Hi Joe, the bottom line is that there is a growing number of ASX-listed vanadium opportunities in the micro-cap space. There are risks associated with all of these companies, not so much in terms of their resource, but more to do with how their projects will ultimately be funded and where the vanadium (if it's mined), will end up. Furthermore, some companies like AVL are quite advanced in terms of a vertically-integrated strategy, as well as discussions with end-user groups of various types. Others aren't so well advanced. Some companies also promote themselves better than others too. It's a market, so there's always a discrepancy in respective values.

On 3 microcaps with energy to burn - September 26, 2018 12:23am

Hi Paul, the Triton story is an interesting story, but they have had their fair share of issues over recent years, but are looking to turn things around under new leadership.

On 3 microcaps with energy to burn - September 24, 2018 12:42am

Largo Resources is a TSX-listed vanadium producer with a market cap of $1.6b. My research focuses only on ASX-listed juniors, typically with a market value under $100m with emerging projects. Largo has performed very well share price wise, so it's story is being well received in North America.

On 3 microcaps with energy to burn - September 20, 2018 9:19am

The just commenced drilling program at the Obelisk prospect in WA will be well worth watching.

On Sipa - Delivering the goods - September 8, 2017 1:12am

Hi Alex, it's an important commodity that's lived in the shadow of graphite, lithium, vanadium for some time. A lot of it is produced as a by-product from copper and nickel operations, whilst there are a few dedicated cobalt operations - but typically in higher sovereign risk places like Uganda.

On The Trump Factor - Commodity Scorecard So Far - February 9, 2017 2:18am

Hi Alex, it seems to be pretty much related to a strong market move in all actual uranium-producing stocks, including ERA for example on the domestic market, plus a host of overseas players. You're right re uranium - no one will believe it until they see it - it's been in the doghouse for so long.

On Three Junior Equities Benefitting from Uranium's Recovery - February 1, 2017 1:35am

Orion is a great story - especially given how relatively advanced things are, but still with a lot of exploration upside. I believe the MD Errol Smart is presenting at Africa Down Under on Thursday.

On Orion acquiring exposure to quality zinc assets - September 7, 2016 10:35am

I agree to some extent with your near-term forecast. Nothing goes up in a straight line and the likelihood always was that Brexit wasn't going to be as scary for markets as the pessimists made out. However, whilst traders might look to exit or reduce gold positions near-term, I think any pullbacks will be viewed as a buying opportunity by longer-term investors. With interest rates likely to stay low (at zero or even negative levels) then gold will perform solidly.

On US dollar and receding Brexit fears place pressure on gold. Gold stocks are a short-term sell. - July 27, 2016 1:37am

It reminds me of all the hullabaloo surrounding ‘The Y2K bug’ – lots of hysteria at first, but in the end it all passed without any lasting consequences....a storm in a teacup ultimately....

On Does Brexit matter? - June 24, 2016 4:33am

Thank you for your kind words Patrick. Yes, it's important to distinguish between the commodities and their various outlooks. The big picture for most commodities looks quite positive, but the bulks are a different story.

On Base Metals Outlook - Is the Worst Behind Us? - June 20, 2016 1:04am

It's not easy finding good, specific zinc exposures James - a legacy of past failures and the metals being out of favour for so long.

On There is one commodity that everyone is talking about at Diggers - August 6, 2014 12:11am

I think there are some quite attractive exploration/emerging production opportunities on the ASX James. Many of these are indirect exposures, i.e. zinc is just one component of their commodity exposure, and these include KBL Mining (ASX: KBL), Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) and TNG Ltd (ASX: TNG).

On Graphite play Kibaran Resources (ASX: KNL) has maintained its strong performance, due to high-grade drilling and metallurgical results - July 25, 2014 3:24am

It's a Ponzi scheme James that could have major financial repercussions. A couple of contacts in China told me this morning that this is much bigger than a once-off incident - they claim it's widespread and in some instances commodities have been lent against tens of times.

On Commodities fraud in China has deepened, with China's chief auditor discovering $15b of loans backed by falsified gold transactions - June 27, 2014 2:11am

James, the deposits at Yamarna are likely to be large, so there will be the economies of scale necessary for a remote project like this. Bear in mind though that there are different scales of remote - we're not talking about deepest, darkest Africa here. I believe GOR will initially announce a Gruyere resource of between 1.5M - 2.0M oz grading 1.1g/t - 1.5g/t Au, which in turn could potentially support a 150,000 oz p.a. production scenario. The key here is scale and it's likely that this will end up being a +5Moz gold belt. The company already has Sumitomo as a JV partner, so in effect it already has a major on board for half its project.

On Gold Road (ASX:GOR) up 2c to 22c following yesterday's commentary after today releasing further outstanding results - June 26, 2014 1:40am

It will be really interesting to see what Sandfire comes up with in their drilling programs. The sniffs are already encouraging based on TLM's previous work and SFR's initial survey work. Having a motivated, cashed-up partner in the form of SFR is hugely important for TLM. Don't forget TLM also has cash reserves of $16m.

