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El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, tweeted on Monday night, ‘I miss you already, President T.’

While seated next to Bukele in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump spoke highly of the foreign leader, saying that Salvadorans ‘have one hell of a president.’

Bukele took note last week when Trump referred to him as ‘President B’ in a Truth Social post.

‘President Bukele has graciously accepted into his Nation’s custody some of the most violent alien enemies of the World and, in particular, the United States,’ Trump declared in that April 12 Truth Social post. ‘These barbarians are now in the sole custody of El Salvador, a proud and sovereign Nation, and their future is up to President B and his Government. They will never threaten or menace our Citizens again!’

Bukele shared a screenshot of the post on X, drawing particular attention to Trump’s ‘President B’ nickname for him.

Trump noted on Monday that he would be interested in sending violent ‘homegrown criminals’ to El Salvador, if that could be done legally.

‘Honored to join @POTUS in welcoming my friend President @nayibbukele to the United States,’ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a Monday post on X. 

‘Since my visit to El Salvador, the United States has deported dangerous MS13 and Tren de Aragua gang members to El Salvador’s prison. Because of this, our nation is safer and more secure. Our hemisphere is lucky to have two leaders who are totally aligned in their commitment to law and order,’ Rubio noted.

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The first Mexico-born member of Congress is launching her comeback bid on Tuesday, setting her sights on a Democrat who Republicans view as one of the most vulnerable House incumbents of 2026.

‘Unfortunately, we don’t have that many voices in the Spanish-speaking community — in Telemundo, in television — talking to the Spanish-speaking community about the amazing work President Trump is doing, and his administration,’ former Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital in an interview prior to her announcement.

‘And that’s something that I feel I’m obligated to do, because there’s a lot of misinformation being spread from the left, and they’re trying to instill fear and hate in the Hispanic community.’

Flores served in Congress for roughly six months, from late June 2022 until early January 2023, having flipped Texas’ 34th Congressional District from blue to red after winning a special election to replace ex-Rep. Filemon Vela Jr., D-Texas.

She lost re-election to Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, twice, though their rematch saw Flores come within less than 3% of Gonzalez’s victory.

Flores’ 2026 bid is aimed at challenging a different Democrat, however. The former GOP lawmaker told Fox News Digital that she intends to run in Texas’ Loredo-anchored 28th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas.

Cuellar is a moderate known to break from his own party on issues like border security, crime and abortion. 

He’s served in Congress since 2005, with victories spanning from a few thousand votes to margins as high as 30%.

Cuellar most recently won last November by less than 6% – or roughly 13,000 votes – amid a federal indictment accusing him of an array of corruption charges.

‘It’s not about what Mayra Flores wants. It’s what this country needs me to do. And this country needs me to run in Texas 28 and win this seat,’ Flores said. ‘This is a seat that can be flipped in 2026. Right now we need a much bigger majority. It makes it very difficult for President Trump to get anything across with such a small majority.’

Flores said she was deeply familiar with the district and has familial ties to it.

In addition to the seat being a viable opportunity for the GOP, she pointed to the criminal indictment as an argument for taking on Cuellar, and she noted he had been in office since she was a 1-year-old, having first served in the Texas State House in 1986.

‘At the end of the day, I don’t care what party he is, whether you’re a Republican or you’re a Democrat,’ Flores said. ‘Being a member, it’s … a position where you can help so many people, and you are able to represent an entire district. And yet he threw it all away. And no amount of money is worth you doing that to your country.’ 

Cuellar denied any wrongdoing on his or his wife’s part in a statement when the indictment was announced.

‘I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations. Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas,’ Cuellar said in May 2024.

‘Before I took any action, I proactively sought legal advice from the House Ethics Committee, who gave me more than one written opinion, along with an additional opinion from a national law firm,’ he said. ‘The actions I took in Congress were consistent with the actions of many of my colleagues and in the interest of the American people. Furthermore, we requested a meeting with the Washington D.C. prosecutors to explain the facts, and they refused to discuss the case with us or to hear our side.’

Flores signaled she intended to focus heavily on the issues of agriculture and the economy when asked what she wanted to make another stint in Congress look like.

‘At the end of the day, you know, money’s important. Without money, you can’t have a shelter, you can’t have a car, you can’t provide for your children. So the economy is a top priority for me,’ Flores said. ‘And of course, agriculture is a passion of mine. I was a farmworker. My parents were migrant workers. We traveled a lot. I believe our farmworkers need to be prioritized.’

She compared her push on agriculture to the Republican stance on U.S. energy independence.

‘We talk about being independent, right, on oil and gas, which I agree, 100%. But we need to be food-independent as well,’ Flores said.

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Gutting Social Security isn’t ‘efficient’ — it’s a broken promise. Democrats and Republicans should stand up and fight back to protect it.

Social Security is not charity. Americans pay in, paycheck after paycheck, over a lifetime of hard work. When they get older, they get that money back to help them retire. That’s the iron-clad, take-it-to-the-bank promise that America makes to workers.

But right now, Social Security is under attack like it has never been before. Billionaire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said seniors won’t complain if they miss a Social Security check. Elon Musk called Social Security the ‘world’s biggest Ponzi scheme.’ Musk then sent his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to gut the agency by indiscriminately firing workers, closing down offices, and trying to cut phone services.

