimba Mining House’s Sandawana mine. A few other advanced lithium projects reached the pilot plant production stage in 2022 and 2023: Premier African Minerals' (LSE:PREM) Zulu lithium-tantalum project; Chengxin Lithium's (SZSE:002240) Sabi Star lithium-tantalum mine; and Lonosphere Investment's open-pit mine in Mataga Mberengwa. Pilot plant stage production is not typically included in total global lithium supply estimates. 6. Canada Mine production: 3,400 MTCanada's lithium production for 2023 was on par with Zimbabwe's 3,400 MT. The North American nation substantially increased its production of the battery metal with a rise of more than 553 percent from the previous year. While Canada is home to a wealth of hard-rock spodumene deposits and lithium brine resources, much of it remains underdeveloped. In an effort to grow a strong North American lithium supply chain for the battery industry, the government has invested in a number of lithium projects, including C$27 million for E3 Lithium (TSXV:ETL,OTCWX:EEMMF), a lithium resource and technology company, and C$1.07 million to Prairie Lithium.Taking it further, in November 2023, the Canadian government launched the C$1.5 billion Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund. The fund seeks to address gaps in the infrastructure required for the sustainable development of the nation’s critical minerals production, including battery metals like lithium.Canada's efforts were rewarded in early 2024, when BloombergNEF gave the nation the top spot in the fourth edition of its Global Lithium-ion Battery Supply Chain Ranking. 8. Portugal Mine production: 380 MTPortugal's lithium production dropped by two-thirds in 2022, coming in at 380 MT compared to 900 MT in the previous year. For 2023, the European nation's lithium output remained at 380 MT. The dramatic decline is attributed to public backlash against the environmental impact of lithium mining. Most of Portugal's lithium comes from the Gonçalo aplite-pegmatite field. Despite this lithium-producing country’s comparatively low output, Portugal’s lithium reserves stand at 60,000 MT. 9. United States Mine production: withheldIn the final place on this top lithium-producing countries list is the US, which has withheld production numbers to avoid disclosing proprietary company data. Its only output last year came from two operations: a Nevada-based brine operation, most likely in the Clayton Valley, which hosts Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine, and the brine-sourced waste tailings of Utah-based US Magnesium, the largest primary magnesium producer in North America.There are a handful of major lithium projects underway in the US, including Lithium Americas’ (TSX:LAC,NYSE:LAC) Thacker Pass lithium claystone project, Piedmont Lithium’s (ASX:PLL,NASDAQ:PLL) hard-rock lithium project and Standard Lithium’s (TSXV:SLI,OTCQX:STLHF) Arkansas Smackover lithium brine project. Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

FXEmpire.com - Natural gas blasted through potential resistance at the 200-Day MA on Thursday to hit a new trend high of 2.575. Resistance then kicked in leading to an intraday pullback. That high completed a rising ABCD pattern where the CD leg was 200% of the advance in the AB

FXEmpire.com - Natural Gas Natural Gas 160524 Daily Chart Natural gas tests new highs as traders react to the EIA report, which indicated that working gas in storage increased by 70 Bcf from the previous week, compared to analyst consensus of +76 Bcf.

FXEmpire.com - Gold Gold 160524 Daily Chart Gold pulls back as traders takes some profits off the table near the key resistance level at $2390 – $2400.

