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December 2025

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Don Durrett: Gold, Silver Price Targets and 15 ‘Must-Own’ Silver Stocks

Kicking off the list in the fifth spot is Don Durrett of GoldStockData.com.

In this January interview, Don shared his silver and gold price outlook for 2025, as well as his 15 ‘must-own’ silver stocks. We don’t have time here for the full list, but I’ll leave the link to the video below. For now, here’s Don talking about why he’s so bullish on silver and gold stocks.

Peter Grandich: Gold Mines Set to Print Cash as Price Hits New Highs

Peter Grandich of Peter Grandich & Co. is next.

This interview is from all the way back in February, when gold was still around US$2,800 per ounce. Peter talked about how US$5,000 was no longer sounding outlandish to him, and also explained how the higher gold price could impact mining companies.

Vince Lanci: Silver’s London Liquidity Crisis — What’s Happening, What’s Next

Vince Lanci of Echobay Partners is always a popular guest, and in mid-October he helped break down unusual dynamics in silver, which had broken through US$50 per ounce.

Ed Steer: Silver Rally Now Unstoppable, Price to Hit Triple Digits

Ed Steer of Ed Steer’s Gold and Silver Digest comes in at number two. This interview is also from mid-October, and in it Ed weighed in on the silver market’s complex inner workings. Ed also gave his thoughts on the precious metal’s long-term prospects.

Rick Rule: Gold Strategy, Oil Stocks I Own, ‘Sure Money’ in Uranium

Finally, our most popular interview of 2025 was with none other than Rick Rule of Rule Investment Media. In this early November conversation, he said he had recently sold 25 percent of his junior gold stocks; he also explained why he did it and how he redeployed that capital.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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.

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.

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.

Craig Hemke, publisher of TFMetalsReport.com, shares his thoughts on the gold and silver markets heading into 2026, outlining why he remains bullish.

‘Just keep adding some — it’s your protection against the madness. It’ll get you through the storm,’ he said. ‘It preserves your net worth from the destruction of these bankers and politicians.’

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Altius Minerals (TSX:ALS,OTCQX:ATUSF) is making a bet on a lithium market recovery, agreeing to acquire Lithium Royalty (TSX:LIRC) in a C$520 million deal that will expand its exposure to battery metals.

Under a definitive agreement announced by the two companies on Monday (December 22), Altius plans to purchase all of the issued common and convertible common shares of Lithium Royalty for C$9.50 each.

The amount will be paid as either C$9.50 in cash or 0.24 of a common Altius share, according to shareholders’ election.

For Altius, the acquisition will allow it to bring a portfolio of 37 lithium royalties into its fold. None of them involve streams, and they span projects from production through early exploration.

Four of the royalties are tied to producing assets, three of which were commissioned in 2025 and are currently ramping up or expanding. Another 12 projects are in advanced stages with completed economic studies, while three to five additional assets are targeting startup between 2026 and 2030.

The company said the portfolio is geographically concentrated in lower-risk jurisdictions, with most assets located in Canada, Australia and South America, and diversified across both brine-based and hard-rock lithium production.

At the current spot price, Altius expects the acquired royalties to contribute between US$29 million and US$43.7 million in annual revenue by the end of the decade. Lithium carbonate equivalent prices fell to multi-year lows in 2025, holding below US$9,000 per metric ton for most of the year, even as demand continues to expand beyond electric vehicles.

Altius said global lithium demand is expected to exceed 1.5 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent in 2025, with supply deficits potentially re-emerging as early as 2026 after years of oversupply.

Altius Chief Executive Brian Dalton said lithium has “emerged as a mainstream scale mined commodity,” and described the acquired portfolio as featuring “very long resource lives,” strong cost positioning and low jurisdictional risk.

A special shareholders’ meeting is scheduled to happen no later than March 10, 2026.

If approved, the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, after which Lithium Royalty shares will be delisted and the company will cease to be a reporting issuer in Canada.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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.

Gold marked a new price milestone on Tuesday (December 23), continuing its record-breaking 2025 run.

The spot price rose as high as US$4,511.83 per ounce, hitting that point at 4:04 p.m. PST.

Gold spot price chart, December 16 to 23, 2025.

The yellow metal’s latest rise caps off what’s been a historic year.

After starting 2025 around US$2,640, gold had risen to the US$3,200 level by April. It stayed within a fairly flat range until the end of August, when it launched higher once again, breaking US$4,300 in mid-October.

Gold took a breather following that move, even falling briefly below US$4,000; however, its retracement was neither as steep nor as long as market watchers expected. It began gaining steam again in mid-November, and took off again in earnest this week, powering higher along with its sister metal silver, which is currently over US$71 per ounce.

Both metals benefit from geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, which have been present on a global scale throughout the year. Interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve have provided support too, as have expectations of easier monetary policy after Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s term ends next year.

Gold also continues to benefit from strong central bank buying, while silver’s industrial side is attracting attention. Although it is valued as an investment metal, it’s key for technology such as solar panels.

Elsewhere in the precious metals space, platinum rose to a fresh record on Tuesday, reaching US$2,355.83 per ounce. Palladium remains below its top price level, but is elevated at around US$1,895 per ounce.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Artificial intelligence (AI) has cemented its role as a key sector for investors, but its path forward is shifting.