What does it mean to slash staff and services with no rhyme or reason? Two things: more mistakes in delivering checks to Americans, and fewer workers to fix those mistakes. And when people don’t get their checks, that’s a cut to the benefits they have earned.

Mistakes are already showing up. After DOGE got its hands on Social Security, Ned, a retiree from Washington state, was marked ‘dead’ in the Social Security system — despite being very much alive. He had $5,000 in benefits snatched right out of his bank account (paid while he was ‘dead’) and his monthly checks ceased. Ned spent weeks trying to fix the mistake and still hasn’t gotten paid back for two months of missing checks.

Or take Tom and Chris from Westborough, Massachusetts, whose son has autism. For years, disability benefits through Social Security have helped pay for his care. And for years, those benefits have come through on time, without fail. But when they checked their son’s Social Security account recently, his benefits had been terminated. No explanation — just stopped. The money eventually came through, but it led to panic over how they would pay the bills.

And while people aren’t getting their checks, there are fewer Social Security workers to help fix problems. Slashing staff and shutting down regional offices means Americans are forced to drive hours to get help with their applications or missing benefits. Once they get to an office, the lines can be out the door. They wait hours before they can get help — if they get help at all.

Elon Musk and DOGE claim the reason they’re hacking away at people’s Social Security is to cut down on ‘extreme levels of fraud,’ saying tens of millions of dead people over the age of 100 are getting payments. But even current Social Security Acting Administrator Leland Dudek — put in place by Donald Trump in February — contradicts that claim.

Here’s the thing: if Elon Musk and DOGE truly want to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, there are easy ways to do it. I gave them 30 suggestions that would cut $2 trillion in government waste. Gutting the Social Security Administration so that it works worse for our seniors, veterans, and Americans with disabilities is not one of those ways.

But don’t just take it from me. President George W. Bush’s Social Security Administration Commissioner said that if Elon Musk and DOGE wanted to make changes to increase efficiency at the agency, they could, ‘but we’re doing it the way that 22-year-old frat boys that have never seen the system think is a good idea, and that’s a mistake.’

Musk himself said he’ll make mistakes, and it’s clear that coming for Social Security is a giant one. If he’s really honest enough to admit his own mistakes, why doesn’t he reverse course? Instead of recognizing that DOGE’s Social Security takeover is only hurting Americans, he’s doubling down, even encouraging President Trump to make the same false claims. President George W. Bush’s Social Security Commissioner called it ‘a real disservice to President Trump.’ More importantly, it’s a deep disservice to the American people.

We shouldn’t be cutting Social Security services and threatening Americans’ benefits — we should be making the program stronger. People are struggling with sky-high prices while their retirement savings are evaporating. We need a temporary increase in benefits right now to give people some relief. We should also protect the long-term security of the system by lifting the cap on the amount millionaires and billionaires pay into Social Security, which would also yield enough money to permanently expand benefits.

Social Security shouldn’t be a partisan issue. It was first created by a nearly unanimous vote by members of Congress from both parties. Even now, as gutting the agency has become a key part of the administration’s agenda, Republicans know that DOGE’s ‘efficiency’ mission isn’t working. They’re seeing reports of long lines at offices, long waits on the phone, and website crashes from their own constituents in places like Arizona, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. So where are they? Why are Democrats the only ones concerned about what happens with Social Security?

Social Security isn’t something we give away out of the goodness of our hearts. It’s something Americans earned over a lifetime of hard work — an ironclad contract that they can count on. Now, Donald Trump, Musk, and DOGE are trying to skip out on that contract and calling it ‘efficient.’ But it isn’t efficiency — it’s a broken promise to the American people, and Democrats and Republicans alike should stand up and fight back.

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As it aims to defend its razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives in next year’s midterm elections, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is off to a fast fundraising start.

The NRCC, which is the House GOP’s campaign arm, announced on Tuesday that it ‘shattered records’ with a $21.5 million fundraising haul last month, which it says was the committee’s best month of an off-year and the best March in NRCC history.

Last month’s fundraising fueled an overall $36.7 million haul during the January-March first quarter of 2025. The NRCC showcased that its fundraising in the past three months was its strongest off-year first quarter, outpacing by nearly $11 million what it brought in during the same period in the 2024 election cycle.

The NRCC also highlighted that it had $23.9 million cash on hand heading into April and that it had paid down its debt to $4.5 million, which it said was ahead of its pace in the 2024 cycle.

‘The NRCC is on offense and fueled by unstoppable momentum and widespread support,’ NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella emphasized.

Marinella claimed that ‘while out of touch House Democrats are fighting amongst themselves, we’re charging toward 2026 with unmatched energy, ready to grow our House majority and continue delivering results for the American people.’

The NRCC’s first-quarter haul does not include the eye-popping $35.2 million it says it brought in at a fundraiser earlier this month in the nation’s capital that was headlined by President Donald Trump. Those funds will be included in the committee’s second quarter figures.

The rival Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) had yet to announce its first quarter fundraising at the time this report was posted. The DCCC outraised the NRCC $11.1 million to $9.2 million in February fundraising.

Republicans currently control the House with a fragile 220-213 majority, with two blue-leaning vacant seats likely to be back in the hands of Democrats when special elections in those districts are held later this year.

