Archive

September 18, 2025

Browsing

The S&P 500 ($SPX) just logged its fifth straight trading box breakout, which means that, of the five trading ranges the index has experienced since the April lows, all have been resolved to the upside.

How much longer can this last? That’s been the biggest question since the massive April 9 rally. Instead of assuming the market is due to roll over, it’s been more productive to track price action and watch for potential changes along the way. So far, drawdowns have been minimal, and breakouts keep occurring. Nothing in the price action hints at a lasting change — yet.

While some are calling this rally “historic,” we have a recent precedent. Recall that from late 2023 through early 2024, the index had a strong start and gave way to a consistent, steady trend.

From late October 2023 through March 2024, the S&P 500 logged seven consecutive trading box breakouts. That streak finally paused with a pullback from late March to early April, which, as we now know, was only a temporary hiccup. Once the bid returned, the S&P 500 went right back to carving new boxes and climbing higher.

New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

If there’s been one gripe about this rally, it’s that the number of new highs within the index has lagged. As we’ve discussed before, among all the internal breadth indicators available, new highs almost always lag — that’s normal. What we really want to see is whether the number of new highs begins to exceed prior peaks as the market continues to rise, which it has, as shown by the blue line in the chart below.

As of Wednesday’s close, 100 S&P 500 stocks were either at new 52-week highs or within 3% of them. That’s a strong base. We expect this number to continue rising as the market climbs, especially if positive earnings reactions persist across sectors.

Even when we get that first day with 100+ S&P 500 stocks making new 52-week highs, though, it might not be the best time to initiate new longs.

The above chart shows that much needs to align for that many stocks to peak in unison, which has historically led to at least a short-term consolidation, if not deeper pullbacks — as highlighted in yellow. Every time is different, of course, but this is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

The GoNoGo Trend remains in bullish mode, with the recent countertrend signals having yet to trigger a greater pullback.

Active Bullish Patterns

We still have two live bullish upside targets of 6,555 and 6,745, which could be with us for a while going forward. For the S&P 500 to get there, it will need to form new, smaller versions of the trading boxes.

Failed Bearish Patterns

In the chart below, you can view a rising wedge pattern on the recent price action, the third since April. The prior two wedges broke down briefly and did not lead to a major downturn. The largest pullbacks in each case occurred after the S&P 500 dipped below the lower trendline of the pattern.

The deepest drawdown so far is 3.5%, which is not exactly a game-changer. Without downside follow-through, a classic bearish pattern simply can’t be formed, let alone be broken down from.

We’ll continue to monitor these formations as they develop because, at some point, that will change.

Resolution Minerals Ltd (RML or Company) (ASX: RML) is pleased to announce it has received firm commitments for a placement of fully paid ordinary shares in the Company (Shares) to sophisticated investors to raise a total of $25.1 million (before costs) at an issue price of $ 0.05 per Share (Placement).

Highlights

  • Commitments received for a successful placement of $25.1 million at $0.05 per share
  • Placement supported by a range of high net worth and global institutions including John Hancock’s Family Office, Astrotricha Capital SEZC and S3 Consortium (Stocks Digital), as well as director participation of $200,000
  • The placement has institutionalised the Company’s register, including $7.75m cornerstoned by high-calibre, supportive and value-add local and international investor groups
  • RML’s medium term work programs and working capital requirements are now fully funded
  • RML balance sheet strengthened ahead of the proposed NASDAQ listing
  • RML is aiming to become a major player in the US critical minerals space and is aiming to meet the needs of the current White House Administration’s and the Department of War’s critical mineral US national security supply requirements

Of the total $25.1 million placement funds, $18,400,000 (Tranche 1) will be settled on or around 26 September 2025, and the remaining $6,700,000 (Tranche 2) (total of $25.1 million) is anticipated to settle within approximately 60 days, and following the next shareholder meeting.

Subject to receipt of shareholder approval in a general meeting (anticipated mid November 2025), participants in the Placement will also be issued one (1) option for every two (2) Shares issued under the Placement, for no additional consideration. The Options will have an exercise price of $0.10 per Share and expire on 30 November 2029 – key terms included in this announcement (Option). The Options will be listed, subject to ASX listing requirements being met.

The Placement will be conducted via two (2) tranches, as follows:

(a) Tranche 1: 422,000,000 Shares as follows:

(i) 150,000,000 Shares will be issued under the Company’s existing pre-approved placement capacity that was approved by shareholders at the general meeting held on 25 July 2025; and

(ii) 272,000,000 Shares will otherwise be issued under the Company’s Listing Rule 7.1 & 7.1A capacity (146,542,986 Shares under Listing Rule 7.1 and 125,457,014 Shares under Listing Rule 7.1A); and

(b) Tranche 2: subject to shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1, via the issue of 80,000,000 Shares and up to 251,000,000 attaching Options (subject to rounding).

