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Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (December 19) as of 9:00 pm UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$88,004.97, up by 3.6 percent over 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, December 19, 2025.

Chart via TradingView

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,991.30, up by 7.2 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

  • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.91, up by 5.7 percent over 24 hours.
  • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$126.85, up by 7.6 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

MetaPlanet boosts US expansion efforts

American depositary receipts of Bitcoin treasury company Metaplanet (TSE:3350,OTCQX:MPJPY) began trading on the OTC market under the ticker symbol MPJPY, replacing the previously unsponsored MTPLF ticker.

This step builds on earlier US expansions. The Tokyo-based company established a wholly owned subsidiary called Metaplanet Treasury in Miami, Florida, in May to handle Bitcoin accumulation and treasury operations with up to US$250 million in capital. The launch is intended to enhance US investor participation in MetaPlanet’s Bitcoin strategy.

Poland parliament approves MiCA-aligned crypto bill

Poland’s lower house of parliament, called the Sejm, approved a crypto asset market bill, overriding President Karol Nawrocki’s prior veto. It now heads to the Senate for review, where it potentially faces another veto.

Nawrocki vetoed the bill earlier in December, citing threats to civil liberties like easy website blocks. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government resubmitted the bill, unchanged. It passed with 241 votes.

The bill aligns Poland with the EU’s MiCA regulation by designating the Financial Supervision Authority to oversee crypto exchanges, impose sanctions and introduce criminal liability for offenses.

Senate confirms Selig as CFTC chair

The US Senate has confirmed Mike Selig as the next chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), bringing permanent leadership back to an agency that has operated for months in near limbo.

Selig’s confirmation passed 53 to 43 as part of a broader package of federal appointments. The CFTC had been functioning with a single commissioner, Acting Chair Caroline Pham, after multiple resignations hollowed out the five member panel. While Pham kept the agency operational, the lack of a Senate-confirmed chair constrained long-term planning, staffing and coordination with other regulators.

That gap was especially acute as lawmakers debated expanding the CFTC’s role in overseeing spot crypto markets.

Clarity Act heads for Senate markup in January

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act is set to enter Senate markup in January, according to David Sacks, White House crypto and artificial intelligence (AI) adviser, putting the bill on a formal path toward passage.

‘We had a great call today with Chairmen @SenatorTimScott and @JohnBoozman who confirmed that a markup for Clarity is coming in January. Thanks to their leadership, as well as @RepFrenchHill and @CongressmanGT in the House, we are closer than ever to passing the landmark crypto market structure legislation that President Trump has called for,’ Sacks posted on X. ‘We look forward to finishing the job in January!’

Senate Committee on Banking Chair Tim Scott and Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chair John Boozman have agreed on the timeline.

The bill, which cleared the House earlier this year, aims to settle long-running jurisdiction disputes by spelling out when a token is a security versus a commodity. Lawmakers are expected to focus amendments on asset classification tests, investor protection standards and how quickly platforms must register under the new regime.

Another key issue will be how the US Securities and Exchange Commission and CFTC coordinate oversight during the transition period. If the schedule holds, Congress could finalize a reconciled version later during the year.

Bybit re-enters UK market after two years

Crypto exchange Bybit has resumed operations in the UK after a two year absence triggered by tighter rules on crypto marketing and promotions. The platform has restarted spot trading with 100 pairs, using a compliance structure designed to meet the Financial Conduct Authority’s financial promotion standards.

Rather than holding its own UK authorization, Bybit is operating under an arrangement with London-based exchange Archax, which is licensed to approve crypto promotions for unauthorised firms.

This route has previously been used by other major exchanges seeking access to British users.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

We also break down next week’s catalysts to watch to help you prepare for the week ahead.

In this article:

    This week’s tech sector performance

    US stocks advanced this week amid key economic data releases, with tech leading gains after Micron Technology’s (NASDAQ:MU) results release and easing artificial intelligence (AI) sector pressures.

    The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) rose 0.02 percent on the week, closing Friday (December 19) at 6,834.5.

    However, tech stock losses earlier in the week kept gains in check. The Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) lost 0.1 percent for the week to close at 23,307.62 on Friday.

    3 tech stocks moving markets this week

    1. Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU)

    Micron Technology reported earnings for its first fiscal quarter of 2026 on Thursday (December 18), showing strong results driven by surging high-bandwidth memory sales for AI data centers

    Revenue reached US$13.64 billion, up 93 percent from last year and higher than the company’s September revenue projection of US$12.8 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were US$4.78, beating estimates of US$3.95. The company generated strong free cashflow and declared a US$0.115 per share dividend payable on January 14, 2026.

    Looking ahead, Micron adjusted its profit guidance for the upcoming quarter to US$8.42 per share, higher than Wall Street’s US$4.78 consensus, due to continued AI boom momentum.

    Investors responded to the results by sending Micron shares up 10 percent post-earnings. Momentum carried into Friday’s trading session, spilling over into other tech stocks, which have come under pressure in recent weeks over lofty valuations and funding concerns. The company ended the week 0.58 percent higher.

    2. Trump Media & Technology Group (NASDAQ:DJT)

    Trump Media & Technology Group rose nearly 30 percent before Thursday’s opening bell after the company announced plans to merge with fusion power company TAE Technologies.

    The all-stock deal is reportedly valued at more than US$6 billion. Devin Nunes, chair and chief executive of Trump Media, and Dr. Michl Binderbauer, CEO and director at TAE, are set to serve as co-CEOs.

    TAE is a private company with backing from Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and other companies. The merger is slated to create one of the first publicly traded nuclear fusion companies. “We’re taking a big step forward toward a revolutionary technology that will cement America’s global energy dominance for generations,“ Nunes said.

    Shares of Trump Media closed the week with a gain of 39.53 percent.

    3. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL)

    Oracle shares dropped 5.4 percent on Wednesday (December 17) after a Financial Times report claimed data center investor Blue Owl Capital pulled out of a US$10 billion financing round for one of the AI data centers Oracle is constructing for OpenAI in Michigan. Talks reportedly stalled due to concerns over project delays, tougher debt terms, Oracle’s rising debt load and lease arrangements, per sources cited by the news outlet.

    Oracle disputed the report’s implications, stating that Michigan negotiations are “on schedule” without Blue Owl.

    The company said its project development partner, Related Digital, has chosen “the best equity partner from a competitive group of options, which in this instance was not Blue Owl.” Still, the company finished the week with its share price ahead by 2.18 percent as tech stocks staged an end-of-year comeback.

    Oracle, Micron Technology and Trump Media performance, December 15 to 19, 2025.

    Chart via Google Finance.

    Top tech news of the week

                Tech ETF performance

                Tech exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track baskets of major tech stocks, meaning their performance helps investors gauge the overall performance of the niches they cover.

                This week, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) declined by 0.94 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) saw a loss of 0.66 percent.

                The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) also decreased by 0.61 percent.

                Tech news to watch next week

                Markets will be closed mid-week next week, with low trading volumes likely keeping movement calm.

                Watch for year-end selling in tech stocks, a potential rotation into safer sectors and light data like factory orders and home sales reports. Any comments on future interest rates could move markets somehwat, but expect mostly flat trading unless big news like policy changes breaks through.

                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 silver price was on the rise once again this week — it surged past the US$67 per ounce level on Friday (December 19), hitting a new record before pulling back.

                As for gold, it spent much of the period around the US$4,330 per ounce level, although it rose as high as US$4,360 on Thursday (December 18), approaching its own all-time high.

                Investors were eyeing November US consumer price index (CPI) data, which came out on Thursday. It was up 2.7 percent year-on-year, while core CPI was measured at 2.6 percent.