Fundraising is a crucial component to the GOP’s game plan to keep control.

When asked what concerns him the most when it comes to defending the House majority, NRCC Chair Rep. Richard Hudson said in a Fox News Digital interview earlier this month that ‘Democrats have a structural advantage when it comes to fundraising. They always seem to have just mountains of money. So I think the amount of money the Democrats raise is probably the only thing that really concerns me.’

‘We have to raise enough money to keep up with the Democrats and make sure that our candidates can get their message out,’ Hudson emphasized.

Hudson, a North Carolina Republican and 12-year veteran of the House, said that ‘the President understands that he’s got to keep the House majority in the midterm so that he has a four-year runway, instead of a two-year runway to get his agenda enacted.’

Pointing to the House Democratic leader, Hudson added, ‘Speaker Hakeem Jeffries would fight President Trump on every front, and it would be really difficult for him to achieve his agenda. President Trump understands it’s important to hold the House and he’s, he’s been extremely helpful to us and we appreciate it.’

The DCCC is taking aim at nearly three dozen Republican-held seats in the chamber as it aims to win back the majority. Earlier this month, the House Democrats’ campaign arm released its initial 2026 target list, which included 35 GOP-controlled seats, and launched an effort to fundraise for the party’s eventual nominees in each of the districts.

The DCCC emphasized that their moves signal that ‘Democrats are on offense and poised to win the majority in 2026.’

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The Department of Transportation (DOT) is working through a backlog of roughly 3,200 grant awards that did not have signed agreements to go with them, which Secretary Sean Duffy said was inherited from when former Secretary Pete Buttigieg oversaw the department.

‘Since coming into office, my team has discovered an unprecedented backlog of grants leftover from the previous administration,’ Duffy revealed a couple of weeks ago in a statement.

Most recently, one of these backlogged grants was the Washington Bridge in Rhode Island, which has been closed since 2023 on its westbound side until proper repairs are made, according to the Rhode Island state government.

‘This backlog, along with ridiculous DEI and Green New Deal requirements, prevented real infrastructure from being built and funded. Under the Trump Administration, we’ve ripped out this red tape and are getting back to what matters,’ Duffy said. ‘As part of our work to deliver real results, we are pleased to announce $221 million in grants for Rhode Island’s Washington Bridge — a critical link that carries thousands of vehicles a day.’

A DOT spokesperson told Fox News Digital on background that the backlog totals $43 billion and that 1,000 grant winners were selected by the Biden administration after Trump won but before then-President Joe Biden left office, which made up for $9 billion of the total needing to be made official. 

However, the department said that ‘nothing was done to actually get these grant agreements signed and sent to projects.’

The DOT further noted that they are ‘quickly reviewing’ the grants and looking at ‘executive grant agreements’ when it comes to major infrastructure projects like roads and bridges.

When it comes to the grant awards for roads and bridges, Duffy noted in an April 10 Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump that ‘most of them are good’ but said that while the Biden administration announced the grants, many of those agreements did not end up getting signed and dealt with.

Duffy also reiterated that the projects also had ‘green and social justice requirements.’

‘Take it out,’ Trump said.

‘We’re pulling all that out and putting the money toward the infrastructure and not the social movement from the last administration,’ the secretary responded.

‘Good steel, as opposed to green paper mache,’ the president quipped to laughs in the room.

The Trump administration has been adamant overall about scrutinizing federal funds that were doled out through grants, especially if they were believed to have ideological strings attached. Shortly after Duffy’s confirmation, he scrapped the DOT Equity Council and other ‘environmental justice’ related measures.

The DOT has also notably placed the California high-speed rail project under federal investigation for its funds, as the cost of the project continues to rise, as critics of the project say little results have emerged so far. 

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I pay attention to technical support levels as the combination of price support/resistance is always my primary stock market indicator. We’re in a downtrend and, in my opinion, the trading range is very, very clear on the S&P 500 right now:

I think most everyone can agree that much of the selling and fear and panic can be attributed the trade war – at least much of the weakness occurred with startling tariff news. So I figured I’d take a look at Q4 2018, which also experienced a 2-3 month bear market with the S&P 500 just barely reaching the prerequisite 20% drop. Here’s what that looked like:

The chart pattern during Q4 2018 was quite similar. The VIX more than tripled from under 12 to above 36. The VIX also more than tripled in 2025, after starting from a much higher level near 15. In both 2018 and 2025, that initial selling episode saw a drop of roughly 10% before consolidating. Then the next drop was another 10% or so. We don’t know if the selling for 2025 has ended, though, as that’s the wild card.

Here’s what we do know about sentiment. The VIX, with a value in the 50s, is signaling a potential S&P 500 bottom. Historically, surges in the VIX to this level or higher, have coincided either with stock market bottoms or they at least they suggest that any future selling in the S&P 500 is likely to be minor. Here’s a long-term monthly chart of the S&P 500 and the VIX, showing this relationship:

Extreme fear marks bottoms and I believe this is a great visual to support this belief. History tells us that when the VIX tops, we’ve either bottomed or we’re very close to bottoming.