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Vanadium is an important metal for both the steel and battery manufacturing industries.

Both of these sectors play key roles in economic growth and a new era in defense and energy security. Supply and demand fundamentals for the metal indicate a strong long-term outlook for the vanadium market.

Many investors believe the vanadium industry is compelling and are interested in getting involved in this evolving market. Read on for a brief overview of the metal, from supply and demand to how to invest in this exciting industrial and battery metal.

In this article

    What is vanadium?

    Named after Vanadis, the Norse god of beauty, vanadium is a silvery-gray transition metal that was discovered in 1801.

    Vanadium occurs in about 65 different minerals, and is mined as a by-product of other metals, usually uranium. It is also found in deposits of phosphate rock, titaniferous magnetite, uraniferous sandstone and siltstone. Aside from that, it is present in bauxite and in carboniferous materials such as crude oil, coal, oil shale and tar sands.

    Vanadium demand trends

    Vanadium applications have grown in recent years, contributing to price growth. The vast majority of vanadium is used as an additive in the steel industry to make a high-strength product that is lighter, stronger and more resistant to shock and corrosion.

    Vanadium content of less than 0.1 percent is needed to double the strength of steel, and although other metals — including manganese, molybdenum, niobium, titanium and tungsten — can be interchanged with vanadium for alloying with steel, there is no substitute for vanadium in aerospace titanium alloys.

    Over the last few years, China has increased its vanadium use, producing steel rebar with high tensile strength for construction. Vanadium compounds are also used in nuclear reactors because they have low neutron-absorbing properties. Vanadium oxide is used as a pigment for ceramics and glass, and can act as a catalyst in the production of superconducting magnets.

    In addition to the steel alloy sector, the metal is often used to make parts for jet engines, as well as crankshafts, axles and gears. What’s more, vanadium redox batteries (VRFB) are currently generating excitement because they are reusable over semi-infinite cycles, and do not degrade for at least 20 years, allowing energy storage systems the ability to bank renewable energy.

    However, these batteries are quite large compared to lithium-ion batteries, and are better suited for industrial or commercial use rather than for use in electric vehicles. That said, there are a number of companies around the world working on developing the technology for residential and smaller-scale use.

    Vanadium supply trends

    The top vanadium producing countries are China, Russia and South Africa, and worldwide vanadium production totaled 100,000 metric tons (MT) in 2024. China was the world’s largest producer of vanadium by far, contributing 70,000 metric tons of vanadium. Russia came in at a distant second with output of 21,000 MT, and South Africa was in third place with 8,000 MT.

    Russian-owned Evraz is a large vanadium producer with assets in Russia and Czechia, and is a major supplier of ferrovanadium to the European steel market. In the first half of 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent trade sanctions have prompted end-users to look for more secure vanadium supplies. By the end of 2024, Russian vanadium pentoxide exports to China had dried up, and supply uncertainties were also reported in South Africa.

    For his part, CRU Group’s Goel believes other nations are also interested in boosting domestic vanadium production. “Governments worldwide have recognized vanadium as a critical mineral, leading to increased support for emerging vanadium projects,” he said. Goel cited as an example the private Australian company Vecco Group, which received an AU$3.8 million grant to advance the feasibility and design of its vanadium project in Brisbane.

    However, vanadium will have to break free from the current low pricing environment if ex-China projects are to move from discovery to production.

    How to invest in vanadium stocks

    Vanadium bullion is available from private individuals, but the metal is not publicly traded, and so most experts do not advise investing in physical vanadium. Instead, vanadium stocks are a common way to gain exposure.

    There are several publicly traded companies currently producing vanadium for investors to consider, as well as many companies exploring or developing vanadium projects, including as a by-product of other minerals. See the list of vanadium stocks you can invest in below for more details on their operations.

    [shortcode-js-qm-watchlist-widget stocks=’AVL:AU,BMN:LN,EFR:CC,LGO,NEXT:CC,QEM:AU,SR:CC,VRB:CC,WUC:CC’

    Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL)
    Australian Vanadium is building a vanadium pit-to-battery value chain in Western Australia that will incorporate its flagship Australian Vanadium project, considered one of the most advanced vanadium projects being developed globally.

    Bushveld Minerals (LSE:BMN)
    Bushveld Minerals is a primary vanadium mining company with one of the world’s largest high-grade primary vanadium resources. The company’s assets, all in South Africa, include two of the world’s four operating primary vanadium production processing facilities and an under-construction vanadium electrolyte production facility.

    Energy Fuels (TSX:EFR,NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU)
    Energy Fuels is primarily focused on uranium and rare earth metals, but its White Mesa mill in Utah, US, has the ability to process uranium-bearing ore from its mines into vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) as well. While the company is not currently producing vanadium, it has a stockpile of finished V2O5, with production and sales awaiting stronger market prices.

    Largo Resources (TSX:LGO,NASDAQ:LGO)
    Largo Resources owns and operates the Maracas Menchen mine in Brazil, and has annual V2O5 equivalent production guidance of between 9,000 and 11,000 MT. The company supplies vanadium products for multiple applications, and has developed vanadium redox battery systems for advanced renewable energy storage solutions.

    Manuka Resources (ASX:MKR)
    Manuka Resources holds two fully permitted precious metals projects in the Cobar Basin of New South Wales, Australia. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, it is also advancing the Taranaki VTM iron-vanadium-titanium project, which would extract vanadium-rich iron sands from the seabed of the New Zealand exclusive economic zone.

    NextSource Materials (TSX:NEXT,OTCQB:NSRCF)
    NextSource Materials’ advanced-stage Green Giant in-situ vanadium project in Madagascar is one of the world’s largest-known vanadium deposits, with a resource estimate of 60 million MT of V2O5 at an average grade of almost 0.7 percent. Green Giant is adjacent to NextSource’s Molo graphite mine.

    QEM (ASX:QEM)
    QEM is advancing its flagship Julia Creek vanadium and energy project in Queensland’s North West Minerals Province. The project hosts one of the largest vanadium deposits in the world, with a JORC resource of 2.87 billion MT at 0.31 percent V2O5, and a contingent oil resource of up to 654 million barrels.

    Strategic Resources (TSXV:SR)
    Strategic Resources is targeting the green steel market with its flagship BlackRock vanadium-titanium-iron project in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada. The project, which will host a mine and concentrator, is fully permitted and construction ready. The company will also have a metallurgical facility located in the Port of Saguenay.

    VanadiumCorp Resource (TSX:VRB)
    VanadiumCorp’s goal is to become a fully integrated producer of high-quality vanadium electrolytes for vanadium flow batteries. It plans to source material from its Lac Doré vanadium- and titanium-bearing magnetite deposit in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec.

    Western Uranium and Vanadium (CSE:WUC,OTCQX:WSTRF)
    Western Uranium and Vanadium is developing high-grade uranium and vanadium production at its Sunday Mine Complex in Colorado, US, and licensing and developing the nearby Mustang mineral processing plant. In Q2 2025, it delivered stockpiled and new production from Sunday to Energy Fuels’ White Mesa mill through an ore purchase agreement.

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

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream brand, has stepped down from the company he started 47 years ago citing a retreat from its campaigning spirit under parent company Unilever.

    Greenfield wrote in an open letter late Tuesday night — shared on X by his co-founder Ben Cohen — that he could no longer ‘in good conscience’ remain an employee of the company and said the company had been ‘silenced.’

    He said the company’s values and campaigning work on ‘peace, justice, and human rights’ allowed it to be ‘more than just an ice cream company’ and said the independence to pursue this was guaranteed when Anglo-Dutch packaged food giant Unilever bought the brand in 2000 for $326 million.

    Cohen’s statement didn’t mention Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza, but Ben & Jerry’s has been outspoken on the treatment of Palestinians for years and in 2021 withdrew sales from Israeli settlements in what it called ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory.’

    Greenfield’s resignation comes five months after Ben & Jerry’s filed a lawsuit accusing Unilever of firing its chief executive, David Stever, over his support for the brand’s political activism. In November last year Ben & Jerry’s filed another lawsuit accusing Unilever of silencing its public statements in support of Palestinian refugees.

    ‘It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone,’ Greenfield said.

    ‘And it’s happening at a time when our country’s current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community,’ he added.

    Jerry Greenfield, left, and Bennett Cohen, the founders of Ben and Jerry’s founders, in Burlington, Vt., in 1987.Toby Talbot / AP file

    Richard Goldstein, the then president of Unilever Foods North America, said in a statement after the sale in 2000 that Unilever was ‘in an ideal position to bring the Ben & Jerry’s brand, values and socially responsible message to consumers worldwide.’

    But now Greenfield claims Ben & Jerry’s ‘has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power.’ He said he would carry on campaigning on social justice issues outside the company.

    The financial performance of the Ben & Jerry’s brand isn’t made public but Unilever’s ice cream division made 8.3 billion Euros ($9.8 billion) in revenue in 2024. Unilever is in the process of spinning off its ice cream division, however, into a separate entity which involves cutting some 7,500 jobs across its brands globally.

    Cohen and Greenfield founded the business in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont, where it is still based.

    NBC News has contacted Unilever for comment overnight but had not received any at the time of publication.

    This post appeared first on NBC NEWS