Proactive - Interviews for investors

London stocks ticked slightly higher at the open on Tuesday as the markets reacted to the prospect of interest rates staying high for longer.

Wages in the UK grew at a faster-than-expected pace of 5.9% in the three months to April, according to the Office of National Statistics, knocking hopes that the Bank of England would begin slashing interest rates this summer. When accounting for inflation, wages rose by 2.7% between February and April, marking the single largest three-month jump since September 2021 and the highest since 2015 when excluding the pandemic.

Bank of England economists have previously said wage growth must not threaten inflation and should be rising modestly before they can feel confident about cutting borrowing rates.

Meanwhile, in company news, Raspberry Pi confirmed it would be listing at 280p a share, the top end of its pricing guidance. It means the DIY computer kit maker will raise around £166 million and have a market cap of £540 million.

While Raspberry Pi limbers up for a listing, the LSE suffered a fresh blow after reports said the owner of pharmacy chain Boots would no longer be pursuing a London listing for the retailer.

Finally, shares in FirstGroup, the rail and bus operator, plunged more than 4% after it suffered a £24 million loss in 2024, having been faced with a £146 impairment charge for exiting two pension schemes.

#proactiveinvestors #ftse #ftse100 #footsie #marketreport #ONS #wages #interestrates #raspberrypi #boots #walgreens #firstgroup #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

Sarytogan Graphite Ltd (ASX:SGA) managing director Sean Gregory joins Proactive’s Jonathan Jackson after the company reported high performance for lithium-ion batteries utilising anodes of Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG) from Sarytogan Graphite. Coin-cell batteries made from CSPG have now cycled 100 times, demonstrating a significant improvement in performance due to the coating process. This enhancement has increased market pricing from approximately US$2,500 to US$8,000 per tonne.

Gregory expressed satisfaction with the results, highlighting the premium pricing potential and the opportunity for direct relationships with battery manufacturers and OEMs. The coating process, which smooths the surface of the spherical graphite and reduces surface area, has now been incorporated into the pre-feasibility study, which is on track for completion by September 2024.

Previously, Sarytogan reported superior battery performance using Uncoated Spherical Purified Graphite (USPG), with a reversible capacity of 342-347 mAh/g. The recent tests with CSPG showed an irreversible capacity loss (ICL) of 11%, close to the industry benchmark of 10%, and a reversible capacity of 354 mAh/g. The batteries retained 98.9% capacity after 100 cycles, suggesting over 1,600 cycles before reaching 80% capacity, a notable result for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

#ProactiveInvestors #SarytoganGraphite #ASX #LithiumIonBatteries #BatteryAnodes #CSPG #GraphiteCoating #BatteryPerformance #ElectricVehicles #EnergyStorage #BatteryTech #GraphiteMarket #ASX #PreFeasibilityStudy #SustainableEnergy #TechInnovation #GraphiteIndustry #BatteryManufacturers #OEM #BatteryCapacity #EnergyEfficiency #HighPerformanceBatteries

#invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

Great Boulder Resources Ltd (ASX: GBR) managing director Andrew Paterson joins Jonathan Jackson in the Proactive studio to discuss the discovery of a new shallow, thick high-grade vein extending the Mulga Bill deposit at the Side Well Gold Project by at least 150 metres north of the deposit’s existing 568,000-ounce resource.

Reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the northern end of Mulga Bill yielded significant results, including 32 metres at 8.38 g/t gold from 104 metres, with a notable section of 18 metres at 13.76 g/t from 104 metres. Additional strong results include 16 metres at 2.12 g/t gold from 108 metres and 26 metres at 3.31 g/t from 88 metres.

The discovery extends into Mulga Bill North, where gold mineralisation has been defined over a 1.5-kilometre strike. Paterson highlighted the potential significance of this new high-grade vein, which may extend 350 metres or more, and its connection to Mulga Bill North. The northern end of Mulga Bill, being the shallowest part of the mineral resource, presents a promising opportunity for enhancing the project's economics.

The new high-grade zone shares similar characteristics with other high-grade zones in the Mulga Bill mineral resource. Additional drilling is ongoing to confirm the orientation of this mineralisation, with results anticipated in three to four weeks.