Late last week, we saw both the March Core CPI and March Core PPI come in well below expectations, which was a good result for those hoping for rate cuts to begin again later this year. On Friday, a lot of folks were talking very bearish after the University of Michigan consumer sentiment plummeted to a near 50-year low. The problem with that bearish line of thinking is that sentiment is a contrarian indicator. Bearish readings tend to be quite bullish for stocks, while bullish readings can mark significant tops. Don’t believe me? Check out this chart and then provide me your best bearish argument:

The low readings in the green-shaded areas are actually very bullish. You can’t argue with history and facts. When the general public is feeling despair, it’s the time to buy stocks, not sell. And for those who believe this time is different, let’s check back in one year from now and let’s see where we are.

Note one more thing. The absolute highest consumer sentiment reading was at the beginning of 2000, just before the dot com bubble burst. Everyone felt great back then and the S&P 500 didn’t make a meaningful new all-time high for 13 years. So you tell me, would you rather see sentiment strength or weakness?

I know it sounds awful to hear that consumer sentiment readings are among the lowest in history and it likely makes little sense to many why the stock market would go higher while sentiment is so negative. But you have to remember that the stock market looks 6-9 months ahead. It’s not concerned with the news coming out now. It’s much more concerned about what the market environment will look like later this year.

Here’s my last point for today. We’ve begun to see more bullish rotation among sectors and between growth and value. Let me show you one final chart that highlights the rotation into growth as the S&P 500 continues its descent:

Notice the S&P 500 made its final high in February as money rotated quickly from growth to value in the two months prior. That was Wall Street exiting the riskier areas of the market, when everything still looked fine. It was one of the many reasons why I turned cautious and moved to cash in late January. Now the opposite is occurring. The S&P 500 is downtrending and the news just keeps getting worse. Meanwhile, Wall Street is happily buying all the risky shares you’d like to sell.

Listen, I’ve been wrong before and maybe I’m wrong and the S&P 500 continues to decline throughout 2025. But I trust my review of the market and my signals that have worked so well for me in the past. I’m perfectly fine owning stocks right now.

Tomorrow morning, in our free EB Digest newsletter, I’ll be showing everyone the extreme manipulation that’s been taking place in the stock market the past 4 weeks or so. Market makers are stealing (legally) from all of us. I spotted this manipulation back in June 2022, which helped me to go against the grain and call the market bottom then and I’m seeing it again now. To learn more, be sure to CLICK HERE and sign up for our FREE EB Digest newsletter, if you haven’t already. There’s no credit card required and you may unsubscribe at any time.

Happy trading!

Tom

This week has brought ups and downs for the gold price as US President Donald Trump’s tariff decisions continue to create widespread uncertainty across sectors globally.

The yellow metal started the week at about US$3,020 per ounce, but quickly tumbled below the US$3,000 level as markets around the world took a beating.

Although gold is known as a safe haven, it’s common for it to fall in tandem with other assets during widespread downturns. The idea is that gold won’t drop as hard and will recover more quickly.

Speaking just after gold’s fall, Gary Wagner of TheGoldForecast.com explained that its decline shouldn’t be concerning for investors. Here’s how he explained it:

‘One thing that is clear is that when equities came under fire … liquidation happened across the board in multiple asset groups and classes. Gold was kind of a witness to that, and the massive liquidation that occurred was either to liquidate profitable positions to cover margin calls, or just to get more into cash than they had been in terms of the position of the portfolio. So to me it’s not that unexpected, and the amount of the decline is actually fairly calm considering how much it’s gone up.’

Wagner’s advice not to worry about gold’s pullback was prescient — the precious metal was back on the move by Wednesday (April 9), and on Thursday (April 10) it notched yet another fresh all-time high.

It continued moving upward on Friday (April 11), breaking US$3,200 and setting another price record.

Gold’s midweek rebound came after Trump’s turnaround on tariffs — in a surprise move on Wednesday, he announced a 90 day pause on ‘reciprocal’ tariffs for most countries.

China is an exception — Trump said he would be boosting China’s rate to 125 percent after the Asian nation announced further retaliatory tariffs against the US. It’s since been clarified that tariffs on China stand at 145 percent; on Friday, China said it would raise its tariffs on the US to 125 percent.

Canada and Mexico are also exceptions. Most goods from these countries are already subject to 25 percent tariffs, and these will remain in place. Blanket 25 percent tariffs on cars and car parts, as well as steel and aluminum, have also not been affected at this point.

The reversal from Trump came not long after he encouraged his followers on Truth Social to ‘be cool’ and told them it was ‘a great time to buy.’ It also reportedly came after White House officials put increasing pressure on Trump to change course. Worries about a selloff in US government bonds raised alarm bells, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent taking these concerns to Trump.

‘The bond market is very tricky, I was watching it. The bond market right now is beautiful. But yeah, I saw last night where people were getting a little queasy’ — Trump

Major US indexes rebounded strongly once Trump announced his decision, and although they had given up some gains by the end of the week, they still finished the period in the green.

In terms of where that leaves gold, many experts with agree its prospects still look bright even as it trades at all-time highs. Here’s what Will Rhind of GraniteShares said:

‘If you look at something called the M2 ratio, which is the money supply divided by the price of gold, that is a particularly scary chart. Obviously if history is any guide, then when the ratio is high, that typically means that gold is overvalued, and when the ratio is low, that typically means that gold is undervalued.

‘If you look at it right now, we’re somewhat I would say below the median. In other words, we’re closer to gold being undervalued rather than overvalued at a time when we just talked about gold hitting a new all-time high.’

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Silver-mining companies and juniors have seen support from a strong silver price in 2025. Since the start of the year, the price of silver has increased by over 11 percent as of April 11, and it reached a year-to-date high of US$34.38 per ounce on March 27.

Silver’s dual function as a monetary and industrial metal offers great upside. Demand from energy transition sectors, especially for use in the production of solar panels, has created tight supply and demand forces.

Demand is already outpacing mine supply, making for a positive situation for silver-producing companies.

So far, aboveground stockpiles have been keeping the price in check, but the expectation is those stocks will be depleted in 2025 or 2026, further restricting the supply side of the market.

How has silver’s price movement benefited Canadian silver stocks on the TSX, TSXV and CSE? The five companies listed below have seen the best performances since the start of the year. Data was gathered using TradingView’s stock screener on February 12, 2025, and all companies listed had market caps over C$10 million at that time.

1. Discovery Silver (TSX:DSV)

Year-to-date gain: 185.92 percent
Market cap: C$848.98 million
Share price: C$2.03

Discovery Silver is a precious metals development company focused on advancing its Cordero silver project in Mexico. Additionally, it is looking to become a gold producer with its recently announced acquisition of the producing Porcupine Complex in Ontario, Canada.

Cordero is located in Mexico’s Chihuahua State and is composed of 26 titled mining concessions covering approximately 35,000 hectares in a prolific silver and gold mining district.

A 2024 feasibility study for the project outlines proven and probable reserves of 327 million metric tons of ore containing 302 million ounces of silver at an average grade of 29 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver, and 840,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 0.08 g/t gold. The site also hosts significant zinc and lead reserves.

The report also indicated favorable economics for development. At a base case scenario of US$22 per ounce of silver and US$1,600 per ounce of gold, the project has an after-tax net present value of US$1.18 billion, an internal rate of return of 22 percent and a payback period of 5.2 years.

Discovery’s shares gained significantly on January 27, after the company announced it had entered into a deal to acquire the Porcupine Complex in Canada from Newmont (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM).

The Porcupine Complex is made up of four mines including two that are already in production: Hoyle Pond and Borden. Additionally, a significant portion of the complex is located in the Timmins Gold Camp, a region known for historic gold production.

Discovery anticipates production of 285,000 ounces of gold annually over the next 10 years and has a mine life of 22 years. Inferred resources at the site point to significant expansion, with 12.49 million ounces of gold, from 254.5 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 1.53 g/t.

Upon the closing of the transaction, Discovery will pay Newmont US$200 million in cash and US$75 million in common shares, and US$150 million of deferred consideration will be paid in four payments beginning on December 31, 2027.

According to Discovery in its full-year 2024 financial results, the Porcupine acquisition will help support the financing, development and operation of Cordero. Discovery’s share price reached a year-to-date high of C$2.12 on March 31.

2. Almaden Minerals (TSX:AMM)

Year-to-date gain: 136.36 percent
Market cap: C$16.47 million
Share price: C$0.13

Almaden Minerals is a precious metals exploration company working to advance the Ixtaca gold and silver deposit in Puebla, Mexico. According to the company website, the deposit was discovered by Almaden’s team in 2010 and has seen more than 200,000 meters of drilling across 500 holes.

A July 2018 resource estimate shows measured resources of 862,000 ounces of gold and 50.59 million ounces of silver from 43.38 million metric tons of ore, and indicated resources of 1.15 million ounces of gold and 58.87 million ounces of silver from 80.76 million metric tons of ore with a 0.3 g/t cutoff.

In April 2022, Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) ruled that the initial licenses issued in 2002 and 2003 would be reverted back to application status after the court found there had been insufficient consultation when the licenses were originally assigned.

Ultimately, the applications were denied in February 2023, effectively halting progress on the Ixtaca project. While subsequent court cases have preserved Almaden’s mineral rights, it has yet to restore the licenses to continue work on the project.

In June 2024, Almaden announced it had confirmed up to US$9.5 million in litigation financing that will be used to fund international arbitrations proceedings against Mexico under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

In a December update, the company announced that several milestones had been achieved, including the first session with the tribunal, at which the company was asked to submit memorial documents outlining its legal arguments by March 20, 2025. At that time, the company stated it would vigorously pursue the claim but preferred a constructive resolution with Mexico.

In its most recent update on March 21, the company indicated that it had submitted the requested documents, claiming US$1.06 billion in damages. The memorial document outlines how Mexico breached its obligations and unlawfully expropriated Almaden’s investments without compensation.

Shares in Almaden reached a year-to-date high of C$0.135 on February 24.

3. Avino Silver & Gold Mines (TSX:ASM)

Year-to-date gain: 98.43 percent
Market cap: C$373.48 million
Share price: C$2.52

Avino Silver and Gold Mines is a precious metals miner with two primary silver assets: the producing Avino silver mine and the neighboring La Preciosa project in Durango, Mexico.

The Avino mine is capable of processing 2,500 metric tons of ore per day ore, and according to its FY24 report released on January 21 the mine produced 1.1 million ounces of silver, 7,477 ounces of gold and 6.2 million pounds of copper last year. Overall, the company saw broad production increases with silver rising 19 percent, gold rising 2 percent and copper increasing 17 percent year over year.