Crescent Point Energy (TSX:CPG,NYSE:CPG) is set to acquire SilverBow Resources (NYSE:SBOW) in a deal valued at US$2.1 billion, positioning Crescent as the second largest operator in the Eagle Ford shale. Under a definitive agreement announced on Thursday (May 16), SilverBow shareholders will receive 3.125 shares of Crescent Class A common stock for each share of SilverBow common stock they own, with an option to receive cash at a value of US$38 per share, subject to a cash consideration cap of US$400 million.John Goff, chairman of the board at Crescent, said the deal will place the business in a more favorable position. “This is a compelling transaction for shareholders of both companies, creating a premier growth through acquisition platform," he explained. “As Chairman and a major long-term shareholder, it has been exciting to watch this business execute on the strategy management laid out from the very beginning. This combination further positions Crescent as a leading growth business, and we look forward to welcoming the SilverBow team as we continue to build this company."The move aligns with Crescent's long-term strategy of growth through acquisition, focusing on deriving a balanced portfolio of high-quality and long-life assets leading to augmented cash flow. The merger is expected to yield annual synergies of US$65 million to US$100 million through cost savings and operational efficiencies.According to the company, these efficiencies will stem from immediate cost-of-capital savings and enhanced operating capabilities due to the complementary nature of the companies' assets.This acquisition follows the announcement that Crescent will be selling particular non-core assets in Saskatchewan to Saturn Oil & Gas (TSX:SOIL,OTCQX:OILSF) for C$600 million. During the first quarter of the year, Crescent Point also sold its Swan Hills and Turner Valley assets for C$140 million.The SilverBow purchase is designed to create a leading mid-cap exploration and production (E&P) company that is well positioned for sustainable value creation with the stability characteristic of larger operators.Post-merger, Crescent’s board will expand to 11 members, incorporating two SilverBow directors. Crescent will remain headquartered in Houston, with Goff being non-executive chairman and David Rockecharlie continuing as CEO.The acquisition is part of a broader trend of heightened M&A activity in the oil and gas industry. In 2023, E&P companies increased their spending on mergers and acquisitions to US$234 billion, the highest in real 2023 dollars since 2012. This surge marks a return to the previous trend of consolidation among US oil and gas companies, following a decline in transactions during the significant oil market volatility of 2020 and 2022.The M&A spending encompasses both corporate mergers and asset acquisitions. Notably, corporate M&A accounted for 82 percent of the total spending, driven by high-profile deals such as ExxonMobil’s (NYSE:XOM) acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources for US$64.5 billion and Chevron’s (NYSE:CVX) US$60 billion acquisition of Hess. According to the US Energy Information Administration, these deals are the largest by value since Occidental Petroleum’s (NYSE:OXY) US$55 billion acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum in 2019.Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Lucapa Diamond Company (ASX:LOM) has announced a strategic decision to divest its 70 percent stake in the Mothae mine in Lesotho as part of a broader plan to streamline its operations and focus on core assets. The Tuesday (May 15) decision comes after the release of the company's first quarter production and sales report at the end of April. In it, Lucapa outlines both achievements and challenges across its diamond operations.In Q1, the company’s Lulo mine in Angola sold 8,746 carats, generating US$9.4 million in revenue.While there were no exceptional diamond tenders during the quarter, a tender in early Q2 attracted US$10.5 million for three high-quality Lulo diamonds, significantly bolstering the company's financials. A cutting and polishing partnership added an additional US$0.2 million in margins for Lulo. Heavy rainfall and flooding in Angola was an obstacle at Lulo in Q1, and it forced the company to mine in lower-grade areas, leading to a 20 percent decrease in carats recovered compared to Q1 2023. Even so, the alluvial plant processed 171,000 cubic meters of material, an 11 percent increase year-on-year, thanks to stockpiled resources.Meanwhile, Mothae produced US$3.7 million in revenue in Q1 from the sale of 7,662 carats, plus US$0.2 million from polished diamond margins. Although the asset saw a 13 percent year-on-year increase in carats recovered and a 16 percent rise in tonnes processed, the lower frequency of high-value diamonds impacted overall revenue.The largest gem-quality stone recovered from Mothae was a 35 carat yellow diamond, but a 65 carat Type IIa diamond was found post-quarter. The company said at the time that it would be monitoring the mine closely.In Tuesday's release, Lucapa Chairman Stuart Brown explained the decision to divest from Mothae. “On review, it is clear the Company should streamline the portfolio to focus on our core assets in Africa and Australia. The Company’s collaboration with the Lesotho Government on the Mothae Diamond Mine has been rewarding and our management have worked exceptionally well to optimise the plant to recover large diamonds. We expect there will be significant interest from those within the diamond industry and on a wider scale," he said. Don't forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

FXEmpire.com - On May 16, 2024, EIA released its Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report. The report indicated that working gas in storage increased by 70 Bcf from the previous week, compared to analyst consensus of +76 Bcf.