Several catalysts, including sustained AI infrastructure spending and US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, are poised to drive tech sector growth in 2026; however, massive capital expenditure digestion by hyperscalers, alongside increasing demands for a return on investment and persistent power supply limitations, are influencing a rotation in focus, with risks like high valuations and policy uncertainty potentially capping AI industry gains.

Overall, experts are calling for the technology sector to navigate a delicate balance between aggressive expansion and necessary financial discipline in 2026, with AI at the heart of these matters.

Capex digestion and AI verticalization

AI capital expenditures by hyperscalers are projected to fuel demand for semiconductors, data centers and related infrastructure in the year head, as per Nicholas Mersch, portfolio manager at Purpose Investments.

According to notes from multiple analysts, the Big Four — Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) — are slated to spend over US$300 billion on AI infrastructure. Mersch cited forecasts that see hyperscaler capex hitting roughly US$600 billion in 2026.

“Over the next 12 to 24 months, the narrative likely shifts from who can build fastest to who can drive the highest revenue and margin per dollar of AI infrastructure,’ Mersch added. “This is where verticalization matters. The companies that can capture the full stack, from silicon to applications, look like they will win.’

His top pick in this arena is Google, followed by Microsoft.

While the cloud layer remains a high-stakes game of concentration among a few platforms, Mersch said the hardware layer underneath is beginning to fragment as the chip stack quietly diversifies.

“Large multi-year AI chip deals are broadening the market beyond NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), with Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) and custom application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) programs winning meaningful share. High-bandwidth memory (HBM) has become the real bottleneck and profit pool, with tri-sourced HBM3E, an emerging HBM4 race and surging HBM demand from ASICs,’ the expert said.

‘The result is a more plural, multi-vendor accelerator ecosystem. Looking out to the second half of the decade, total AI silicon spend can keep growing even if individual GPU vendors see more competition and pricing pressure, with memory, packaging and custom silicon capturing a larger share of the economics.’

Chip diversification, however, is now colliding with HBM and packaging shortages, constraining output from 2026 to 2027. BMI’s Cedric Chehab notes that rapid capex growth is outpacing supply, ruling out near-term oversupply, but warns of volatility if data center investments fail to deliver profitability amid persistent infrastructure shortages.

Power as a binding constraint for AI

Power limits are a specter looming above AI expansion heading into 2026.

“Individual campuses are pushing past 1 gigawatt, utilities in key regions are scrambling to add generation and transmission and Big Tech is signing multi-gigawatt nuclear and long-term power deals, including restarts of previously shuttered plants,” explained Mersch. US data center demand is now poised to triple by 2030, thrusting utilities, nuclear operators and grid infrastructure into prime investment orbits.

“Even Google has acknowledged that serving capacity needs to double roughly every six months,” he added.

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, and other hyperscalers became active infrastructure developers in 2025, inking high-profile strategic deals designed to secure 24/7 — and carbon-free — energy for AI data centers.

Google’s deal with Elementl Power in May to provide capital to develop three advanced nuclear sites in the US represents a shift toward nuclear energy that is perhaps the most significant structural change in the AI landscape today, further extending the verticalization narrative into the power grid itself.

The shift toward energy-backed AI is being institutionalized at the highest levels of finance. In late 2025, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) launched its US$1.5 trillion Security and Resiliency Initiative, a decade-long plan specifically targeting the intersection of AI, grid infrastructure and nuclear energy.

By earmarking US$10 billion in direct equity for US firms, the initiative effectively underwrites the full-stack transition.

Are AI stocks in a bubble?

The path for AI is moving from building technology to proving its value. While many experts remain optimistic, the transition from deployment to execution introduces new risks that could define the industry’s next winners and losers.

As organizations fully embed AI into their core workflows, the operational stakes are shifting. Infrastructure strategies are diversifying as security-conscious businesses seek more control over their high-value AI workloads.

Simultaneously, the rise of agentic AI, which automates full workflows, combined with cost and complexity issues on major hyperscalers, will lead to a trend of cloud repatriation toward regional and bare-metal platforms.

Despite concerns over a potential bubble, the industry will continue to receive massive institutional backing. B2BROKER’s John Murillo rejects the idea of an AI bubble, comparing OpenAI to Edison’s plants amid giants’ resilience.

‘In the case of dot-coms, everyone was investing just to invest; it didn’t matter what exactly to choose and some of the projects didn’t have a solid foundation. With AI, it’s not like this. The technology proves its worthiness every day, and it has already swept away many junior analysts,’ Murillo emphasized.

Nevertheless, high AI valuations risk corrections if adoption disappoints or energy constraints emerge.

The success of the current capex cycle will depend on whether these investments translate into measurable operating leverage and cost savings through the back half of the decade.

“The bubble scenario is very unlikely,” Murillo added. “I think in the current economic situation, there are problems much worse than a potential bubble.”

For example, geopolitical tensions, sticky inflation and US midterm elections could spark volatility, prompting sector rotations away from overvalued mega caps.

Investor takeaway

The investment focus in AI is shifting from the initial narrative to tangible execution and quantifiable profitability. While the challenges of elevated valuations and geopolitical instability persist, some experts dismiss comparisons to a technology bubble, arguing the sector’s demonstrated value offers a stable underpinning.

Future leaders in the AI industry will be distinguished by their capacity to convert infrastructure spending into significant operating leverage and cost efficiencies.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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.