In addition to its Avino mining operation, Avino is working to advance its La Preciosa project toward the production stage. The site covers 1,134 hectares, and according to a February 2023 resource estimate, hosts a measured and indicated resource of 98.59 million ounces of silver and 189,190 ounces of gold.

In a January 15 update, Avino announced it had received all necessary permits for mining at La Preciosa and begun underground development at La Preciosa. It is now developing a 350-meter mine access and haulage decline. The company said the first phase at the site is expected to be under C$5 million and will be funded from cash reserves.

The latest update from Avino occurred on March 11, when it announced its 2024 financial results. The company reported record revenue of $24.4 million, up 95 percent compared to 2023. Avino also reduced its costs per silver ounce sold.

Additionally, Avino reported a 19 percent increase in production in 2024, producing 1.11 million ounces of silver compared to 928,643 ounces in 2023. The company’s sales also increased, up by 23 percent to 2.56 million ounces of silver compared to 2.09 million ounces the previous year.

Avino’s share price marked a year-to-date high of C$2.80 on March 27.

4. Highlander Silver (CSE:HSLV)

Year-to-date gain: 90 percent
Market cap: C$160.17 million
Share price: C$1.90

Highlander Silver is an exploration and development company advancing projects in South America.

Its primary focus has been the San Luis silver-gold project, which it acquired in a May 2024 deal from SSR Mining (TSX:SSRM,NASDAQ:SSRM) for US$5 million in upfront cash consideration and up to an additional US$37.5 million if Highlander meets certain production milestones.

The 23,098 hectare property, located in the Ancash department of Peru, hosts a historic measured and indicated mineral resource of 9 million ounces of silver, with an average grade of 578.1 g/t, and 348,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 22.4 g/t from 484,000 metric tons of ore.

In July 2024, the company said it was commencing field activities at the project; it has not provided results from the program. In its December 2024 management discussion and analysis, the company stated it was undertaking a review of prior exploration plans and targets, adding that it believes there is exceptional growth potential.

Highlander’s most recent news came on March 11, when it announced it had closed an upsized bought deal private placement for gross proceeds of C$32 million. The company said it will use the funding to further exploration activities at San Luis and for general working capital.

Shares in Highlander reached a year-to-date high of C$1.96 on March 31.

5. Santacruz Silver Mining (TSXV:SCZ)

Year-to-date gain: 85.45 percent
Market cap: C$192.16 million
Share price: C$0.51

Santacruz Silver is an Americas-focused silver producer with operations in Bolivia and Mexico. Its producing assets include the Bolivar, Porco and Caballo Blanco Group mines in Bolivia, along with the Zimapan mine in Mexico.

In a production report released on January 30, the company disclosed consolidated silver production of 6.72 million ounces, marking a 4 percent decrease from the 7 million ounces produced in 2023. This decline was primarily attributed to a reduction in average grades across all its mining properties.

In addition to its producing assets, Santacruz also owns the greenfield Soracaya project. This 8,325-hectare land package is located in Potosi, Bolivia. According to an August 2024 technical report, the site hosts an inferred resource of 34.5 million ounces of silver derived from 4.14 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 260 g/t.

Shares in Santacruz reached a year-to-date high of C$0.59 on March 18.

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

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Spearmint Resources Inc. (CSE: SPMT) (OTC Pink: SPMTF) (FSE: A2AHL5) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Spearmint’) wishes to announce that it has significantly increased the acreage of the ‘Sisson North Tungsten Project’ in New Brunswick directly bordering the Sisson Tungsten Mine. This new project now consists of approximately 4,890 contagious acres increased from 2,582 prospective for tungsten.

James Nelson, President of Spearmint stated, ‘There continues to be strong demand for commodities caught in the middle of global tariff battles—particularly tungsten. Considering these developments, we believe there will be increasing emphasis on securing domestic sources of strategic materials. With commodity prices remaining elevated and gold at all-time highs, we anticipate a much more buoyant junior mining market. With multiple active projects, Spearmint is well positioned to take advantage of these market conditions.’

​In April 2025, China’s export controls on tungsten continued to impact global supply chains and market dynamics. These measures, initiated in February, require exporters to obtain licenses for shipping tungsten and other critical minerals abroad, citing national security and non-proliferation concerns.​

The restrictions have led to increased prices and supply uncertainties, particularly affecting industries reliant on tungsten, such as defense and clean energy sectors. Analysts anticipate that Chinese-supplied tungsten may be scarce in the global markets.

In response to these challenges, companies and countries are exploring alternative sources and strategies to mitigate the impact of China’s export controls on tungsten.

Tungsten has always been a valuable material due to its unique properties, such as its extremely high melting point, strength, and durability. It is used in a wide variety of applications, including manufacturing hard metals, electronics, lightbulb filaments, and in military and aerospace technologies. However, China’s actions regarding tungsten have made it even more valuable for several reasons.

In short, the combination of China’s tightening control over tungsten production and the growing demand for this critical material has made tungsten even more valuable on the global market.

Qualified person for mining disclosure:

The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by Frank Bain, PGeo, a director of the company and qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Spearmint Resources Inc.

Spearmint’s projects include four projects in Clayton Valley, Nevada: the 1,136-acre McGee lithium clay deposit, which has a resource estimate of 1,369,000 indicated tonnes and 723,000 inferred tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) for a total of 2,092,000 tonnes of LCE, directly bordering Pure Energy Minerals & Century Lithium Corp.; the 280-acre Elon lithium brine project, which has access to some of the deepest parts of the only lithium brine basin in production in North America; the 124-acre Green Clay lithium project; and the 248-acre Clayton Ridge gold project, the 4,722-acre George Lake South Antimony Project in New Brunswick and the 4,890 acre Sisson North Tungsten Project.

This project was acquired via staking.

For a cautionary note and disclaimer on the crypto diversification, please refer to the news release dated November 12, 2024.

Contact Information
Tel: 1604646-6903
www.spearmintresources.ca

info@spearmintresources.ca

‘James Nelson’
President
Spearmint Resources Inc.

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248370

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Osisko Metals Incorporated (the ‘ Company or ‘ Osisko Metals ‘) ( TSX-V: OM ; OTCQX: OMZNF ; FRANKFURT: 0B51 ) is pleased to announce initial drilling results from the 2025 drilling program at the Gaspé Copper Project, located in the Gaspé Peninsula of Eastern Québec. Results for five holes are reported below, collared at the southern margin of the mineralized deposit as defined in the 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE, see attached map and November 14, 2024 news release ).

Highlights (see Table 1 below):

  • Drill hole 30-1059 intersected 300.0 metres grading 0.39% Cu and 3.17 g/t Ag within the 2024 MRE model where there was limited historical data.
  • Drill hole 30-1060 intersected 220.5 metres grading 0.29% Cu and 2.09 g/t Ag within the 2024 MRE model, as well as 211.0 metres grading   0.42% Cu and 2.27 g/t Ag at depth below the 2024 MRE model, extending mineralization to a vertical depth of 598 metres.
  • Drill hole 30-1063 intersected 109.5 metres grading 0.32% Cu and 2.52 g/t Ag within the 2024 MRE model, as well as 61.5 metres grading   0.33% Cu and 2.60 g/t Ag, and 43.5 metres grading   0.48% Cu and 3.20 g/t Ag at depth below the 2024 MRE model, extending mineralization to a vertical depth of 678 metres.
  • Drill hole 30-1069 intersected 237.0 metres grading 0.32% Cu and 2.46 g/t Ag within the 2024 MRE model, as well as 148.8 metres grading   0.63% Cu and 4.40 g/t Ag at depth below the 2024 MRE model, extending mineralization to a vertical depth of 528 metres.
  • Drill hole 30-947, an un-assayed historical hole located 110 metres south of the 2024 MRE model, was stockpiled on site and the core recovered and assayed, yielding five significant intersections, including 82.0 metres grading 0.31% Cu and 2.55 g/t Ag. These results indicate that the deposit is open to the south.

Robert Wares, Osisko Metals CEO, commented: ‘We are very pleased with these new drill results at Gaspé, which have exceeded our expectations. All holes intersected significant disseminated mineralization within the volume of the 2024 MRE model, and new mineralization has been added at depth well below the base of the 2024 MRE model, which was constrained to the lower contact of the C Zone skarn horizon. Drill core from historical hole 30-947 was also recovered and assayed, yielding positive results and indicating that the deposit extends laterally 110 metres south of the 2024 MRE model and remains open in that direction. This is an excellent start to the 2025 drill program, and we look forward to a regular flow of results from our 110,000-metre program as we confirm our large existing copper resource, and aim to expand it at depth, to the south and to the west towards Needle Mountain.’

Table 1: Drill Hole Mineralized Intervals; intersections indicated in bold occur outside the November 2024 MRE model. See attached map for drill hole locations.

DDH No.

From To Intersection Cu Ag Mo
(m) (m) (m) % g/t %
30-0947 41.0 106.0 65.0 0.17 1.49
And 159.5 194.0 34.5 0.30 2.13
And 229.0 311.0 82.0 0.31 2.55
And 408.0 444.9 36.9 0.34 2.98 0.010
And 485.5 533.5 48.0 0.33 2.85
30-1059 8.0 308.0 300.0 0.39 3.17
And 501.0 535.0 34.0 0.28 2.33
30-1060 26.0 246.5 220.5 0.29 2.09
And 387.0 598.0 211.0 0.42 2.27 0.009
30-1063 86.0 155.0 69.0 0.56 3.30
(including) 114.2 120.6 6.4 3.19 16.8
And 192.0 301.5 109.5 0.32 2.52 0.019
And 490.5 552.0 61.5 0.33 2.60 0.011
And 634.5 678.0 43.5 0.48 3.20
30-1069 30.0 267.0 237.0 0.32 2.46
(including) 252.0 264.0 12.0 1.46 9.76
And 303.0 342.0 39.0 0.81 6.85
And 374.7 528.5 148.8 0.63 4.40
(including) 442.5 482.2 39.7 1.21 8.18

All drill holes were drilled sub-vertically into the Gaspé Copper altered calcareous stratigraphy that dips 20 to 25 degrees to the north; true widths are estimated at 90-92% of reported widths. The L1 (C Zone) the L2 (E Zone) skarn/marble horizons were intersected in all holes, as well as intervening porcellanites (potassic-altered hornfels) that host the bulk of the disseminated copper mineralization.