FXEmpire.com - Natural Gas Technical Analysis Natural gas markets have rallied a bit during the early hours of Thursday trading to reach the 200 day EMA, but also are now in an overbought condition when it comes to the relative strength index. In other words, I think we desperate

FXEmpire.com - Natural Gas Futures Rise Ahead of Storage Report Natural gas futures are climbing on Thursday, driven by anticipation of the government’s weekly storage report due at 14:30 GMT. Traders expect a build of 76 Bcf, potentially causing market volatility. This week has

FXEmpire.com - Market Overview Oil prices rose in Asian trade on Thursday, continuing gains from the previous session. A weaker-than-expected U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Tavi Costa, partner and portfolio manager at Crescat Capital, shared his thoughts on gold's recent price activity, outlining why he thinks the yellow metal will lead other commodities higher. He told the Investing News Network that silver and copper are set to benefit from its rise. "To me gold is sort of the first thing to really move, and the first box to check in terms of a secular market. But where you're really going to likely get those big returns is going to be on things that tend to move with gold. And as we see gold move, usually you tend to see other metals really leading the way to the upside," Costa explained. He also addressed the disconnect between the gold price and gold stocks. While some companies have seen gains, many haven't performed as well as investors would hope in today's environment of high prices. "I think that the mining industry is so close to one of those big moves up that we tend to see in the industry — 300, 400 percent moves in the short term," Costa said, pointing to capitulation among frustrated investors. The loss of faith reminds him of the 1970s, when there was a perception that the sector would never come back. "Unless I'm wrong and it's different this time, the industry always comes back," he said. "I'm a believer of that."Costa sees opportunities to jump in, and expects the mining industry to "massively outperform" the gold price. "Usually the conventional wisdom is wrong, and I've never seen an industry that is more hated than the gold space," he said during the conversation. "I don't know of a single industry that is more hated than the gold miners ... they are the most hated industry in the whole market, and I think that's a huge opportunity." In closing, Costa encouraged investors to get their portfolios positioned before companies take off. "It's time to get busy and not be concerned about why are miners not moving vs. gold," he said. Watch the interview above for more of his thoughts on gold and the resource sector. Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.

Even in times of economic uncertainty, Australia’s economy has remained resilient given its prime location in close proximity to Asia, as well as its abundant wealth of mineral resources.Heading into 2024, the International Monetary Fund sees that trend continuing, even though it projects that Australia's economic growth may slow this year to 1.25 percent from the 1.5 percent growth it experienced in the year prior. Currently, Australia is the world’s 13th largest economy with a GDP of around US$1.693 trillion.Investors interested in earning passive income while growing their holdings may want to consider ASX dividend stocks.“Australian stocks have some of the highest dividend yields in the world,” according to Global X ETFs. “Why do Aussies love dividends so much? And why are our yields so high? It’s partly due to franking credits, an Australian tax peculiarity which allows dividends to be excluded from taxable income.”Dividend stocks reward investors with regular payouts, allowing them to share in company revenues. Although they tend to offer stability, as with most investments, dividend stocks are not without risk.Investors can mitigate risk by choosing long-term dividend stocks called "dividend aristocrats," which often offer the best value. Their reputation for delivering healthy returns and consistent dividend payments gives them a safer investment profile over the rest of the dividend stocks on the market. Companies that can consistently pay out dividends to shareholders are often the same companies that continue pumping out profits, even with increasing market volatility. Stake’s list of the top 10 long-term dividend stocks on the ASX mainly features companies in the resource sector, particularly iron ore, coal and oil and gas. Other prominent sectors include banking, retail and insurance. Here the Investing News Network offers investors a list of the five top ASX dividend stocks on Stake’s list based on dividend yield. Investors consider dividend yield a key metric for appraising a stock’s value. The ASX stocks on the list below have strong dividend yields of greater than 7 percent, with data current as of May 2, 2024. 1. Yancoal Australia (ASX:YAL) {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Corporation","name":"Yancoal Australia ","url":"https://investingnews.com/stocks/asx-yal/yancoal-australia/","description":"Yancoal Australia Ltd is involved in identifying, developing, and operating coal-related projects in Australia.","tickerSymbol":"ASX:YAL","sameAs":[],"image":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=52179664&width=980","logo":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=52179664&width=210"} Company Profile Market cap: AU$6.91 billion; dividend yield: 13.26 percentAs Australia’s largest pure-play coal producer, Yancoal Australia operates five mines and manages five other projects across the states of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. The company is coming off a strong year in 2023 with a 19 percent increase in its run-of-mine coal production amounting to annual revenues of AU$7.8 billion.Yancoal pays out dividends to shareholders twice a year, with a total of AU$918 million in dividend payments for 2023. The company’s latest dividend was paid on April 30, 2024, at AU$0.32 per share. Buy now , 2. New Hope (ASX:NHC) {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Corporation","name":"New Home","url":"https://investingnews.com/stocks/asx-nhc/new-home/","description":"The New Home Co Inc is a home builder that focuses on the design, construction, and sale of homes. The company operates in two segments, Homebuilding and Fee Building.","tickerSymbol":"ASX:NHC","sameAs":[],"image":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=52179668&width=980","logo":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=52179668&width=210"} Company Profile Market cap: AU$3.93 billion; dividend yield: 10.97 percentASX-listed dividend stock New Hope is involved in all stages of the coal industry, from exploration and development to production and processing. The company owns interests in two open-cut coal mines in Queensland and New South Wales, and is also involved in the agriculture and oil and gas sectors.Russia’s war in Ukraine has pushed many European nations to turn the dial up on coal usage to meet rising energy needs. This has translated into greater revenues for New Hope as coal prices rise.In its 2023 financial report, the company highlights that net cash from operating activities came to AU$1,524,800 for the period, up 34 percent from the previous year. “Exceptional performance across the business throughout FY23 enabled our team to capitalise on the market conditions, finishing the year with $730.7 million cash at bank, no debt following the convertible note repurchase and a net asset position of $2,525.3 million,” said New Hope CEO Rob Bishop. “This outstanding result has enabled the Company to reward shareholders with a final fully franked dividend of 21 cents per ordinary share, and a special fully franked dividend of 9 cents per ordinary share.New Hope paid out a dividend of AU$0.17 per share on April 30, 2024. Buy now , 3. Fortescue (ASX:FMG) {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Corporation","name":"Fortescue Ord","url":"https://investingnews.com/stocks/asx-fmg/fortescue-ord/","description":"Todd River Resources Ltd is an Australian-based resources company that holds a prospective base metals and gold exploration portfolio in the Northern Territory.","tickerSymbol":"ASX:FMG","sameAs":[],"image":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=52179718&width=980","logo":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=52179718&width=210"} Company Profile Market cap: AU$79.12 billion; dividend yield: 8.09 percentWestern Australia’s Fortescue is one of the world's biggest iron ore producers. The mining giant has multiple operations in the Pilbara region and its products are sold globally, but mainly to China.Chairman Andrew Forrest has committed the company to reaching zero carbon emissions by 2030. As part of this green initiative, in early 2022 the company bought Williams Advanced Engineering and announced the world’s first zero-emissions infinity train, which will be able to use electric power to bring ore to port. More recently, the company partnered with phosphate-based fertiliser firm OCP Group to supply green hydrogen, ammonia and fertilisers to Morocco, Europe and international markets.Fortescue's dividend payments are made to shareholders twice a year. Its most recent dividend was paid out on March 27, 2024, at AU$1.08 per share. Buy now , 4. Helia Group (ASX:HLI) {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Corporation","name":"Helia Group","url":"https://investingnews.com/stocks/asx-hli/helia-group/","description":"Helia Group Ltd is a Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) provider. It provides new opportunities for home buyers and home owners.","tickerSymbol":"ASX:HLI","sameAs":[],"image":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=52179753&width=980","logo":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=52179753&width=210"} Company Profile Market cap: AU$1.15 billion; dividend yield: 7.42 percentHelia Group provides lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) in Australia for residential mortgages, with a focus on high loan-to-value ratio residential mortgage loans. In September 2023, Helia entered a partnership with Great Southern Bank to become an