Moreover, 26 aircore holes were drilled north of the dyke and at Mulga Bill North, showing significant gold enrichment. Initial results suggest the new high-grade vein could extend more than 350 metres north of Mulga Bill. Assays for the last 14 holes at Mulga Bill North are pending, while the aircore rig has moved to the Polelle project, with 45 holes planned.

Great Boulder is also planning additional heritage surveys for Side Well South and Polelle in late July.

#ProactiveInvestors #GreatBoulderResources #ASX #GoldDiscovery #MulgaBillDeposit #SideWellGoldProject #HighGradeGold #RCDrilling #GoldMineralisation #MulgaBillNorth #GoldExploration #MineralResource #GoldSystem #EconomicPotential #AircoreDrilling #PolelleProject #GeochemicalTargets #HeritageSurveys #GoldMining #ResourceExtension #MiningNews

#invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

First Phosphate Corp CEO John Passalacqua joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce that the Canadian government has updated its critical minerals list for the first time since 2021, adding phosphorus, high-purity iron, and metallic silicon. This update brings the total number of critical minerals to 34. Passalacqua highlighted several advantages of phosphorus being included on this list, emphasizing the significant financial and developmental benefits for the company.

Passalacqua explained that the addition of phosphorus to the critical minerals list makes First Phosphate eligible for critical minerals flow-through shares, which aid flow-through investors. Moreover, there are numerous funding programs available at both federal and provincial levels that are exclusive to critical minerals. This new designation is expected to boost investor confidence and open more funding opportunities on an international scale. Countries like the U.S. are encouraged to include phosphorus in their critical minerals lists, following Canada's lead.

Canada had previously produced sedimentary phosphate for fertilizers but ceased production a decade ago. First Phosphate now aims to produce high-purity igneous phosphate in northern Quebec, which is suitable for high-grade phosphoric acid used in batteries. Passalacqua noted that being on the critical minerals list significantly enhances the company's eligibility for grants and funding, which will facilitate its project development.

In addition to financial benefits, this designation provides First Phosphate with a competitive edge in the market, aligning with global trends in mineral production and usage. The company's strategic focus on producing high-purity phosphate positions it well to meet the growing demand for critical minerals, particularly in the battery sector.

With the critical minerals list now updated, First Phosphate is poised to take advantage of the enhanced support and funding opportunities. The company plans to expedite its project development efforts, focusing on producing high-quality phosphate to cater to the burgeoning market needs.

#proactiveinvestors #firstphosphatecorp #phosphate #BéginLamarcheproject #CEOInterview #CompanyUpdate #StrategicGrowth

#CriticalMinerals, #Canada, #Phosphorus, #Funding, #Minerals, #Investment, #Quebec, #BatteryMaterials, #CanadianGovernment, #ProactiveNews, #FinancialMarkets, #MineralProduction, #EnvironmentalResources, #HighPurityIron, #MetallicSilicon, #StrategicResources, #NaturalResources, #MiningIndustry

#invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

Ondo InsurTech PLC (LSE:ONDO) CEO Craig Foster joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with details of the company's continued advances in the United States, specifically the expansion of its LeakBot program in Washington state.

Foster highlighted the recent successful capital raise aimed at building infrastructure for state-by-state expansion. He said major partners, Nationwide and Pure are launching in the Pacific north-west state following their initial successes in Ohio and New York.

Foster also introduced Wendi Leibovitz as the new director of customer success, emphasising her extensive experience and her immediate impact on the team.

Additionally, Foster discussed attending the DIA conference in Amsterdam to present a case study on its LeakBot technology. This presentation marks a return to the stage where Ondo first introduced LeakBot five years ago.

#OndoInsurTech #CraigFoster #InsuranceTechnology #WashingtonExpansion #CustomerSuccess #LeakBot #InsuranceInnovation #DIAConference #CapitalRaise #InsuranceIndustry #ProactiveInterviews #ProactiveInvestors #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

Blencowe Resources PLC (LSE:BRES) CEO Mike Ralston tells Proactive's Stephen Gunnion the company has reached a significant milestone with the signing of its first memorandum of understanding (MOU) for natural large flake concentrate offtake from the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda.