On On Friday shares in junior resource company Talisman Mining surged 36% following some intriguing news from their JV partner Sandfire Resources - June 22, 2014 10:14pm

Correct James. Norton Gold Fields is also undertaking a similar growth strategy based on expansion from a central processing facility. Ultimately, this all means firmer gold prices will be required to underpin future gold development, given China and India's continued growth in consumption.

On The cost of building a goldmine has increased significantly over the past decade, from US$560/oz to more than $2,300/oz last year - June 19, 2014 10:33am

That's it Rod, although the share price has taken a bit of a battering over the past 6 months as some investors have obviously grown impatient waiting for Sandfire to get cracking.

On Talisman Mining (ASX:TLM) has $16m cash, a market cap of just $13m, with Sandfire Resources to spend at least $15m via a farm-in - June 16, 2014 8:22am

Nice strategy. The next bubble to burst - SMSFs.

On Credit Suisse have released a report identifying what they believe will be the most profitable equity market strategy over the coming years - June 13, 2014 3:20am

Not just Japan but the world over, easy money from central banks has spurred record sharemarkets and over-valued property, as speculators chase returns. The innocent victims being left behind are the mums and dads that did the right thing and saved and put their money into the bank. The scary stat out of the US is that it's taken $5 of stimulus to generate $1 of growth.

On There are no one-way bets in global finance, but Japan's stock market comes close - June 13, 2014 3:18am

Absolutely Jordan, the shift in gold from west to east will continue. Investors in the west are fuelling property and equity booms with all of the cheap money that's been made available by central banks as they chase returns, with a lack of appreciation of risk.

On Whilst the West becomes complacent about gold, China, India and central banks will buy 90% of all gold that's produced during 2014 - June 11, 2014 4:23am

Interesting reading and thanks for sharing. A significant proportion of shale oil production in the US is economic only if base-case oil prices remain high. It's certainly added to production volumes but it requires a robust price to be viable. Predictions in some quarters of oil prices falling to $60 or even $40 a barrel won't happen.

On The oil price spike of 2008, as economic theory would suggest, has delivered a supply response: US shale has been significant, proven oil reserves (globally)... - May 13, 2014 4:22am

One imagines that it's primary benefit will be economic via freight use, but it's also likely to be an important passenger route.

On China has signed a deal to build a $3.8 billion rail link between Kenya's Indian Ocean port of Mombasa and Nairobi - May 12, 2014 5:08am

Let's hope so James. It starts with the big guys and filters down. Also demonstrates that there's fabulous value at the smaller end with companies that have kept active despite the gloom.

On Gold Road (ASX: GOR) today announced mineralisation over almost the entire length of the drill hole, with 284 metres at 1.0 g/t Au - February 19, 2014 3:47am

Yes, CCU has had its problems but is still the best ASX production opportunity. Investigator Resources (ASX: IVR) is a promising exploration play, but still a fair way from production status. Safest bet at present is probably to look at a silver ETF.

On Silver is the quiet achiever in the commodity space, up 3% so far during 2014 and up almost 10% from a 3-year low during... - February 7, 2014 12:24am

Thanks Jordan. Yes, history tends to repeat itself. I read an interesting recent article by someone in the US who was finishing their journalism degree at the time of the dot-com crash in 2000 - she says it's eerily familiar now to how it was back in 2000.

On The dot-com fiasco all over again, with minnow Minerals Corp (ASX: MSC) announcing the purchase of a cloud-based IT business - December 30, 2013 3:18am

Correct Jordan. Must have had an effect!

On Gold Road Resources (ASX: GOR) is up 150% since June on encouraging regional exploration results at Yamarna in WA - November 20, 2013 5:55am

Indeed James

On We have a Spec Buy recommendation on Consolidated Tin (ASX: CSD) as it moves towards first tin production in late 2014 - November 11, 2013 8:20am

Hi Alex, they're planning on using the existing Mt Garnet plant, which has accelerated the whole timeline. They're finalising access to the plant with their Chinese major shareholder, which bought the plant last year.

On We have a Spec Buy recommendation on Consolidated Tin (ASX: CSD) as it moves towards first tin production in late 2014 - November 8, 2013 9:37am

You can fool some of the people, but not all of them. US Mint gold coin sales have hit a two-year high. The ordinary folk know what's going on - and what lies ahead.

On The US stockmarket is a prime example of a self-interested feedback loop which has become detached from reality via an unsustainably low and artificial... - November 4, 2013 9:29am

They are hopelessly addicted to stimulus....

On Bloomberg news' survey of 40 economists suggests that the fed will wait to taper until March and will only reduce the bond purchases by... - October 20, 2013 11:24am

James, Jameson Resources appears to be very well run and importantly its projects are coking coal (not thermal coal), so hence more attractive from a price and market perspective. The projects are also close to essential infrastructure, which is a huge plus for any bulk commodity project - and this sets it apart from most of its peers. Lots of project activity too which should help drive market interest.

On My preferred emerging exploration plays from Resources Rising Stars on the Gold Coast last week are FAR and Jameson... - October 9, 2013 9:36am