exclusive partner for LMI solutions for the bank’s mortgage customers.In 2023, the company’s insurance revenue came to AU$427.3 million, while its capital return to investors totalled AU$342.9 million. “We have a very strong capital position and continue to return surplus capital, enhancing returns to shareholders,” noted Pauline Blight-Johnston, CEO and managing director of Helia, in the company’s annual report.Helia’s shareholders enjoyed a AU$0.45 per share dividend payout on March 22, 2024. Buy now , 5. Woodside Energy Group (ASX:WDS) {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Corporation","name":"Woodside Energy Group","url":"https://investingnews.com/stocks/asx-wds/woodside-energy-group/","description":"Incorporated in 1954 and named after the small Victorian town of Woodside, Woodside's early exploration focus moved from Victoria's Gippsland Basin to Western Australia's Carnarvon Basin.","tickerSymbol":"ASX:WDS","sameAs":[],"image":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=51364330&width=980","logo":"https://investingnews.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=51364330&width=210"} Company Profile Market cap: AU$57.91 billion; dividend yield: 7.08 percentWoodside Energy Group is focused on oil and gas, as well as what it calls new energy. Its operating assets are located in Australia and internationally, including the Gulf of Mexico and Senegal, as well as Trinidad and Tobago. The company’s Q1 production totalled 44.9 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe). “Significant progress was made in the period on our three major growth projects,” said CEO Meg O’Neill. “Commissioning activities are now underway at the Sangomar project in Senegal, on track for first oil in the middle of this year. Nineteen of the 23 production wells at Sangomar have now been completed.” Guidance for the full year is set at 185 million boe to 195 million boe. Woodside Energy issues dividends with its full-year and half-year results. Its latest payout to shareholders came in at US$0.60 (about AU$0.92) per share on April 4, 2024. Buy now , Don't forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

As the world begins to shift away from carbon-based energy and toward renewable energy, new investment opportunities are emerging alongside advancements in electric vehicle (EV) battery technology.In the short term, EV sales are experiencing slow growth as adoption in major markets faces hurdles. “The pace of growth is slowing, but that’s what’s expected in growing markets like this,” said Rho Motion’s data manager, Charles Lester, in the firm's 2024 EV sales outlook, emphasizing that the change in pace is normal. Looking forward, BloombergNEF sees positive catalysts on the horizon for the industry, including battery technologies that offer faster charging and longer ranges, as well as increasing access to public charging stations. Aleksandra O’Donovan, BloombergNEF’s head of EVs, said the firm expects that “(a)ll of those trends will continue paving the way for further growth in 2025 and 2026, when a slew of cheaper models is set to hit Western markets.”Against that backdrop, many market watchers are interested in the battery metals that are making the energy transition possible. While lithium and cobalt are the best-known battery materials, graphite, vanadium and manganese are also key materials for this sector. Read on for a quick intro guide on the popular battery metals, and check out our in-depth guides for stock options. How to invest in lithium? Lithium has skyrocketed in investor interest in recent years due to its role in lithium-ion batteries, which are used in electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops and, of course, EVs. In fact, the EV sector has been a major demand driver for the silver-white metal. Automakers are expected to continue to look for ways to lock down long-term supply of lithium and other important materials used in EV batteries, while investment in the sector continues to be key to ensure global output can keep up with expected demand.For those interested in investing in the sector, it's best to do some research to help you understand different terms and prices. Lithium pricing can be confusing due to the different types of lithium, predominantly lithium carbonate and hydroxide, as well as differences in pricing on international exchanges. Today, Australia, Chile and China are the top three regions for lithium production. Dominant companies in the lithium space include powerhouses Sociedad Química y Minera (NYSE:SQM), better known as SQM, and Albemarle (NYSE:ALB). In addition, a number of lithium exploration companies have stepped up to meet forecast demand in recent years. With lagging EV demand creating a lower price environment for lithium, experts are expecting to see increased M&A activity in the sector given the strength of the battery metal's long-term outlook.Click here to read more about lithium investing and lithium stocks. How to invest in cobalt? Cobalt, which is mostly mined as a copper and nickel by-product, also plays an important role in lithium-ion batteries. In addition to batteries, this hard, silver-gray metal is used in alloys for jet engines and turbines, along with magnetic steels.The biggest contributor to cobalt supply is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which holds more than half of all global cobalt reserves. In 2023, the DRC produced 170,000 metric tons (MT) of cobalt, with Indonesia following at a very distant second with 17,000 MT; Russia and Australia took the third and fourth spots, respectively.While cobalt prices are no longer at the all-time highs they reached in March 2018, experts agree that demand remains strong. Indeed, it's possible that lower cobalt prices will lead EV makers to favor nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery chemistries, which may improve demand and prices. However, challenges related to the security of the metal’s supply chain and a lack of investment in cobalt production continue to be key concerns in the space.Click here to read more about cobalt investing and cobalt stocks. How to invest in graphite? A native element mineral that’s the most stable form of carbon, graphite is known to be a dry lubricant. As the only non-metal element that’s a good conductor of electricity, it can be used in lithium-ion batteries, as well as in nuclear reactors and the refractory and steel industries.Much like other battery raw materials, graphite prices can be finicky to find since it’s not traded on an exchange. In general, prices came under pressure in 2023 due to excess supply, and producers outside China had to make production cuts to deal with this environment. This dynamic is anticipated to continue throughout 2024.In the long term, graphite demand is expected to become more dominated by the battery sector, although it’s worth noting that not all types of graphite can be used in this industry. Investors might also want to understand the differences between synthetic and natural graphite, and the influence this has on the overall graphite market.Click here to read more about graphite investing and graphite stocks. How to invest in vanadium? Vanadium is increasingly being used in vanadium redox flow batteries, which are an important technology for renewable energy storage. However, the vast majority of this silvery-gray transition metal is used as a steel additive.While the large size of vanadium redox batteries makes them a better fit for industrial use, they come with the perk of not degrading for at least 20 years. Click here, here and here to read our three part series on vanadium mining and the potential for vanadium redox flow batteries in energy storage.Vanadium is predominantly mined as a by-product of other metals and is found in deposits of siltstone, uraniferous sandstone, phosphate rock and titaniferous magnetite. It can also be found in bauxite, coal and crude oil. In 2023, China took the top spot as the world’s biggest vanadium producer at 68,000 MT, with Russia and South Africa coming in second and third at production rates of 20,000 MT and 9,100 MT, respectively.China is also a major drive of vanadium demand for not only its steel manufacturing industry, but also its focus on expanding its vanadium redox flow battery installed capacity. “Investors should keep an eye on the continued announcements of VRFB capacity in China and the rest of the world as part of the global push to support the rollout of renewable energy capacity to help meet net-zero targets,” Project Blue told the Investing News Network. Click here to read more about vanadium investing and vanadium stocks. How to invest in manganese? Manganese contributes to certain lithium-ion battery chemistries, such as NCM, lithium-manganese oxide (LMO), high-purity manganese sulfate (HPMSM) and lithium-manganese-iron phosphate (LMFP). Overall, the US Geological Survey states that around 85 to 90 percent of global manganese output is used for the production of steel and cast iron.A brittle, hard, gray-white metal, manganese has a similar appearance to iron and can be used in the production of various items, including dry cell batteries, aluminum cans and even fungicides and pesticides."Growing adoption of LMFP, coupled with other lithium-ion battery chemistries that employ HPMSM and other high-purity manganese salts could significantly increase manganese demand in the second half of the decade," says Fastmarkets.Click here to read more about manganese investing and manganese stocks. This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2018.Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