Mineralization occurs as disseminations and veinlets of chalcopyrite and is mostly stratigraphically controlled in the area of Needle Mountain, Needle East and Copper Brook. As expected, no significant molybdenum mineralization was encountered in porcellanites in the latter areas, but high grades (up to 0.4% Mo) were locally obtained in both the C Zone and E Zone skarns. The bulk of the molybdenum mineralization occurs in the stockworks further north at Copper Mountain, where true porphyry copper-style stockwork mineralization occurs, forming a distinct secondary mineralized zone that is characterized by widespread, continuous copper-molybdenum mineralization radiating from the central source of hydrothermal fluids, i.e. the Copper Mountain porphyry intrusion. At least five vein/stockwork mineralizing events have been recognized at Copper Mountain, which overprint earlier skarn/porcellanite-hosted mineralization throughout the Gaspé Copper system. The 2022 to 2024 Osisko Metals drill programs were focused on defining open-pit resources within the Copper Mountain stockwork mineralization, leading to the May 2024 MRE (see May 6, 2024 press release ). Extending the resource model south of Copper Mountain into the poorly-drilled primary skarn/porcellanite portion of the system subsequently led to a significantly increased resource, mostly in the Inferred category (see November 14, 2024 press release ).

The 2025 drill program is primarily designed to convert the November 2024 MRE to Measured and Indicated categories, as well as test the expansion of the system deeper into the stratigraphy and laterally to the south and southwest towards Needle East and Needle Mountain respectively.

Qualified Person

Mr. Bernard-Olivier Martel, P. Geo., an independent consultant, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical data reported in this news release and he is a Professional Geologist registered in the Province of Quebec.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Mineralized intervals reported herein are calculated using an average 0.12% copper lower cutoff over contiguous 20-metre intersections (shorter intervals as the case may be at the upper and lower limits of reported intervals).

Osisko Metals adheres to a strict QA/QC program for core handling, sampling, sample transportation and analyses, including insertion of blanks and standards in the sample stream. Drill core is securely transported to its core processing facility on site, where it is logged, cut and sampled. Samples selected for assay are sealed and shipped to ALS Canada Ltd.’s preparation facility in Sudbury. Pulps are analyzed at the ALS Canada Ltd. facility in North Vancouver, BC. All samples are analyzed by four acid digestion followed by both ICP-AES and ICP-MS for copper, molybdenum and silver.

About Osisko Metals

Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals sector, with a focus on copper and zinc. The Company acquired a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspé Copper mine from Glencore Canada Corporation in July 2023. The Gaspé Copper mine is located near Murdochville in Québec s Gaspé Peninsula. The Company is currently focused on resource expansion of the Gaspé Copper system, with current Indicated Mineral Resources of   824 Mt grading 0.34% CuEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of 670 Mt grading 0.38% CuEq (in compliance with NI 43-101). For more information, see Osisko Metals’ November 14, 2024 news release entitled ‘ Osisko Metals Announces Significant Increase in Mineral Resource at Gaspé Copper ‘. Gaspé Copper hosts the largest undeveloped copper resource in eastern North America, strategically located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly province of Québec.

In addition to the Gaspé Copper project, the Company is working with Appian Capital Advisory LLP through the Pine Point Mining Limited joint venture to advance one of Canada s largest past-producing zinc mining camps, the Pine Point project, located in the Northwest Territories. The current mineral resource estimate for the Pine Point project consists of Indicated Mineral Resources of 49.5 Mt at 5.52% ZnEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of 8.3 Mt at 5.64% ZnEq (in compliance with NI 43-101). For more information, see Osisko Metals June 25, 2024 news release entitled ‘Osisko Metals releases Pine Point mineral resource estimate: 49.5 million tonnes of indicated resources at 5.52% ZnEq’ . The Pine Point project is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, close to infrastructure, with paved road access, an electrical substation and 100 kilometers of viable haul roads.

For further information on this news release, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact:

Don Njegovan, President Email: info@osiskometals.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always, using phrases such as ‘expects’, or ‘does not expect’, ‘is expected’, ‘interpreted’, management’s view’, ‘anticipates’ or ‘does not anticipate’, ‘plans’, ‘budget’, ‘scheduled’, ‘forecasts’, ‘estimates’, ‘potential’, ‘feasibility’, ‘believes’ or ‘intends’ or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results ‘may’ or ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’ or ‘will’ be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to, among other things: the tax treatment of the FT Units; the timing of incurring the Qualifying Expenditures and the renunciation of the Qualifying Expenditures; the ability to advance Gaspé Copper to a construction decision (if at all); the ability to increase the Company’s trading liquidity and enhance its capital markets presence; the potential re-rating of the Company; the ability for the Company to unlock the full potential of its assets and achieve success; the ability for the Company to create value for its shareholders; the advancement of the Pine Point project; the anticipated resource expansion of the Gaspé Copper system and Gaspé Copper hosting the largest undeveloped copper resource in eastern North America.

Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, assumptions about: the ability of exploration results, including drilling, to accurately predict mineralization; errors in geological modelling; insufficient data; equity and debt capital markets; future spot prices of copper and zinc; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of mining equipment and positive relations with local communities and groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the Company’s public disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Metals’ issuer profile. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/86f64a14-ab80-44b9-804a-0b997e5fc82e

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