                Those figures were quite a bit lower than analysts’ estimates, and data collection issues caused by the US government shutdown have left market participants questioning the results.

                Notably, Bureau of Labor Statistics officials had to make ‘certain methodological assumptions’ because the October CPI report was canceled entirely. The bureau also started November data collection later than usual, driving concerns about a rebound in numbers for December.

                US jobs data for both October and November came out this week as well, showing that the unemployment rate for last month rose to 4.6 percent, the highest since 2021.

                While 64,000 jobs were added in November, 105,000 were lost in October, and revisions took 33,000 jobs away from the months of August and September.

                Outside US economic data, it’s worth noting that for silver there’s still a lot of focus on behind-the-scenes actions that could be impacting the price.

                Here’s what Substack newsletter writer John Rubino had to say about that:

                ‘A lot of the discontinuities that we’re seeing in the silver market right now are due to the fact that the big exchanges like Comex may not have enough silver to satisfy the demands of futures contract holders.

                ‘In other words, there are a lot more people out there with long futures contracts that could come in and demand silver than there is silver to satisfy that demand. And the number of people who are standing for delivery on futures contracts is rising, and the amount of silver in these exchanges is shrinking.’

                Bullet briefing — Platinum beats gold, copper hits new record

                Platinum price on the move

                I’d be remiss if I didn’t also take a moment to mention platinum.

                While gold and silver have been making headlines, platinum’s 2025 rise has been quiet, but significant — it’s up over 100 percent year-to-date and nearly hit US$1,980 per ounce this week.

                Platinum is somewhat similar to silver in that they both have precious and industrial sides, and they’ve both seen persistent deficits in recent years.

                Platinum’s deficit has definitely helped it rise this year, but looking forward to next year the World Platinum Investment Council is expecting a balanced market. When I saw that, I wondered if that would mean lower prices in 2026. But that may not necessarily be the case.

                Edward Sterck said there are a couple of nuances in the council’s outlook — for example, it’s anticipating profit taking from exchange-traded funds, but if that doesn’t happen, then the platinum deficit may persist. He also noted that balance in 2026 wouldn’t erase years of deficits:

                ‘A balanced market doesn’t solve for the fact we’ve had three years of deficits. It doesn’t in any way, I suppose, rebuild aboveground stocks. And it’s the shortage of aboveground stocks that seems to be one of the major catalysts behind this price action and behind the market tightness.’

                Copper price hits new high

                It’s not only precious metals that have been hitting new highs this year.

                The price of copper has been climbing as well, hitting a new all-time high of close to US$12,000 per metric ton last week on the London Metal Exchange.

                It’s pulled back slightly since then, but market watchers agree the copper outlook remains strong as rising demand meets constrained supply. In fact, I’ve been asking experts what they think the top-performing asset of next year will be, and copper has been a popular pick.

                Lobo Tiggre of IndependentSpeculator.com chose the base metal as his highest-confidence trade of 2025, and he said he’s sticking with it next year.

                Here’s what he had to say about copper:

                ‘Top pick for 2026 is copper. Similar reasons to 2025 —the copper price has been kicked around, up and down by what I think of as sort of extraneous issues. But the fundamentals mean the demand scenario just looks phenomenal, and the supply has been really constrained.’

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

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

                As the world races to meet rising power demand driven by artificial intelligence and advanced computing, cleantech is stepping into a new era of opportunity.

                Developing and scaling innovative energy technologies has never been more accessible or cost-efficient, thanks to breakthroughs in AI-driven design, automation and data analytics that are speeding up everything from materials science to grid optimization.

                While US climate finance leadership appears uncertain, Canada is emerging as a strong contender for global influence, backed by supportive policy frameworks, abundant natural resources and a deep bench of innovation-focused companies.

                Here’s a look at the best-performing Canadian cleantech stocks on the TSX 2025 by year-to-date gains. CSE-listed companies were considered, but none made the list at this time.

                Data for this article was gathered on December 16, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies with market capitalizations greater than C$50 million were considered.

                1. Anaergia (TSX:ANRG)

                Year-to-date gain: 187.23 percent
                Market cap: C$472.75 million
                Share price: C$2.70

                Anaergia is a global company that specializes in converting waste, including wastewater and agricultural and municipal solid waste, into renewable energy, clean water and organic fertilizer.

                The company has operations in 17 countries spanning North America, Africa, Asia and Europe. In 2025, Anaergia has expanded its global reach through partnerships with companies in Italy and Spain, as well as through a partnership agreement to build a biogas facility in South Korea.

                In July 2024, Anaergia closed the third tranche of a C$40.8 million investment deal with Marny Investissement that gave Marny a controlling interest of about 60 percent in Anaergia, supporting the company’s pivot to employ a greater focus on technology sales and operations and maintenance contracts.

                The company’s September investor presentation highlights its new strategy of streamlined operations, expanding through global partnerships and selective Build-Own-Operate delivery.

                In its Q3 2025 results, the company reported strong financials, with revenue increasing 77 percent year-over-year to C$51.4 million, gross margins expanding to 28.8 percent and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of C$2.6 million.

                2. Tantalus Systems (TSX:GRID)

                Year-to-date gain: 150.53 percent
                Market cap: C$250.03 million
                Share price: C$4.76

                Tantalus Systems provides technology that gives utilities greater control and insight into their electric grids.

                This includes advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), load management systems and grid analytics, all of which contribute to a more efficient and reliable power grid.

                One of its key products, TRUConnect AMI, provides real-time data on energy consumption and grid conditions. The TRUFlex Load+DER Management system helps manage energy demand and integrate distributed energy resources like solar power, while TRUGrid Automation optimizes grid operations and improves response to events like power failures.

                On July 7, Tantalus announced that it was extending its partnership with EPB in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to deploy 20,000 TRUSense Ethernet Gateways over the next five years, integrating with EPB’s fiber network to enhance grid modernization and operational efficiency.

                The company’s annual recurring revenue has grown at an approximate compound annual growth rate of 18 percent since 2016, according to its October presentation.

                Its Q3 revenue hit C$14.2 million, up 22.5 percent year-over-year, driven by growth of 30 percent in connected devices and 10 percent in software and services. Its adjusted EBITDA doubled year-over-year to C$1.2 million.

                3. Ballard Power Systems (TSX:BLDP)

                Year-to-date gain: 50.21 percent
                Market cap: C$1.09 billion
                Share price: C$3.65

                Ballard Power Systems is a hydrogen fuel cell technology company that develops, manufactures and sells proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products that convert hydrogen into clean electricity with zero emissions. The company targets heavy-duty applications like buses, trucks, trains, marine vessels and stationary power.

                Recent deals include a December memorandum of understanding with Kolon Industries for fuel cell components and market expansion and a May multi-year agreement for 50 fuel cell engines with Egypt’s MCV to power its intercity buses.

                In Q3 2025, Ballard’s revenue surged 120 percent year-over-year to C$32.5 million led by bus and rail deliveries, with gross margins improving to 15 percent and cash reserves at C$525.7 million. The company also cut total operating expenses by 36 percent.

                4. Algonquin Power & Utilities (TSX:AQN)

                Year-to-date gain: 32.29 percent
                Market cap: C$613 billion
                Share price: C$8.48

                Algonquin Power & Utilities operates regulated electric, water, wastewater and natural gas utilities across the US, Canada, Bermuda and Chile, alongside a retained Hydro Group after divesting its larger renewables business as part of its pure-play regulated utility pivot.

                The company completed the sale of its renewable energy assets, excluding hydro, to LS Power in January 2025 for approximately US$2.5 billion. The company declared a Q4 2025 dividend of US$0.065 per common share.

                5. Brookfield Renewable Partners (TSX:BEP.UN)

                Year-to-date gain: 15.41 percent
                Market cap: C$11.41 billion
                Share price: C$38.27

                Brookfield Renewable Partners owns and operates a global portfolio of hydroelectric, wind, solar and energy storage assets. It also offers sustainable solutions such as nuclear services and carbon capture. The company’s strategy emphasizes long-term power purchase agreements and asset recycling.

                Major 2025 deals include a hydropower framework with Brookfield Asset Management (TSX:BAM,NYSE:BAM) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) for up to 3 gigawatts of hydroelectricity capacity, starting with US$3 billion in contracts for 670 megawatts capacity in Pennsylvania.

                Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold direct investment interest in one or more companies mentioned in this article.

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

                Nevada Sunrise Metals Corporation (TSXV: NEV,OTC:NVSGF) (OTC Pink: NVSGF) (‘Nevada Sunrise’ or the ‘Company’) announced today that it has granted a total of 3,250,000 stock options to directors, officers and consultants of the Company, exercisable at a price of $0.05 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant. The stock options have been granted in accordance with the Company’s stock option plan.

                About Nevada Sunrise

                Nevada Sunrise is a junior mineral exploration company with a strong technical team based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, that holds interests in gold, copper and lithium exploration projects located in the State of Nevada, USA.

                Nevada Sunrise holds the right to purchase a 100% interest in the Griffon Gold Mine Project, located approximately 50 kilometers (33 miles) southwest of Ely, NV.

                Nevada Sunrise holds the right to earn a 100% interest in the Coronado Copper Project, located approximately 48 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of Winnemucca, NV.

                Nevada Sunrise owns 100% interests in the Gemini West, Jackson Wash and Badlands lithium projects, all of which are located in the Lida Valley in Esmeralda County, NV.

                As a complement to its exploration projects in Esmeralda County, the Company owns Nevada Water Right Permit 86863, also located in the Lida Valley basin, near Lida, NV.

                For Further Information Contact:
                Warren Stanyer, President and Chief Executive Officer
                email: warrenstanyer@nevadasunrise.ca
                Telephone: (604) 428-8028
                Website: www.nevadasunrise.ca

                FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

                This release may contain forward‐looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur and include disclosure of anticipated exploration activities. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward‐looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward‐looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date such statements were made. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward‐looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

                Such factors include, among others, risks related to future plans for the Company’s Nevada mineral properties; reliance on technical information provided by third parties on any of our exploration properties; changes in mineral project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or metallurgical recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays due to pandemic; delays due to weather; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled ‘Risk Factors’ in the Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis for the Nine Months ending June 30, 2025, which is available under Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

                Although Nevada Sunrise has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Nevada Sunrise disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

                Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

                To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278754

                News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

                The oil and gas market was punctuated with volatility in 2025.

                Oil prices softened as supply outpaced demand and inventories built. Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slipped in late 2025, with Brent dipping below US$60 per barrel and WTI hovering at US$55.

                Production increases from non-OPEC producers — including record US output — and higher OPEC+ quotas have contributed to a notable supply overhang, pressuring crude toward four year lows.

                Starting the year above US$70, both Brent and WTI prices have now seen steep declines of more than 20 percent amid signs of weaker demand in major economies like China and elevated global stocks.

                Meanwhile, the natural gas market saw price shifts driven by weather and storage dynamics.

                Prices started the year at US$3.64 per million British thermal units and slipped to a seasonal low of US$2.74 in August. Values peaked at US$5.31 on December 5, and have since retreated to the US$3.94 level.

                The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) raised its outlook for late 2025 and early 2026 gas prices after an early cold snap bolstered heating demand, even as forecasts have moderated Henry Hub projections for 2025 to 2026.

                Oil market battles persistent headwinds

                2025 saw oil prices fluctuate between highs of US$81.86 (Brent) and US$78.99 (WTI) and lows of US$59.41 and US$55.56, respectively, as the energy market served as a barometer of global political and trade tensions.

                “Throughout the year, prices have continued the downtrend they began in April (2024) as OPEC+ continued to hike output and China’s economy continued to struggle under the weight of a flailing property sector, downbeat consumer confidence, overindebted local governments and flagging external demand,” he added.

                While the oil market isn’t new to volatility, this year proved different as US President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs infused global uncertainty into the energy market.

                “We can see that Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs pushed prices down to a level from which they’ve not recovered from, barring a spike in June as a result of the 12 day Iran-Israel war,” said Cunningham.

                “Since then, Brent crude oil prices have continued to fall as OPEC+ caught the market off guard with its aggressive output hikes, which were designed to win back market share from non-cartel producers.’

                Demand growth, underinvestment reshape oil outlook

                Meanwhile, OPEC is approaching full production capacity, with Saudi Arabia being the main exception.

                “Even though people are talking about lots of supply, demand is still growing,” Schachter said, noting that global oil demand rose roughly 1.3 million barrels per day in 2025 and is expected to increase by about 1.2 million in 2026.

                New supply additions are limited, he explained, mentioning Guyana’s offshore discoveries by ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM), some output from Brazil and minor contributions from Canada.

                “Most basins are tired, and not enough money is being spent to bring on production,” Schachter said, predicting that global inventory drawdowns in 2026 will support higher prices.

                Despite lack of investment at the exploration level, FocusEconomics panelists are forecasting a rise in both oil and gas supply in 2026 fueled by output growth at existing operations.

                Cunningham pointed to organizations like the EIA and International Energy Agency (IEA), which “hiked their forecasts in recent months in response to OPEC+ increasing output unexpectedly fast and the recent surge in demand for US LNG.”

                “The real question is not if oil and gas production will increase, but by how much,” said Cunningham.

                A ramp up could be curtailed by geopolitical disruptions, he went on to note.

                “Recent frictions between members of the OPEC+ cartel will persist, with Russia likely to favor lower production levels given US sanctions and countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates eager to push production higher given their excess capacity and desire to win back market share from non-OPEC+ producers,” he said.

                “Moreover, countries like Kazakhstan and Iraq continue to overshoot their quotas, and in late 2023 Angola left the cartel due to disputes over its allowed production level.”

                Transport and petrochemicals driving oil demand

                Global oil demand is expected to rise in 2026, driven primarily by transportation fuels and petrochemical feedstocks.

                Gasoline is projected to lead the increase, supported by recovering air travel and road mobility, while diesel and other products also contribute. Non-OECD regions, particularly China and India, will account for most of the growth, with expanding petrochemical capacity in major economies boosting crude-derived feedstock demand.

                Overall, transport and industrial activity remain the key engines behind the expected rise in oil consumption.

                “Our panelists see world oil production rising 1.1 percent in 2026 as non-OPEC+ countries such as Guyana and the US hike output,” said FocusEconomics’ Cunningham.

                LNG expansion fuels gas growth

                Similar to the trajectory for oil, natural gas demand is expected to rise in 2026 as global consumption rebounds and LNG exports expand sharply. “The IEA (is) estimating growth at around 2 percent with consumption at an all-time high on higher demand in the industrial and electricity sectors,” said Cunningham.

                Rising LNG supply — with new export capacity coming online in the US, Canada and Qatar — is projected to support stronger import growth, particularly in Asia, where demand is expected to rebound after a 2025 slowdown.

                “Asia is hungry for LNG; the IEA estimates the region’s natural gas demand will rise over 4 percent in 2026, with LNG imports up by 10 percent,” the expert said. Increased use of natural gas in power generation and industrial sectors will also contribute to growth, helping push global gas demand toward a new peak next year.

                “Of course, these forecasts could change quickly if the world economy or the oil and gas sector is subject to further shocks, which is why we recommend regularly checking the latest forecasts that are available,” Cunningham added.

                Further ahead, Schachter argued that rising global power needs will underpin long-term demand for natural gas, particularly as alternatives struggle to scale. Aging power grids are another constraint. Much of the world’s electricity infrastructure has not been meaningfully upgraded, and expanding capacity will require major investment in transmission — driving demand for copper, steel and aluminum alongside new generation.

                Against that backdrop, Schachter sees LNG as central to meeting near- and medium-term power needs.

                “The demand for LNG is the story,” he said, adding that natural gas is increasingly viewed not as a temporary transition fuel, but as “the most efficient, from a climate and environmental point of view.”

                He also highlighted Canada’s advantage as producers invest heavily in emissions-reduction technologies, including methane mitigation. That positioning could make Canadian LNG more attractive to import-dependent nations such as Japan and South Korea.

                While new supply from Qatar and the US will add capacity, Schachter cautioned that LNG development is rarely linear, pointing to Canada’s decades-long path to its first operating export terminal. Despite inevitable delays and short-term imbalances, he said the long-term outlook remains clear: “The industry’s fundamentals are very, very positive.”

                Cunningham also pointed to increased output from the US and Qatar as key areas to watch in 2026.

                “The big Qatari and US LNG projects will help natural gas prices converge globally — our Consensus Forecast is for the percentage difference between US gas prices (which tend to be lower due to huge domestic production) and those in Asia and Europe to ease to the lowest level since 2020, the year the pandemic sent gas demand plummeting,” said Cunningham, adding, “In short, record US LNG shipments will send up prices at home and lower them abroad.”

                Cunningham went on to explain that unlike oil, in the natural gas market there tends to be more price divergence between regions as natural gas is harder to transport over large distances. Oil can be poured into a barrel and shipped, whereas natural gas first needs to be liquified if it’s to be sent overseas. Greater LNG capacity will help bridge this gap.

                Oil and gas price forecast for 2026

                Schachter expects WTI to average over US$70 in 2026, with Brent around US$73 to US$74.

                He anticipates some volatility early in the new year, saying that in Q1 he expects trading to be “still sloppy between US$56 and US$66,” before prices rise in Q2 to US$62 to US$72. From there, he sees prices reaching US$68 to US$78 in the year’s third quarter as inventories tighten and market fundamentals assert themselves.

                “People think we’re going back to US$80 today. US$58 oil — it ain’t going to US$80. But when the industry is in rational supply and demand, prices climb, especially when inventories draw down quickly,” Schachter said, recalling the 2008 peak in oil prices near US$147 during extreme supply shortages.

                Looking at the year ahead, FocusEconomics expects the trends of 2025 to continue.

                “Average Brent crude oil prices will ease further to a post-pandemic low, while US natural gas prices will increase to the highest average level since 2014 barring 2022’s Russia-Ukraine-war-driven spike,” said Cunningham.

                “OPEC+ is set to continue raising output — after a pause in Q1 2026 — and the global economy should slow as the boost from export front-loading ahead of US tariff wanes.”

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

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

                The uranium market moved through 2025 with less drama than the previous year, but the quieter tone masked a sector still tightening beneath the surface.

                After 2024’s surge to two-decade highs, in 2025, U3O8 prices traded in a narrower US$20 range in 2025, slipping to a low of US$63.71 in March before climbing back toward the mid-US$80s by late September.

                In December, spot prices had settled near US$75, a level that has acted as a floor since late summer.

                Despite the muted price action, uranium’s underlying drivers strengthened. Long-term demand projections, renewed government backing for nuclear power and rising concerns over supply security all helped support the market.

                Investor appetite also played a defining role. Continued buying from the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (SPUT) (TSX:U.U,OTCQX:SRUUF) and retail investors added steady pressure to the spot market, absorbing millions of pounds of material and lifting prices above where utility demand alone would have placed them.

                While true supply shortages did not materialize in 2025, production interruptions and operational uncertainties at major mines made sellers more cautious and prompted utilities to top up inventories more aggressively. The result was a market that remained fundamentally tight, while uranium equities continued to outperform on the strength of a durable, long-term bull thesis.

                Against this backdrop, we profile the five best-performing Canadian uranium stocks by share price performance below.

                All data was obtained on December 15, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener. Uranium companies on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps above C$10 million at that time were considered. Read on to learn about the top Canadian uranium stocks in 2025, including what factors have been moving their share prices.

                1. North Shore Uranium (TSXV:NSU)

                Year-to-date gain: 637.5 percent
                Market cap: C$22.17 million
                Share price: C$0.295

                North Shore Uranium is an exploration company focused on advancing uranium assets in established North American districts. Its core projects include the Falcon and West Bear properties along the eastern margin of Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin in Canada, complemented by a growing presence in the Grants uranium district of New Mexico, US.

                The company is also evaluating additional exploration opportunities in the United States and Canada as it builds a diversified uranium project portfolio.

                In June, North Shore penned a binding term sheet to acquire an up to 87.5 percent interest in the Rio Puerco uranium project in Northwest New Mexico from Resurrection Mining. The project hosts a historical inferred mineral resource estimate, released in 2009, of approximately 11.4 million pounds of U3O8 from 6 million metric tons of ore grading 0.09 percent U3O8 equivalent.

                Subsequently, on August 28, the company officially entered into a definitive option agreement for the acquisition and closed a C$1.4 million private placement. On September 11, the company announced it staked 27 additional mining claims at the Rio Puerco project, bolstering its holdings in the area to 64 adjoining Bureau of Land Management claims.

                As for its projects in Canada, in an October press release North Shore announced the completion of a prospecting program at its Falcon property, during which crews evaluated 18 priority targets for surface expression and anomalous radioactivity, collecting samples to support further exploration.

                Later in the month, North Shore fulfilled its final earn-in requirement at the West Bear property, issuing C$50,000 shares to Gem Oil to secure the right to acquire a 75 percent interest in the project.

                Shares of North Shore Uranium rose to a year-to-date high of C$0.29 on December 15, a few days after the company launched a C$3 million private placement on December 11.

                Looking ahead, the company is planning a drill program at the Rio Puerco uranium project during H1 2026.

                2. Energy Fuels (TSX:EFR)

                Year-to-date gain: 156.12 percent
                Market cap: C$4.76 billion
                Share price: C$19.26

                US-based uranium producer Energy Fuels has a large portfolio of conventional and in-situ recovery (ISR) projects across the Western US, including Pinyon Plain in Arizona, a top national producer.

                Additionally, Energy Fuels owns and operates the White Mesa mill, the only fully licensed and operating conventional uranium mill in the US. The company is progressing heavy rare earth oxide processing at the plant as well.

                Company shares reached a year-to-date high of C$36.84 on October 14, 11 days after Energy Fuels closed its US$700 million offering of 0.75 percent convertible senior notes due 2031, which was upsized after initial purchasers exercised their option to purchase a further US$100 million in notes.

                In a Q3 report released on November 3, the company underscored a rise in uranium sales, as its low-cost US production continued to outperform, putting the miner on track to exceed its 2025 guidance.

                The firm also advanced its rare earth ambitions, producing 29 kilograms of dysprosium oxide in pilot runs through September, with terbium oxide next in line.

                The October US$700 million convertible note offering strengthened the balance sheet, lifting working capital to nearly US$1 billion and raising the effective conversion price to US$30.70 per share.

                3. Stallion Uranium (TSXV:STUD)

                Year-to-date gain: 150 percent
                Market cap: C$49.57 million
                Share price: C$0.375

                Uranium junior Stallion Uranium holds a 2,870 square kilometer land package on the western side of the Athabasca Basin, in Saskatchewan, Canada, including a joint venture with Atha Energy (TSXV:SASK,OTCQB:SASKF) for the largest contiguous project in the region. The company’s primary focus is the Coyote target at the Moonlite project.

                Stallion’s share price shot upward on July 8 after the company announced a technology data acquisition agreement for Matchstick TI, an intelligent geological target identification platform with 77 percent accuracy. Stallion plans to use the technology to enhance its exploration efforts. It closed the acquisition on November 12.

                In early September, Stallion Uranium closed the final tranche of a non-brokered private placement, raising gross proceeds of C$10.49 million. The financing included 22.3 million non-flow-through units and 30.1 million flow-through units, both priced at $0.20 per unit.

                Stallion’s shares registered a year-to-date high of C$0.51 on September 16.

                According to an October statement, Stallion planned to start a high-resolution ground time domain electromagnetic survey on Coyote on November 1, but it has not yet released a further update on the survey.

                The company announced a further private placement on December 12, this one consisting of flow-through shares for gross proceeds of C$4.55 million at a price of C$0.45 per share.

                4. District Metals (TSXV:DMX)

                Year-to-date gains: 139.51 percent
                Market cap: C$165.24 million
                Share price: C$0.97

                District Metals is an energy metals and polymetallic explorer and developer with a portfolio of seven assets in Sweden, including four uranium projects: Viken, Ardnasvarre, Sågtjärn and Nianfors. Currently, District is focused on its Viken uranium-vanadium project, which it says hosts the world’s largest undeveloped uranium deposit.

                Shares began trending upwards in mid-May following news of a fully subscribed C$6 million private placement.

                District spent 2025 advancing its four uranium projects through a series of targeted surveys. A helicopter-borne mobile magnetotellurics (MobileMT) program wrapped up at the flagship Viken property in June, followed by drone-based radiometric and magnetic surveys at Ardnasvarre, Sågtjärn and Nianfors in July.

                Early September results at Sågtjärn and Nianfors were strong enough for the company to seek expanded licenses. Later that month, new MobileMT data from Viken revealed large low-resistivity anomalies both within and beyond the known deposit footprint, pointing to potential for additional uranium deposits.

                Shares of District rallied to a year-to-date high of C$1.53 on October 15, the day the company released the results of its radiometric and magnetic survey at the Ardnasvarre property, which identified strong and large anomalies associated with uranium polymetallic occurrences.

                District also reported fresh momentum at its alum shale properties after completing airborne MobileMT surveys across the Österkälen, Tåsjö and Malgomaj licenses this summer.

                The first batch of results, released in late October, outlined a significant new geophysical anomaly at its wholly owned Österkälen license. District has already applied for an adjacent mineral license to capture the anomaly’s northwestern extension. The Österkälen area lies roughly 100 kilometers northeast of the company’s flagship Viken property.

                In subsequent announcements, District reported the discovery of high priority targets at the Tåsjö alum shale property, and of large, robust targets at the Malgomaj alum shale property, both of which led the company to file applications for adjacent mineral licenses.

                In early November, District Metals welcomed a landmark decision in Sweden when Parliament voted to repeal the country’s 2018 moratorium on uranium exploration and mining.

                The new legislation, set to take effect January 1, 2026, opens the door for renewed development in a nation that holds roughly 27 percent of Europe’s known uranium resources.

                5. Purepoint Uranium (TSXV:PTU)

                Year-to-date gain: 113.64 percent
                Market cap: C$38.01 million
                Share price: C$0.47

                Exploration company Purepoint Uranium has an extensive uranium portfolio including six joint ventures and five wholly owned projects, all located in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin.

                In January, Purepoint strengthened its relationship with IsoEnergy (TSX:ISO,NYSEAMERICAN:ISOU) when the latter exercised its put option under the framework of a previously announced joint-venture agreement, transferring 10 percent of its stake to Purepoint in exchange for 4 million shares. The now 50/50 joint venture will explore 10 uranium projects across 98,000 hectares in the Athabasca Basin, including the Dorado project.

                As for Q3, the company closed the final tranche of a C$6 million private placement on September 5.

                Later in the month, Purepoint released partial assay results from the Dorado project for one hole from its 11 hole drill program. The drill hole returned the most significant intervals to date, according to the company, with one interval of 2.1 meters grading 1.6 percent U3O8, including 0.4 meters at 8.1 percent, as well as another interval of 4.9 meters at 0.52 percent. The company has since dubbed this the Nova discovery

                Purepoint ended September by launching its inaugural drill program at the Tabbernor project, located on the southeastern edge of the basin. The program, which concluded in November, targeted a 60 kilometer long corridor of graphitic conductors with five first-pass diamond drill holes. The Tabbernor findings will be combined with the company’s ongoing regional interpretation work to prioritize next targets.

                Shares of Purepoint registered a year-to-date high of C$0.80 on October 14 as uranium prices rose.

                In early December, Purepoint and IsoEnergy approved an expanded 2026 exploration program at the Dorado project following the previously released strong drill results, which Purepoint said confirm ‘a steeply dipping, uranium-bearing structure that remains open in all directions.’

                The joint venture will prioritize the northeastern extension of the Nova discovery while advancing other high-potential zones across Dorado.

                FAQs for investing in uranium

                What is uranium used for?

                Uranium is primarily used for the production of nuclear energy, a form of clean energy created in nuclear power plants. In fact, 99 percent of uranium is used for this purpose. As of 2022, there were 439 active nuclear reactors, as per the International Atomic Energy Agency. In 2023, 9 percent of US power came from nuclear energy.

                The commodity is also used in the defense industry as a component of nuclear weaponry, among other uses. However, there are safeguards in effect to keep this to a minimum. To create weapons-grade uranium, the material has to be enriched significantly — above 90 percent — to the point that to achieve just 5.6 kilograms of weapons-grade uranium, it would require 1 metric ton of uranium pre-enrichment.

                Because of this necessity, uranium enrichment facilities are closely monitored under international agreements. Uranium used for nuclear power production only needs to be enriched to 5 percent; nuclear enrichment facilities need special licenses to enrich above that point for uses such as research at 20 percent enrichment.

                The metal is also used in the medical field for applications such as transmission electron microscopy. Before uranium was discovered to be radioactive, it was used to impart a yellow color to ceramic glazes and glass.

                Where is uranium found?

                The country with the greatest uranium reserves by far is Australia — the island nation holds 28 percent of the world’s uranium reserves. Rounding out the top three are Kazakhstan with 15 percent and Canada with 9 percent.

                Although Australia has the highest reserves, it holds uranium as a low priority and is only fourth overall for production. All its uranium output is exported, with none used for domestic nuclear energy production.

                Kazakhstan is the world’s largest producer of the metal, with production of 21,227 metric tons in 2022. The country’s national uranium company, Kazatomprom, is the world’s largest producer.

                Canada’s uranium reserves are found primarily in its Athabasca Basin, and the region is a top producer of the metal as well.

                Why should I buy uranium stocks?

                Investors should always do their own due diligence when looking at any commodity so that they can decide whether it fits into their investment plans. With that being said, many experts are convinced that uranium has entered into a significant bull market, meaning that uranium stocks could be a good buy.

                A slew of factors have led to this bull market. Discourse has been building around the metal’s use as a source of clean energy, which is important for countries looking to reach climate goals, and interest in nuclear power to fuel artificial intelligence energy demand has increased significantly as well.

                Nations are now prioritizing a mix of clean energies such as solar and wind energy alongside nuclear. Significantly, in August 2022, Japan announced it is looking into restarting its idled nuclear power plants and commissioning new ones.

                Uranium prices are very important to uranium miners, and levels had not been high enough for production to be economic. However, prices have climbed significantly in recent years, and spiked from US$58 per pound in August 2023 to a high of US$106 per pound in February 2024.

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

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

                Uranium prices stayed fairly steady in 2025, but experts agree its long-term outlook is compelling,

                Demand picked up from reactor restarts, new nuclear construction projects and growing interest in small modular reactors. Meanwhile, supply constraints continued as miners faced issues ramping up.

                1. Trump Admin Pushes for Uranium Stockpile Boost to Secure Nuclear Power Future

                Publish date: September 16, 2025

                In September, the Trump administration zeroed in on its plan to reduce uranium reliance on Russia.

                A report by Bloomberg outlined that Russia still accounts for approximately a quarter of the fuel used in America’s 94 nuclear reactors, which generate roughly 20 percent of the nation’s electricity.

                Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said that the Department of Energy was working to reduce that dependence by rebuilding domestic uranium and enrichment supply chains.

                The concept of a federal uranium reserve dates back to 2020, when the first Trump administration sought US$150 million to begin direct purchases from US producers, though Congress approved only half the amount.

                Supply concerns sharpened after Russia briefly restricted uranium exports to the US in late 2024, underscoring Washington’s exposure to geopolitical risks.

                A law signed in May 2024 requires US utilities to phase out Russian uranium by 2028, with future stockpile levels expected to rise in line with new reactor construction, including small modular reactors.

                “We’re moving to a place — and we’re not there yet — to no longer use Russian enriched uranium,” Wright said, adding that the US needs significantly more domestic uranium and enrichment capacity.

                2. China Achieves World’s First Thorium-to-Uranium Conversion

                Publish date: November 6, 2025

                China marked a milestone in 2025 by converting thorium into uranium inside a working molten salt reactor.

                The experimental thorium molten salt reactor, developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics in the Gobi Desert, is the first in the world to demonstrate stable thorium-based fission.

                The reactor has been operating since reaching first criticality in October 2023 and has now produced data confirming the conversion of thorium-232 into uranium-233, a fissile material capable of sustaining a nuclear chain reaction.

                Unlike conventional reactors that use solid uranium fuel rods, the system relies on liquid fuel dissolved in molten fluoride salt, allowing continuous refueling and stable heat generation without shutting down operations.

                3. Uranium Energy’s Sweetwater Project Fast Tracked Under Trump Initiative

                Publish date: August 6, 2025

                In August, Uranium Energy’s (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC) Sweetwater uranium complex in Wyoming was designated for expedited permitting under the Trump administration’s FAST-41 initiative. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to revitalize the US nuclear fuel supply chain and reduce reliance on imports from geopolitical rivals.

                The Sweetwater complex, located in Wyoming’s Great Divide Basin, is anchored by a fully licensed conventional uranium mill with a capacity of 3,000 metric tons per day and annual output of 4.1 million pounds.

                The site previously included several permitted mines — Sweetwater (Red Desert), Big Eagle and Jackpot (Green Mountain) — and will now be evaluated for in-situ recovery mining, a lower-impact extraction technique.

                The new permitting push will allow the company to modify existing approvals to incorporate in-situ recovery capabilities both within and beyond the current mine boundary, including on adjacent federal lands.

                Sweetwater is the second uranium project to receive fast-track treatment under the policy, following Anfield Energy’s (TSXV:AEC,NASDAQ:AEC) Velvet-Wood project in Utah, which received the status in May.

                4. Denison Mines Moves Closer to Federal Approval for Phoenix ISR Uranium Project

                Publish date: February 28, 2025

                In February, Denison Mines (TSX:DML,NYSEAMERICAN:DNN) announced that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) had scheduled public hearings for its Wheeler River uranium project in Saskatchewan.

                The hearings were scheduled for October 8 and December 8 to 12, and according to the company would represent the final stage in the federal environmental assessment process. Denison holds an effective 95 percent interest in Wheeler River, the largest undeveloped uranium project in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. If approved, the company expects to begin site preparation and construction for its Phoenix in-situ recovery uranium project in early 2026.

                In its Q3 report, released on November 6, Denison said the first part of the hearing was complete, and that it was expecting a decision from the CNSC in early 2026 after part two of the hearing.

                5. Western Australia Reviews Uranium Mining Ban as Nuclear Energy Investment Grows

                Publish date: October 2, 2025

                Possibly the biggest uranium news in Australia in 2025 was Western Australia’s move to consider lifting its ban on new uranium licenses. In October, ahead of an energy-focused trade mission to China and Japan, Premier Roger Cook signaled the policy might be under review as part of broader strategic development considerations.

                China, Western Australia’s largest trading partner, accounts for more than half of the state’s exports.

                While the state’s three existing uranium mines continue to operate under previously approved permits, no new developments have been allowed since the ban was put in place in 2017. Cook emphasized that Western Australia intends to respect legal mining leases, while exploring future opportunities.

                He also stressed that any change to the uranium policy would likely depend on a “significant shift” in global markets, while the state continues to monitor existing permit holders and potential future projects.

                Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

                IRIS Metals Limited (ASX: IR1, “IRIS” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce it has executed a binding Heads of Agreement (HOA) with Finley Mining Inc for the exclusive right to farm-in to the Finley Basin Tungsten Project (Tungsten Project) located in Granite County, Montana, USA. This strategic farm-in opportunity further expands IRIS’ exposure to critical minerals beyond lithium, positioning the Company in a key tungsten district with historical production potential and untapped high-grade tungsten potential in a jurisdiction primed for revival under U.S. critical minerals policies.

                HIGHLIGHTS

                • IRIS Metals has signed a binding Heads of Agreement with Finley Mining Inc and its shareholders, granting IRIS an exclusive right to farm-in to the high-grade Finley Basin Tungsten Project, located in Granite County, Montana, USA, subject to the execution of full form farm-in agreements to be negotiated in good faith on the agreed key terms within 40 business days (unless extended).
                • Due to the transaction materialising during a proposed capital raising program, the Company decided not to raise capital at this point in time, having regard to the strategic merits of the Tungsten acquisition.
                • Limited drilling undertaken by Union Carbide in the late 1970s–early 1980s resulted in a historical, non-JORC compliant tungsten reserve, 850,000 tons at an average grade of 0.68% WO₃1, which is considered high-grade relative to many global tungsten deposits.
                • The farm-in provides IRIS with exposure to tungsten, a critical mineral with strategic importance for defense, energy, and industrial applications, complementing IRIS’ existing critical minerals portfolio.
                • The farm-in structure allows IRIS to earn up to a 100% interest in the project through staged exploration expenditure of up to USD$2,000,000 over 4 years and delivery of a JORC- compliant Inferred Resource.
                • Exploration activities to commence at the Finley Basin Project in early 2026, focusing on resource definition, expansion, and development studies.
                • The transaction aligns with IRIS’ strategy to expand its critical minerals footprint in the USA, leveraging incentives for domestically sourced materials.
                IRIS Metals Executive Chairman Peter Marks commented:

                ‘This binding agreement marks an exciting step for IRIS as we grow and diversify our critical minerals portfolio into tungsten, a vital component for the defense and technology industries. The Finley Basin Project offers significant upside with its prospective geology and location in a mining-friendly jurisdiction. Combined with our existing South Dakota portfolio, this positions IRIS to capitalise on significantly growing demand for US-sourced critical minerals.’

                Montana Portfolio Expansion and Development

                IRIS is actively evaluating additional critical mineral opportunities to complement its core South Dakota holdings. This farm-in to the Finley Basin Tungsten Project diversifies IRIS’ assets into tungsten, a critical mineral essential for military energetics, alloys, electronics, and renewable energy technologies, with U.S. demand surging amid defense initiatives and clean energy goals, yet vulnerable to geopolitical supply disruptions.

                The expansion of IRIS’ mineral portfolio to tungsten was measured in approach with a number of projects reviewed and compared. The Company selected the Finley Basin Project due to its high-grade characteristics when compared other tungsten occurrences in the US2, historical exploration results, favourable jurisdiction, potential for expansion of known mineralisation, local milling capabilities, and reasonable proximity to the Company’s South Dakota operations.

                IRIS’ primary focus remains on advancing its South Dakota lithium and rubidium projects toward near- term development under its “Hub & Spoke” strategy, which emphasises centralized processing across multiple sites.

                Recent expansions, including the September 2025 acquisition of the Ingersoll Project from Rapid Critical Metals have significantly grown IRIS’ Black Hills footprint and private land holdings. IRIS is rapidly expanding mineral resources and progressing studies to support a multi-mine production model, with economic analysis targeted for 2026.

                This strategic diversification importantly aligns with broader U.S. incentives for domestically sourced critical minerals and supports resilient supply chains under frameworks such as the Australia-U.S. Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation Compact.

                Click here for the full ASX Release

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                Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SYH ) (OTCQX: SYHBF ) (Frankfurt: SC1P ) (‘Skyharbour’, ‘SYH’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the closing of the definitive repurchase agreement (the ‘Strategic Agreement’) with Denison Mines Corp. (‘Denison’ or ‘DML’), whereby Denison has acquired an initial project interest in Skyharbour’s Russell Lake Uranium Project (‘Russell’ or the ‘Project’) and the parties have entered into four separate joint venture agreements on various claims making up Russell (the ‘Transaction’). The Project is strategically located in the central portion of the Eastern Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan, with access to regional infrastructure, including an exploration camp, all-weather road and powerline.

                Russell Lake Project Location Map:
                http://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/2025-11-14%20SKY-RussellLake-Updated.jpg

                Highlights:

                • Strategic Agreement represents combined total project consideration of up to CAD $61.5 million consisting of cash payments to Skyharbour totalling $10.0 million, additional consideration of $8.0 million payable in cash and shares before year end, and expenditures and cash payments totalling up to $43.5 million for Denison to acquire between a 20% and 70% ownership interest over seven years in the claims making up Russell, with Skyharbour owning the remaining interests.
                • Denison (TSX: DML; NYSE American: DNN), a leading uranium mining company with a market capitalization of over $3 billion, is developing the Wheeler River Project (‘Wheeler River’), which shares a 55 kilometre border with Russell. Denison is an existing, large corporate shareholder of Skyharbour and now joins the Company as a strategic, active, funding partner at Russell.
                • The Project has been divided into four different joint ventures, including Russell Lake (‘RL’), Getty East, Wheeler North, and the Wheeler River Inlier Claims, of which Skyharbour will retain initial ownership interests of 80%, 70%, 51%, and 30%, respectively. Denison can then earn up to a 70% interest in the Wheeler North and Getty East properties through option agreements.
                • The geological teams of Denison and Skyharbour have begun working cooperatively to advance and unlock value across the joint ventures, employing top-tier exploration and development expertise in the region.
                • Denison has committed to a minimum of $4 million in exploration expenditures over the first two years at Wheeler North and Getty East combined, as well as agreeing to fund to maintain its pro-rata 20% participation interest in the RL claims through 2029 up until such time that total exploration expenditures on the property reach $10 million.
                • Skyharbour will remain operator with an 80% ownership interest at the RL claims comprising over 53,192 hectares of the original 73,314 hectare Russell Lake Project. The Company will also act as operator during the first earn-in at Getty East with Denison sole funding the exploration in order to fulfill the earn-in option criteria.
                • Skyharbour is well funded going into 2026 with over $11 million in the treasury. The Company will also generate revenue from its operator fee at the McGowan Lake exploration camp at the Project, as well as from cash and share payments from other option earn-in partner companies.
                • Skyharbour will continue to directly advance its high-grade Moore Uranium project as well as the RL claims at Russell, while partner companies fund exploration at some of the Company’s other projects.

                Reorganization of the Russell Lake Project:
                https://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/Russell-Map-New.jpg

                Jordan Trimble, President and CEO of Skyharbour, stated: ‘We are thrilled to close this major transaction for Skyharbour, and to embark on the next chapter of exploration at Russell with a multi-billion dollar strategic partner and large shareholder in Denison Mines. With up to $61.5 million in combined project consideration contemplated, we are confident that this strategic agreement will expedite the discovery process at the Project while minimizing equity dilution for our shareholders. Based on initial technical meetings and strategy sessions with Denison, we are excited about the combined exploration options for the near term. Russell is one of the more prospective exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin proximal to existing and developing mines including Denison’s Pheonix deposit at Wheeler River. Denison will also be able to provide considerable insight and experience as we jointly advance Russell. Lastly, we now enter the new year with a healthy treasury of over $11 million to fund our exploration efforts and corporate activities through 2026 while various partner companies fund exploration at numerous other projects in our portfolio.’

                David Cates, President and CEO of Denison, further commented: ‘As Denison nears receipt of final regulatory approvals for the Phoenix In-Situ Recovery mine proposed for our flagship Wheeler River property, we are also making measured investments in our project pipeline – including our next development assets and high-potential exploration properties. Given its proximity to Wheeler River, Denison has had an interest in adding Russell to our property portfolio for much of my nearly two decades with the Company. This transaction achieves that objective by providing Denison with the opportunity to lead and participate in exploration efforts across four newly created joint ventures, which are designed to drive collaboration between Denison and Skyharbour’s technical teams. We are excited to build on our long-standing relationship with Skyharbour and accelerate the evaluation of this exceptional package of highly prospective ground.’

                Transaction Details:

                The consideration payment consisted of a $10.0 million cash payment, with $2.0 million paid upon execution of the Strategic Agreement and $8.0 million paid upon closing of the Strategic Agreement. An additional $8.0 million is payable in cash and shares by Denison on or before December 31 st , 2025 with a minimum of $2.0 million payable in cash.

                It is anticipated that Denison will also be making use of the current exploration camp at McGowan Lake on the Project, which will continue to be operated by Skyharbour, and an administrative fee will be payable by Denison to Skyharbour. The claims comprising Russell are subject to various existing underlying royalties to other parties.

                Skyharbour has received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange for closing. The issuance of shares by Denison to Skyharbour remains subject to appliable exchange approvals.

                Summary of Initial Joint Ventures:

                Upon closing of the Strategic Agreement, Denison has earned an initial project interest in each of the four new Russell exploration projects including a 49% interest in the Wheeler North claims, a 20% interest in the RL claims, a 30% interest in the Getty East claims, and a 70% interest in the Wheeler River Inlier claims.

                1. Wheeler North (51% SYH, 49% DML ; subject to additional earn-in options ) : The claims marked in yellow in the accompanying map represent 16,409 hectares over eight claims. The claims host some of the exploration targets located proximal to Wheeler River, including the Grayling and Fork Zones. Upon closing of the Transaction, Denison will have the option to increase its interest in Wheeler North to a 70% interest in these claims and Denison will become the operator of Wheeler North as described in more detail below.
                2. Russell Lake or RL (80% SYH, 20% DML) : The claims marked in pink in the accompanying map represent 53,192 hectares over 16 claims. These claims are located north and west of Skyharbour’s Moore Project and host numerous exploration target areas including Christie Lake, NE Russell, Blue Steel, Taylor Bay, South Russell, and Kowalchuk Lake. In order to maintain its initial interest in RL, Denison has agreed to fund its pro rata share of up to a maximum of C$10.0 million in total project expenditures. Skyharbour will remain operator of RL.
                3. Wheeler River Inliers (30% SYH, 70% DML) . The claims marked in blue in the accompanying map represent 608 hectares over two claims. These are inlier claims within Denison’s Wheeler River project hosting the West Russell and C-Block exploration target areas. DML will become operator of the Wheeler River Inliers.
                4. Getty East (70% SYH, 30% DML ; subject to additional earn-in options ) . The claim marked in green in the accompanying map representing 3,105 hectares is host to the Little Man Lake exploration prospect. The claim borders Cameco’s Cree Zimmer property which holds its Key Lake operations to the south. Upon the closing of the Transaction, Skyharbour remains operator of Getty East; however, Denison has the option to become the operator and acquire up to a 70% interest in this joint venture as described in more detail below.

                Denison Earn-In Options:

                The Earn-In Option Agreements grant Denison an option to earn additional interests in Wheeler North and Getty East.

                Wheeler North Earn-In Option :

                Under the terms of the Wheeler North Earn-In Option Agreement, Denison may acquire up to a 70% interest in Wheeler North. The option agreement contains two (2) phases, as summarized below:

                Phase 1: To earn an additional 11% interest in Wheeler North (increasing Denison’s ownership to 60%), Denison must:

                • Incur $10.0 million in exploration expenditures at Wheeler North within 48 months of Closing, of which $2.5 million in exploration expenditures must be completed within 24 months of Closing, and
                • Make a cash payment in the amount of $1.5 million to Skyharbour within 48 months of Closing.

                Phase 2: To earn an additional 10% interest (increasing Denison’s ownership to 70%) in Wheeler North, Denison must complete the requirements of Phase 1, plus the following:

                • Incur an additional $15.0 million in exploration expenditures at Wheeler North within 7 years of Closing, and
                • Make a further cash payment in the amount of $2.0 million to Skyharbour within 7 years of Closing.

                Getty East Earn-In Option Agreement:

                Under the terms of the Getty East Option Agreement, Denison may acquire up to a 70% interest in Getty East. The option agreement contains two (2) phases, as summarized below:

                Phase 1: To earn an additional 19% interest in Getty East (increasing Denison’s ownership to 49%), Denison must incur $5.0 million in exploration expenditures at Getty East within 48 months of Closing, of which $1.5 million must be completed within the first 24 months of Closing.

                Phase 2: To earn an additional 21% interest in Getty East (increasing Denison’s ownership to 70%), Denison must complete the requirements of Phase 1, plus incur an additional $10 million in exploration expenditures within 7 years of Closing. Upon completion of the Phase 2 earn-in option criteria, Denison will have the option to become the operator in this joint venture.

                Russell Lake Uranium Project Overview:

                The Russell Lake Project is a large, advanced-stage uranium exploration property totalling 73,314 hectares strategically located between Cameco’s Key Lake and McArthur River Projects, and adjoining Denison’s Wheeler River Project to the west and Skyharbour’s Moore Uranium Project to the east. The northern extension of Highway 914 between Key Lake and McArthur River runs through the western extent of the property and greatly enhances accessibility, while a high-voltage powerline is situated alongside this road.

                Skyharbour’s New 80% Owned RL Project:

                The claims making up the RL Project constitute over seventy percent of the original Russell project area and will continue to be explored by Skyharbour as the operator and 80% owner. Denison will acquire a 20% interest and has agreed to fund to maintain its pro-rata participation interest in the RL claims through December 31 st , 2029, or until such time that total expenditures on the properties have reached $10 million.

                The RL claims have numerous highly prospective targets that Skyharbour will continue to advance. The Christie Lake target area contains basement-hosted uranium mineralization with historical drilling returning 0.17% U 3 O 8 over 0.4 metres at 436.4 metres depth in hole CL-10-03, hosted within a strongly hematized breccia. A prospective clay altered basement fault system runs throughout this area.

                The Blue Steel target area comprises graphitic metasediments that were last drilled in 2008. The full extent of the graphitic corridor remains unknown and completely untested. Historical geophysics indicate potential faulting along this corridor, highlighting it as a priority area for follow-up work using modern geophysical methods to refine drill targets.

                The Kowalchuk area, situated within the southern Russell claims, is another prospective area on the RL claims, with multiple inferred structural trends passing through it. This area has seen only limited modern geophysical coverage to date.

                In addition to the aforementioned target areas, there are many kilometres of untested EM conductors on the RL claims underlain by rocks of low magnetic intensity, suggestive of the presence of prospective graphitic meta-pelitic basement lithologies typical of Athabasca-style uranium systems. With limited modern exploration conducted over the past 12 years, the RL claims remain underexplored and highly prospective for both expanding known mineralized zones and making new discoveries.

                Advisors and Counsel:

                Haywood Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor to Skyharbour in connection with the Transaction, and AFG Law LLP and DuMoulin Black LLP are acting as legal counsel to Skyharbour.

                Qualified Person:

                The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Serdar Donmez, P.Geo., VP of Exploration for Skyharbour as well as a Qualified Person.

                About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:

                Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium exploration projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with interest in thirty-seven projects covering over 616,000 hectares (over 1.5 million acres) of land. Skyharbour has acquired from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, a 100% interest in the Moore Uranium Project, which is located 15 kilometres east of Denison’s Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco’s McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced-stage uranium exploration property with high-grade uranium mineralization in several zones at the Maverick Corridor. Adjacent to the Moore Project is the Russell Lake Uranium Project, which hosts widespread uranium mineralization in drill intercepts over a large property area with exploration upside potential. The Company is actively advancing these projects through exploration and drilling programs.

                Skyharbour also has joint ventures with industry leaders Denison Mines, Orano Canada Inc., Azincourt Energy, and Thunderbird Resources at the Russell, Preston, East Preston, and Hook Lake Projects, respectively. The Company also has several active earn-in option partners, including CSE-listed Basin Uranium Corp. at the Mann Lake Uranium Project; TSX-V listed North Shore Uranium at the Falcon Project; UraEx Resources at the South Dufferin and Bolt Projects; Hatchet Uranium at the Highway Project; CSE-listed Mustang Energy at the 914W Project; and TSX-V listed Terra Clean Energy at the South Falcon East Project.

                In aggregate, Skyharbour has now signed earn-in option agreements with partners that total to potentially over $76 million in partner-funded exploration expenditures and over $42 million in cash and share payments coming into Skyharbour, assuming that these partner companies complete their entire earn-ins at the respective projects.

                Skyharbour’s goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

                Skyharbour’s Uranium Project Map in the Athabasca Basin:
                https://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/maps/SKY-SaskProject-Locator-2025-12-08.jpg

                To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SYH) visit the Company’s website at www.skyharbourltd.com .

                Skyharbour Resources Ltd.

                ‘Jordan Trimble’

                Jordan Trimble
                President and CEO

                For further information contact myself or:
                Nicholas Coltura
                Corporate Communications Manager
                Skyharbour Resources Ltd.
                Telephone: 604-558-5847
                Toll Free: 800-567-8181
                Facsimile: 604-687-3119
                Email: info@skyharbourltd.com

                NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

                This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements.  Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, exploration and development successes, regulatory approvals including TSXV approval, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedarplus.ca for further information.

                 

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