The 17 elements that make up the group of rare earth metals are diverse in their applications and market dynamics. They are often broken up into two categories according to their atomic weight: light and heavy. Only scandium falls outside this categorization system.Overall, the different rare earth metals play a huge role in the development of various technologies. They are often used in electronics like laptops and smartphones, as well as spacecraft and missile weaponry. Growing demand for batteries and green technology is adding to their importance and versatility as well. What are light rare earth metals? All but two rare earth metals — scandium and yttrium — are part of a chemical group called lanthanides, and light rare earths are the lanthanides with the lowest atomic numbers. The light rare earths are cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, europium, gadolinium and samarium.Of the light rare earth metals, neodymium is considered one of the most critical. It is used in everything from mobile phones and electric cars to medical equipment. Neodymium is also the main light rare earth used in the creation of permanent magnets, which are heavily used in data storage systems and wind turbines.Praseodymium is another significant light rare earth metal. It is used in alloys with magnesium to form aircraft engines, and it also finds use in the film industry for studio lighting and other projects. Like many rare earth metals, praseodymium plays a role in creating permanent magnets. What are heavy rare earth metals?   Heavy rare earth metals are defined by their higher atomic weights relative to light rare earths. They are less common, and some elements within the group are facing shortages as demand outpaces supply. That typically makes them more valuable than light rare earths, though they also have smaller markets. The full list of heavy rare earths is dysprosium, yttrium, terbium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, yttrium and lutetium.Dysprosium, yttrium and terbium are considered critical in the heavy rare earth metals group as they face low supply and increasing importance in the development of clean energy technologies. Like the light rare earths, heavy rare earths also play a key role in other technology, including hybrid cars, fiber optics and medical devices.Dysprosium is used in tandem with neodymium in magnets that are vital to modern tech and renewable energy. In addition, dysprosium oxide is used in nuclear reactors to help cool fuel rods to keep reactions under control.Terbium is used in TV screens and solid-state hard drives for data storage. Solid-state drives are heavily favored over conventional hard drives as they are faster and more reliable than conventional hard drives, and these drives are now the default storage format for many laptops and personal electronics. For its part, yttrium has a variety of applications. It is used in TV screens, as an alloying agent and in the polymerization of ethylene. What else should investors know about heavy and light rare earths? China's influence remains strong...The light and heavy rare earths markets are both dominated by China. In 2023, China produced the most rare earth metals globally at 240,000 metric tons (MT). This level of control by Chinese suppliers has made it extremely difficult for other producers to viably mine and sell rare earths. High production, low labor costs and relaxed environmental regulations have all allowed China to control the pricing and market viability of rare earth metals. That said, Chinese producers must adhere to a quota system for rare earths production, which is a response to China’s longstanding problems with illegal rare earths mining. This system actually led China to become the world’s top importer of rare earths in 2018. In 2023, China issued three rounds of rare earth output quotas for a record total of 255,000 MT — an increase of 21.4 percent over the previous year, according to Reuters. For 2024, analysts expect a slower rate of increase for China’s rare earth quotas of between 10 and 15 percent. The Chinese government issued its first quotas for 2024 in February, set at 135,000 MT for rare earths mining and 127,000 MT for smelting.The second largest rare earths producer was the US with only 43,000 MT. Rare earths supply in the US currently comes only from the Mountain Pass mine in California. Owned by MP Materials (NYSE:MP), the mine is the largest producer of rare earths in the western hemisphere, with a focus on high-purity separated neodymium and praseodymium oxide; a heavy rare earths concentrate; and lanthanum and cerium oxides and carbonates.... but investment opportunities existInvesting in rare earth metals is a challenge due to China’s dominance. That said, global demand for rare earths is expected to rise as the clean energy, electric vehicle and consumer electronics industries gain importance.Even as regulations and demand create a more favorable environment for rare earths, investors should be specific about their research into the metals — treating the rare earths category as a single group or even as lights and heavies does not provide enough context about an element’s investment potential. Click here to learn more about the investment landscape for rare earth metals, including information on where to find prices and which companies are operating in the space. This is an updated version of an article originally published by the Investing News Network in 2011.Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

FXEmpire.com - Natural gas reached a new trend high of 2.42 on Wednesday as the bull trend persists. It is rapidly approaching the next higher target of 2.46. That is where the 200-Day MA and 50% retracement resides. The 200-Day line is a significant trend indicator, and this is