Ralston provided insights into the project’s scale, its high-quality graphite deposit in Uganda, and the progress made over the past four and a half years.

He explained the rigorous testing processes for its large flake and small flake graphite products, emphasising the importance of the large flake product, which represents over 50% of their projected revenue despite being only 14% of their total tonnage.

The CEO also outlined Blencowe’s strategic differentiators, including low operational and capital costs, a $5 million grant from the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and plans for downstream processing to add value. Ralston expressed optimism about future news flow, including additional MoUs, the feasibility study completion, and securing funding.

#BlencoweResources #GraphiteMining #OromCrossProject #MikeRalston #MiningIndustry #UgandaMining #GraphiteProduction #FeasibilityStudy #ResourceDevelopment #MiningInvestment

#ProactiveInvestors #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

London's blue-chip index sank at the open on Monday as markets reacted cautiously to a French snap election being called on Sunday.

Other global markets also traded lower following Emmanuel Macron’s announcement to hold an election on June 30.

In Britain, fresh unemployment data highlighted concerns about a weaker UK labour market after it was revealed the number of people looking for a job had risen to its highest rate in three and a half years. A mix of increased job cuts and less hiring meant a rise in unemployment in May, marking the 15th consecutive month of rises and taking the figure to the highest since December 2020.

Meanwhile, in company news, industrial equipment provider Ashtead revealed it is considering joining the London exodus by switching its listing to the US.

A company review is in its preliminary stages to see whether it is viable to make the same switch as done by betting group Flutter, building materials supplier CRH, and plumbing firm Ferguson.

Meanwhile, Shein, the Chinese fast-fashion company, is facing pressure from workers’ rights campaigners who have said it would be “yet another betrayal to working people” if it were to join the FTSE.

#ProactiveInvestors #marketreport #ftse #ftse100 #footsie #macron #frenchelection #ashtead #flutter #crh #ferguson #shein #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

Hive Digital Technologies Executive Chairman Frank Holmes joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news that the company saw positive production figures in May with Hive mining 119 Bitcoin, increasing its Bitcoin holdings by 3%, now totaling 2,451 Bitcoin on the balance sheet. HIVE maintained an average Bitcoin mining capacity of over 4.9 Exahash (“EH/s”) in May 2024.

Holmes told Proactive the company saw its HODL Position increase to 2,451 BTC, a 3% increase from the prior month, while Bitcoin has made all-time highs. Hive also saw its mining efficiency achieve an average of 24.5 Bitcoin per Exahash, ending the month of May with 5.0 EH/s, with an average hashrate of 4.9 EH/s throughout May. The company averaged production of 3.8 BTC per day, showcasing operational efficiency and robust mining capabilities.

Holmes highlighted the company's strategic focus on optimizing its operations and enhancing its mining efficiency. The consistent production figures and the increase in the HODL position underscore Hive's strong performance in the competitive cryptocurrency mining industry.

In addition to the positive production figures, Hive has also announced the acquisition of 1,000 Bitmain S21 Pro Antminers, the latest and most efficient machines on the market, having a hashrate of 234 Terahash per second and an efficiency of 15 J/TH. These units are expected to ship this month and are integral to the company's strategy of continually upgrading its fleet.

Holmes emphasized that the acquisition of the new Antminers is a critical component of Hive's growth strategy. By integrating these advanced machines, Hive aims to further boost its mining capacity and efficiency, positioning the company to capitalize on the rising demand for Bitcoin.

The company has reported that as of June 9, 2024, HIVE's HODL position increased further to 2,468 BTC, up from 2,451 BTC at the end of May 2024. This increase reflects Hive's commitment to strengthening its Bitcoin reserves and leveraging its mining capabilities to maximize value for its shareholders.

#proactiveinvestors #usglobalinvestors #airline #travel #oil #jets

#BitcoinMining, #Cryptocurrency, #FrankHolmes, #GreenEnergy, #MiningEquipment, #CryptoNews, #Investment, #Profitability, #TechUpgrade, #Bitcoin, #Crypto, #Blockchain, #SustainableMining, #EnergyEfficiency, #FinancialGrowth, #Innovation, #CryptoMarket, #DigitalAssets, #BusinessNews

#invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

Blue Sky Uranium CEO Niko Cacos joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has entered into a binding term sheet with Corredor Americano, an Argentine company, to complete an option agreement regarding the Company's Ivana Uranium-Vanadium Deposit.

Cacos told Proactive that Corredor Americano can earn up to a 50% indirect interest in the Property by spending up to 35 million dollars advancing Ivana through to the completion of a feasibility study and drilling key exploration targets located in adjacent areas of the Property. Following a positive feasibility study, Corredor can earn an additional 1% upon its decision to fund the capital cost of the Project and further 29% interest by funding 100% of the estimated capital costs to achieve commercial production.

Cacos emphasized the strategic importance of this agreement with its recent PEA for the Amarillo Grande Project confirming the Ivana deposit as a potential candidate for low-cost uranium production. The proposed transaction provides compelling benefits for Blue Sky and its shareholders by setting a clear path to bring Ivana to production in partnership with one of the most capable groups in Argentina.

The collaboration with Corredor Americano is expected to accelerate the development of the Ivana deposit, leveraging Corredor's expertise and financial strength. This partnership aims to unlock the full potential of the deposit, ensuring a streamlined path towards commercial production.

The terms of the agreement reflect a structured approach to project development, with Corredor Americano taking on significant financial commitments to advance the Ivana project. This includes funding for extensive drilling programs and feasibility studies, aimed at confirming the project's viability and outlining a clear route to production.

As the project progresses, Blue Sky Uranium will provide regular updates on key milestones and developments, ensuring transparency and keeping stakeholders informed. The company remains committed to advancing its portfolio of uranium and vanadium assets, capitalizing on favorable market conditions and the growing demand for these critical minerals.

#proactiveinvestors #blueskyuraniumcorp #tsxv #otc #bsk #bkucf

#invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

Brunswick Exploration CEO Killian Charles joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share the final results from its Mirage winter drilling campaign. The Mirage Project is located in the Eeyou Istchee-James Bay region of Quebec, approximately 40 kilometers south of the Trans-Taiga Road. The winter drill campaign focused on the Central Zone and has continued to intersect wide and well-mineralized intervals within the MR-6 dyke.

Charles told Proactive the drilling saw a new interval at the MR-6 dyke with 1.64% Li2O over 69.3 meters in drill hole MR-24-61 and 1.17% Li2O over 28.3 meters in drill hole MR-24-50 both starting from surface. The MR-9 dyke is located approximately 600 meters northeast of MR-6, with 1.07% Li2O over 14.4 meters in drill hole MR-24-45 and 2.00% Li2O over 4 meters in drill hole MR-24-51, now drill traced over 400 meters. Further evidence of significant dyke stacking located 350 meters southeast of MR-6 where drill hole MR-24-59 intersected several mineralized pegmatite dykes all of which remain open in every direction.

The impressive lithium grades and widths intersected at both MR-6 and MR-9 dykes highlight the potential of the Mirage project to host significant lithium resources. The continuity of mineralization from surface and the extensive drilling data suggest a robust system that warrants further exploration.

The company is now preparing to announce its 2024 summer exploration program in the coming weeks, which will include extensive drilling and sampling activities not only at Mirage but also in northern Quebec, Labrador, and Greenland. This extensive exploration program aims to expand the known mineralized zones, test new targets, and ultimately enhance the resource base of Brunswick Exploration.

#proactiveinvestors #brusnswickexploration #tsxv #brw #otcqb #brwxf #mining

#LithiumExploration #MirageProject #JamesBayLithium #MiningNews #CanadaMining #GreenlandExploration #LabradorLithium #QuebecMining #LithiumOxide #SurfaceDrilling #HighGradeLithium #SummerDrillProgram #ExplorationSuccess #MineralDiscovery #CEOInterview #ProactiveNewsroom #MiningIndustry #LithiumSupply #NorthAmericanMining#invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews