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WPIC: Platinum to Hit Third Annual Deficit as Supply Fails to Meet Demand

Investing 6 Mins Read

Platinum is heading for a third consecutive annual deficit in 2025, with the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) projecting an 850,000 ounce shortfall as demand continues to outpace weak mine supply.

In its latest Platinum Quarterly, the WPIC states that despite a 22 percent year-on-year decline in demand, a lack of metal is expected to create a supply shortfall that’s only 13 percent lower than 2024’s 968,000 ounce shortfall.

Its call comes amid a price breakout for platinum, which pushed past US$1,450 per ounce in July.

Why is the platinum market in deficit?

The biggest challenge for platinum has been weak refined production, which slipped to 1.45 million ounces during the quarter from 1.54 million ounces produced during the same time last year.

This has led the WPIC to predict a 6 percent decrease in primary supply to 5.43 million ounces, down from the 5.76 million ounces produced in 2024. Output declines in top producer South Africa have had outsized effects on supply, as Q1 output came in at just 713,000 ounces, as heavy rainfalls negatively impacted production.

Although output grew to 1.05 million ounces in the second quarter, it was still 8 percent lower than in Q2 2024.

Additional decreases to output are also expected in Zimbabwe and North America, slipping 4 percent and 26 percent, respectively. However, Russia is set to see a 1 percent rise in output, increasing to 686,000 ounces from 677,000 in 2024.

On a more positive note, recycling supply saw an increase to 423,000 ounces during Q2 from 379,000 reported in 2024. This has led the WPIC to predict a 6 percent annual increase to 1.6 million ounces from 1.52 million last year.

The majority of this increase comes from growth in automotive recycling, aided by higher platinum group basket prices. However, the WPIC notes that despite the growth, recycling will remain depressed compared to historic levels.

The WPIC predicts an overall supply decrease of 3 percent in 2025 to 7.03 million ounces, from 7.28 million ounces in 2024. With three years of deficits, the group is also expecting further drawdowns of above-ground stocks with a 22 percent decrease to 2.98 million ounces, representing four and a half months of demand coverage.

In recent years, stockpiles have fallen from 5.51 million ounces in 2022 to 4.8 million ounces in 2023 and 3.83 million ounces in 2024.

“I don’t think we’re going to see any meaningful mine supply response at these levels. It’s also worth bearing in mind that these are, for the most part, deep-level underground mines. So even if we had another 50 percent increase in the basket price, you’re still not going to see a supply response over the near to medium term,” he said.

Watch Sterck discuss the platinum market.

He went on to explain that development times for mining operations will take several years and wouldn’t be possible on time frames shorter than 18 months.

“Recycling is definitely much more price elastic than mine supply over the near to medium term,” Sterck said.

However, he added that while people tend to scrap vehicles at a consistent rate, the pace and overall supply entering the market from the auto sector is constrained.

“Yes, we’ve seen quite a big increase in the platinum price year to date, but it’s not the main driver of the economics for those scrap aggregators and recyclers. It’s really more of a palladium story, even more so than rhodium. So, you need a sustained increase in palladium prices to drive a meaningful change there,” Sterck said.

Demand to weaken in 2025, jewelry a bright spot

Despite the expected deficit, the WPIC expects demand to weaken this year.

Q2 saw automotive demand fall to 769,000 ounces, down from 788,000 ounces in the year-ago period.

The WPIC’s expectation is that the auto sector will require 3.03 million ounces of platinum in 2025, a 3 percent decrease from the 3.11 million ounces needed in 2024. Likewise, the council is expecting a decrease in industrial demand for the metal as consumption drops off by 22 percent to 1.9 million, down from 2.42 million ounces last year.

Jewelry demand, however, has been on the rise, with the expectation that it will increase by 11 percent to 2.23 million ounces in 2025. The WPIC suggests the higher growth is owed to its discount relative to gold, and notes that it is seeing the most substantial increase in China — fabrication is seen growing 42 percent in 2025 to 585,000 ounces.

“What’s driving that increase has been fabrication funded by wholesalers, and they’re promoting platinum because they’ve seen a huge drop in their gold jewelry sales,” Sterck explained.

Despite an increase in holdings of bars, coins and exchange-traded funds, overall investment demand was dragged down in Q2 by a 317,000 ounce decrease in stocks held in exchanges due to tariff-related concerns.

Sterck said ongoing uncertainty in the platinum market earlier this year caused physical metal to shift from overseas markets into the US as traders began to worry about tariffs being applied.

Although movement reversed as traders were told tariffs wouldn’t be applied, fears were later stoked when copper tariffs were announced, and an “ideological disconnect” between the White House and South Africa emerged.

“Given that the current US administration has shown that it is willing to use tariffs as a kind of stick, if you like, for enacting foreign policy, you kind of come back to this sort of whole situation where there’s a non-zero chance of platinum being subject to tariffs in the US,” Sterck commented during the conversation.

Overall, the WPIC expects total platinum demand to drop by 4 percent year-on-year in 2025 to 7.88 million ounces.

Will the platinum price rise further in 2025?

Fundamentals should remain the primary driver for platinum. Despite weakening demand through the first half of 2025, a structural deficit in the market still exists due to a lack of supply to close the gap.

However, Sterck suggested the mining supply is likely to increase before the end of the year.

“This year was particularly accentuated by flooding in South Africa during the first quarter of the year, so we do expect a bit of an increase in mining supply,” he said. However, he also noted that until there are more significant changes to the amount of supply, the price conditions aren’t likely to change much.

“Fundamentally, at the moment, it just appears that the platinum price at current levels isn’t sufficient to attract enough metal into the market to really ease those market conditions,” Sterck noted.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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A Wild Ride For the History Books: 2025 Mid-Year Recap

Stock 1 Min Read

Markets don’t usually hit record highs, risk falling into bearish territory, and spring back to new highs within six months. But that’s what happened in 2025.

In this special mid-year recap, Grayson Roze sits down with David Keller, CMT, to show how disciplined routines, price-based signals, and a calm process helped them ride the whipsaw instead of getting tossed by it. You’ll see what really happened under the surface, how investor psychology drove the swings, and the exact StockCharts tools they leaned on to stay objective. 

If you’re focused on protecting capital, generating income, and sleeping well at night while still capturing the upside, this is a must-watch. Discover which charts deserve your attention now, what to ignore, and how to prep for the back half of 2025. 

This video premiered on July 23, 2025. Click on the above image to watch on our dedicated Grayson Roze page on StockCharts TV.

You can view previously recorded videos from Grayson at this link.

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Is META Breaking Out or Breaking Down?

Stock 4 Mins Read

The chart of Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) has completed a roundtrip from the February high around $740 to the April low at $480 and all the way back again.  Over the last couple weeks, META has now pulled back from its retest of all-time highs, leaving investors to wonder what may come next.

Is this the beginning of a new downtrend phase for META?  Or just a brief pullback before a new uptrend phase propels META to new all-time highs?

Today we’ll look at two potential scenarios, including the double top pattern and the cup and handle pattern, and share which technical indicators and approaches could help us determine which path plays out into August.

The double top scenario basically means that the late July retest of the previous all-time high was the end of the recent uptrend phase.  The double top pattern is literally when a major resistance level is set and then retested.  The implication is that a lack of willing buyers means the uptrend is exhausted, and there is nowhere to go but down.

While the 21-day exponential moving average is currently in play for META, I would say that a break below the 50-day moving average could confirm this as the correct scenario.  If that smoothing mechanism does not hold, then the price action would imply less of a pullback and more like the beginning of a real distribution phase.

What is META pulls back but then resumes an uptrend phase, leading META to another new all-time high?  That would result in a confirmed cup and handle pattern, created by a large rounded bottoming pattern followed by a brief pullback.  The key to this pattern is the “rim” of the cup, which sits right at $740 for META.

Given the pullback META has demonstrated so far in July, I would say that a break above the $740 level would basically confirm a bullish cup and handle pattern.  That would suggest much more upside potential for META, as the stock would literally go into previously uncharted territory.

So how can we determine which scenario is more likely to play out?  This is where we need to incorporate more technical indicators into the discussion, as a way to further validate and confirm our investment thesis.

Just to review, I think a break above $740 would confirm a bullish cup and handle pattern.  I would also say that a break below the $680 level, which would represent a move below the 50-day moving average as well as the June swing lows, would basically confirm a bearish double top pattern.

We can also use the Relative Strength Index (RSI) to help determine whether META remains in a bullish trend phase.  During bull phases, the RSI rarely gets below 40, because buyers usually step in to “buy the dips” and keep the momentum fairly constructive.  So if the price would break down, and the RSI would not hold that crucial 40 level, that could mean a bearish outlook is warranted.

Finally, we can use volume-based indicators to assess whether moves in the price are supported by stronger volume readings.  Here I’ve included the Accumulation/Distribution Line, which tracks the trend in daily volume readings over time.  We can see that the high in July resulted in a divergence, as the A/D line was trending lower.  If the A/D line would break below its June and July lows, marked by a dashed red line, that would represent a bearish volume reading for META.

Technical analysis is less about predicting the future, and more about determining the most probable scenarios based on our analysis of trend, momentum, and volume.  I hope this discussion shows how the outlook for META can be easily determined and tracked using the best practices of technical analysis!

RR#6,

Dave

PS- Ready to upgrade your investment process?  Check out my free behavioral investing course!

David Keller, CMT

President and Chief Strategist

Sierra Alpha Research LLC

marketmisbehavior.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/MarketMisbehavior

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.  The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.  

The author does not have a position in mentioned securities at the time of publication.    Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

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Momentum Leaders Are Rotating — Here’s How to Find Them

Stock 1 Min Read

Is the market’s next surge already underway? Find out with Tom Bowley’s breakdown of where the money is flowing now and how you can get in front of it.

In this video, Tom covers key moves in the major indexes, revealing strength in transports, small caps, and home construction. He identifies industry rotation signals, which are pointing to aluminum, recreational products, and furnishings. Tom then demonstrates how to use StockCharts’ tools to scan for momentum stocks in emerging leadership groups — see why SGI tops Tom’s list. He ends with a discussion of post-earnings reactions from major names like GOOGL, TSLA, IBM, and LVS. 

And, of course, Tom wraps every idea with clear chart setups you can act on today. 

This video premiered on July 24, 2025. Click this link to watch on Tom’s dedicated page.

Missed a session? Archived videos from Tom are available at this link.

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S&P 500 Breaking Out Again: What This Means for Your Portfolio

Stock 3 Mins Read

The S&P 500 ($SPX) just logged its fifth straight trading box breakout, which means that, of the five trading ranges the index has experienced since the April lows, all have been resolved to the upside.

How much longer can this last? That’s been the biggest question since the massive April 9 rally. Instead of assuming the market is due to roll over, it’s been more productive to track price action and watch for potential changes along the way. So far, drawdowns have been minimal, and breakouts keep occurring. Nothing in the price action hints at a lasting change — yet.

While some are calling this rally “historic,” we have a recent precedent. Recall that from late 2023 through early 2024, the index had a strong start and gave way to a consistent, steady trend.

From late October 2023 through March 2024, the S&P 500 logged seven consecutive trading box breakouts. That streak finally paused with a pullback from late March to early April, which, as we now know, was only a temporary hiccup. Once the bid returned, the S&P 500 went right back to carving new boxes and climbing higher.

New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

If there’s been one gripe about this rally, it’s that the number of new highs within the index has lagged. As we’ve discussed before, among all the internal breadth indicators available, new highs almost always lag — that’s normal. What we really want to see is whether the number of new highs begins to exceed prior peaks as the market continues to rise, which it has, as shown by the blue line in the chart below.

As of Wednesday’s close, 100 S&P 500 stocks were either at new 52-week highs or within 3% of them. That’s a strong base. We expect this number to continue rising as the market climbs, especially if positive earnings reactions persist across sectors.

Even when we get that first day with 100+ S&P 500 stocks making new 52-week highs, though, it might not be the best time to initiate new longs.

The above chart shows that much needs to align for that many stocks to peak in unison, which has historically led to at least a short-term consolidation, if not deeper pullbacks — as highlighted in yellow. Every time is different, of course, but this is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

The GoNoGo Trend remains in bullish mode, with the recent countertrend signals having yet to trigger a greater pullback.

Active Bullish Patterns

We still have two live bullish upside targets of 6,555 and 6,745, which could be with us for a while going forward. For the S&P 500 to get there, it will need to form new, smaller versions of the trading boxes.

Failed Bearish Patterns

In the chart below, you can view a rising wedge pattern on the recent price action, the third since April. The prior two wedges broke down briefly and did not lead to a major downturn. The largest pullbacks in each case occurred after the S&P 500 dipped below the lower trendline of the pattern.

The deepest drawdown so far is 3.5%, which is not exactly a game-changer. Without downside follow-through, a classic bearish pattern simply can’t be formed, let alone be broken down from.

We’ll continue to monitor these formations as they develop because, at some point, that will change.

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Chart Mania – 23 ATR Move in QQQ – Metals Lead 2025 – XLV Oversold – XLU Breakout – ITB Moment of Truth

Stock 2 Mins Read

Here are some charts that reflect our areas of focus this week at

XLU Leads with New High

Even though the Utilities SPDR (XLU) cannot keep pace with the Technology SPDR (XLK) and Communication Services SPDR (XLC), it is in a leading uptrend. XLU formed a cup-with-handle from November to July and broke to new highs the last two weeks. ETFs hitting new highs are in strong uptrends and should be on our radar.

Metal Mania in 2025

In a tribute to Ozzy, metals are leading the way higher in 2025. The PerfChart below shows year-to-date performance for the continuous futures for 12 commodities. Copper, Platinum and Palladium are up more than 45% year-to-date, while Gold is up 28.38% and Silver is up 35.30%. QQQ is up 10.52% year-to-date, but lagging these metals. The other commodities are mixed.

Multi-Year Highs for Silver and Copper

The next chart shows 11 year bar charts for five metals. Gold broke out in early 2024 and led the metals move with an advance the last 21 months. Silver and copper broke out to multi-year highs. Platinum broke above its 2021 high and Palladium got in the action with an 18 month high. There is a clear message here: metals are moving higher and leading as a group.  

Home Construction Hits Moment of Truth

The Home Construction ETF (ITB) hit its moment of truth as it rose to its falling 40-week SMA. Notice that ITB failed just below this moving average in August 2023. During the 2023-2024 uptrend, the 40-week SMA was more friendly as ITB reversed near this level in October 2023 and June 2024. ITB surged to the falling 40-week SMA in July, but the long-term trend is down and this area could be its nemesis.

Thanks for Tuning in!

See TrendInvestorPro.com for more…

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Crypto Market Update: Klarna Raises US$1.37 Billion in IPO, SEC Shares Crypto Blueprint

Investing 7 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (September 10) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

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

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$113,543, a 1.9 percent increase in 24 hours. Its highest valuation of the day was US$114,246, and its lowest was US$112,205.

Bitcoin price performance, September 10, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin broke through US$114,000 on Wednesday after US producer price index numbers for August came in lower than expected, thanks to a decline in the cost of services.

Crypto trader Rekt Capital has identified US$113,000 as a potential resistance zone.

“Each rejection from $113k (red) has yielded shallower and shallower pullbacks,” he commented. ‘It has taken some time but it is increasingly looking like $113k is weakening as a point of rejection.’

“It’s unlikely Bitcoin has already peaked in its Bull Market because that would effectively mean that this cycle was one of the shortest of all time,” he said in another post, suggesting Bitcoin could have more room to run.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$4,324.50, an increase of 0.7 percent over the past 24 hours. Its highest valuation on Wednesday was US$4,437.72, and its lowest was US$4,305.60.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$221.78, an increase of 2.4 percent over the last 24 hours. Its highest valuation on Wednesday was US$224.95, and its lowest level was US$219.27.
  • XRP was trading for US$2.98, up by 0.4 percent in the past 24 hours. Its highest valuation of the day was US$3.02, and its lowest valuation was US$2.96.
  • SUI (Sui) was valued at US$3.55, up by 2.3 percent in the past 24 hours. Its highest price on Wednesday was US$3.62 and its lowest was US$.351.
  • Cardano (ADA) was priced at US$0.8757, up by 1.5 percent over 24 hours. Its highest valuation on Wednesday was US$0.8933, and its lowest was US$0.8726.

Today’s crypto news to know

Klarna secures US$1.37 billion in New York IPO

Klarna (NYSE:KLAR) raised US$1.37 billion in its US initial public offering (IPO) this week, marking one of the largest fintech listings of the year and a potential catalyst for other high-growth firms eyeing Wall Street.

The Swedish buy-now-pay-later company sold 34.3 million shares at US$40 each, topping its expected price range and valuing the firm at roughly US$15 billion. Investor appetite was strong, with the deal oversubscribed 25 times. The figure, however, is still far below the US$45 billion valuation it commanded at the peak of its pandemic surge.

Klarna, backed by Sequoia Capital, has been unprofitable since expanding aggressively in the US, where costs have climbed faster than revenues. The company’s losses widened to US$52 million in the second quarter, but overall sales still grew nearly 21 percent year-on-year.

SEC unveils ‘bold blueprint’ for crypto regulation

At an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development roundtable in Paris, France, on Wednesday, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins outlined a “bold blueprint” to accommodate blockchain-based financial markets with modern securities regulations under the Project Crypto initiative.

“It is a new day at the SEC,” Atkins said. “Policy will no longer be set by ad hoc enforcement actions. We will provide clear, predictable rules of the road so that innovators can thrive in the United States.

Under the SEC’s new regulatory approach, most crypto tokens will not be classified as securities. The initiative also aims to modernize securities rules to enable crypto platforms to operate as so-called super apps that offer trading, lending and staking services under one unified regulatory framework. Additionally, the SEC is preparing for the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in finance by creating an AI task force and encouraging innovation in agentic finance.

Paxos teams up with PayPal and Venmo for USDH stablecoin

Stablecoin issuer Paxos has updated its proposal to issue USDH, the planned stablecoin of decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, adding support from PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ:PYPL) and Venmo.

According to the announcement, PayPal will support both the HYPE token and USDH at its checkout, as well as provide US$20 million in incentives committed to the HYPE ecosystem.

The company will also integrate USDH into its payment app, Venmo and its money remittance service, Xoom.

Paxos indicated that USDH could achieve global circulation due to its regulatory status within the EU. “Paxos is the only issuer in the world today that can ensure that USDH can scale globally in a fully compliant manner,” it said.

The company reiterated that its commitment to Hyperliquid is structured so that “Paxos only wins if Hyperliquid wins,” meaning its revenue share from the USDH stablecoin only begins after reaching significant growth milestones, and all revenue from USDH will be reinvested into growing Hyperliquid and its ecosystem until it reaches a TVL of US$1 billion. Beyond a TVL of US$5 billion, Paxos will cap its revenue share at 5 percent.

Cboe to launch long-term BTC and ETH futures

Cboe Global Markets announced on Wednesday that it plans to launch 10 year continuous futures contracts for Bitcoin and Ether from November 10, 2025, pending regulatory approval.

Traditional futures contracts have short durations and expire regularly, requiring traders to roll their positions into new contracts, which can be complex and costly. Cboe’s proposed product means investors will be able to hold a position in Bitcoin or Ether futures for up to 10 years, offering a new way for investors to gain or manage long-term exposure.

These contracts are cash settled and priced in alignment with the real-time spot prices of Bitcoin and Ethereum, and will use a daily funding rate adjustment to keep the futures price closely tied to the underlying crypto price, functioning similarly to popular perpetual futures in decentralized finance markets.

This launch marks Cboe’s expansion into offering perpetual-style crypto futures under US regulation.

India leans away from sweeping crypto regulation

India is signaling it will avoid a full-scale regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, according to a government paper reviewed by Reuters. The document reiterates the Reserve Bank of India’s view that regulating digital assets could unintentionally confer legitimacy and increase risks to the broader financial system.

Instead, officials are leaning toward limited oversight, wary of speculative trading and systemic contagion.

This stance comes as other major economies, including Japan and Australia, advance regulatory regimes while China keeps its outright ban in place. US developments, including federal recognition of stablecoins, have added pressure on India to clarify its position, but policymakers remain cautious. Attempts to ban private cryptocurrencies in 2021 stalled, and a planned 2024 discussion paper was shelved pending international consensus.

For now, India is prioritizing containment over expansion, even as Bitcoin prices and global adoption hit record highs.

Rapyd launches stablecoin payment suite

Fintech platform Rapyd has introduced its Stablecoin Payment Solutions, giving businesses the ability to accept, settle and pay out using stablecoins through one integrated system. The offering is pitched as an answer to fragmented global money movement, consolidating what has often required multiple providers into a single platform.

Rapyd aims to tap over US$27 trillion in stablecoin transaction volume recorded across blockchains this year.

The platform enables real-time payouts, treasury management and currency conversion, potentially easing reliance on traditional rails like SWIFT. Executives at the company say the new service is aimed at industries ranging from gaming to global e-commerce, where speed and liquidity are critical.

As both US and European regulators formalize rules under the GENIUS Act and MiCA, Rapyd is betting that its unified approach can help enterprises cut costs and streamline cross-border operations.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Newmont to Exit Toronto Stock Exchange as Cost Cuts Deepen

Investing 3 Mins Read

Newmont (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) is preparing to withdraw from the Toronto Stock Exchange later this month, the latest in a string of moves to streamline operations and rein in costs following its US$15 billion takeover of Newcrest Mining in 2023.

The Denver-based miner said Wednesday it has applied for a voluntary delisting of its common shares from the TSX, effective at the close of trading on September 24.

The company cited “low trading volumes” on the Canadian exchange and said the decision is expected to “improve administrative efficiency and reduce costs for the benefit of Newmont’s shareholders.”

Newmont’s shares will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange, where it maintains its primary listing, as well as on the Australian Securities Exchange and the Papua New Guinea Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NEM.

Rising costs and restructuring plans

Newmont’s all-in sustaining costs reached record levels earlier this year, eroding profits even as bullion prices hit all-time highs above US$3,500 an ounce in April and remained above US$3,300 through most of the summer.

The company has acknowledged that its cost base has outpaced peers. In the second quarter, Newmont’s costs were nearly 25 percent higher than those of Agnico Eagle Mines, a Canadian rival considered one of the industry’s leanest producers.

Costs have also risen more than 50 percent over the past five years, driven by higher energy, labor, and material prices, as well as integration expenses tied to Newcrest’s operations.

Chief Executive Officer Tom Palmer told investors in July that Newmont was pursuing additional measures to lower its expenses.

Behind the scenes, Newmont has been preparing for more aggressive measures.

People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News that management has set an internal target to lower costs by as much as US$300 per ounce, or roughly 20 percent.

Meeting that benchmark could require thousands of layoffs across the company’s global workforce of about 22,000, excluding contractors.

While Newmont has not disclosed the scope of planned reductions, some employees have already been informed of redundancies, according to the report. Managers have also been briefed on potential curbs to long-term incentive programs as part of a broader restructuring.

A company spokesperson confirmed earlier this year that Newmont launched a cost and productivity improvement program in February.

Alongside cost cutting, Newmont has moved swiftly to divest non-core assets acquired in the Newcrest deal.

Since late 2024, the company has sold multiple Canadian operations: the Eleonore mine for about US$795 million, the Musselwhite mine in Ontario for $850 million, and its stake in the Porcupine operations for US$425 million.

The asset sales are intended not only to cut debt but also to sharpen focus on higher-margin operations, particularly in North America and Australia.

Despite higher costs, Newmont shares have surged 95 percent this year, followed by also announcing a US$3 billion share repurchase program in July.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Altech Batteries LtdCERENERGY Battery Prototype Reaches Key Milestones

Investing 6 Mins Read

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) (OTCMKTS:ALTHF) is pleased to announce the latest performance results of the CERENERGY(R) cell and battery pack prototypes. These results confirm the technological maturity and robustness of the CERENERGY(R) technology and mark another decisive step towards industrialisation.

Highlights

– 650+ cycles with no capacity loss, proving exceptional material stability and long operational lifespan compared to conventional batteries

– Near 100% Coulombic efficiency, confirming minimal side reactions and strong intrinsic safety of sodium nickel chloride chemistry

– High energy efficiency of up to 92%, surpassing typical 70-80% levels of competing battery technologies

– Proven safety under extreme conditions – cells remained stable during overcharge, deep discharge, and thermal cycling up to 300 degC with no gassing, leakage, or rupture

– Robust and reliable chemistry – sodium nickel chloride avoids flammable electrolytes and runaway risks, confirming suitability for safe, large-scale grid and renewable energy storage

– ABS60 prototype validated under real-world conditions -tested across diverse load profiles, high-current pulses up to 50 A, and thermal variations

– Stable, efficient performance – achieved ~88% round-trip efficiency with no observable capacity fade over 110+ cycles

CELL PERFORMANCE

The CERENERGY(R) prototype cells have successfully completed over 650 charge-discharge cycles without any detectable capacity loss. Cycle life is a critical measure of battery durability, as most conventional batteries experience gradual degradation with every cycle. Achieving such performance highlights the outstanding stability of the materials and points to the potential for a long operational lifespan.

For stationary energy storage systems (ESS), this translates into fewer battery replacements, lower lifetime operating costs, and greater reliability for end users.

The cells also delivered nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency alongside an energy efficiency of up to 92% across 650 cycles. Coulombic efficiency reflects the proportion of charge recovered during discharge relative to what was supplied during charging. A value approaching 100% indicates minimal side reactions or parasitic losses, confirming the intrinsic stability and safety of sodium nickel chloride chemistry. This high efficiency demonstrates that the cells are not expending energy on unwanted processes such as electrode degradation. Such performance is vital for scalability, ensuring reliable, longterm operation in commercial energy storage applications.

Energy efficiency represents the proportion of energy delivered relative to the energy supplied. Competing technologies, including conventional high-temperature batteries and many flow batteries, typically achieve only around 70-80%. By reaching 92%, CERENERGY(R) positions itself in a highly competitive class, offering more cost-effective energy storage, stronger economics for grid operators, and seamless compatibility with the requirements of renewable energy integration.

The cells achieved a nominal capacity of 100 Ah and 250 Wh, with reliable performance even at higher discharge rates. A key feature is their ability to support multiple daily charge-discharge cycles within the 20-80% state of charge (SoC) range at 25 A. This capability positions CERENERGY(R) as a highly flexible solution for grid operators and energy storage providers, enabling cost-efficient, long-life performance in applications that demand frequent cycling such as renewable integration, peak shaving, and backup power.

CERENERGY(R) prototype cells underwent rigorous abuse testing, including overcharge to 4 V, deep discharge to 0.2 V, and thermal cycling between room temperature and 300 degC. In all cases, the cells remained stable with no gassing, leakage, or rupture -clear proof of their outstanding safety. These results highlight the intrinsic stability of sodium nickel chloride chemistry, which avoids the flammable electrolytes and runaway risks common in lithium-ion batteries. The ability to withstand extreme electrical and thermal stress demonstrates CERENERGY(R)’s robustness and confirms its suitability for safe, largescale deployment in grid, renewable, and industrial energy storage applications. This was achieved over 3 cycles with 1.8 Full Charge Equivalent (FCE) into 22 hours.

BATTERY PACK ABS60 (60 kWh) PROTOTYPE

The first ABS60 battery pack prototype has been successfully validated under real-world operating conditions, marking a major step forward in product readiness. Testing included diverse load profiles,

continuous discharges at 25 A (equivalent to C-rate of C/4 (discharges in 4 hours), or one-quarter of the pack’s rated capacity per hour) at 80% depth of discharge (DoD), short-duration high-current pulses up to 50 A, and carefully controlled thermal variations.

The pack consistently demonstrated stable performance, achieving ~88% round-trip efficiency while maintaining reliable thermal management. Efficiency refers to the proportion of input energy that can be retrieved during operation-a critical measure of economic viability for large-scale storage. Over more than 110 cycles, results showed no observable capacity fading and only a slight increase in internal resistance. Capacity fading refers to the gradual decline in usable energy over repeated cycles, while internal resistance influences power delivery and heat generation.

The absence of meaningful degradation confirms the durability and electrochemical stability of the ABS60 design. These outcomes are highly significant as they demonstrate that the pack can withstand real-world duty cycles while retaining performance and efficiency, translating into longer service life, fewer replacements, and lower total cost of ownership.

For grid operators and renewable integration projects, this combination of robust cycling capability, efficiency, and thermal stability underscores the ABS60’s commercial readiness and competitive advantage in the stationary energy storage market.

These results are a strong confirmation of CERENERGY(R)’s technological leadership and a clear signal of the technology’s competitiveness and robustness for future applications in energy storage and industrial markets.

Group Managing Director, Iggy Tan said ‘These results confirm CERENERGY(R)’s robustness and readiness for market adoption. Demonstrating long cycle life, high efficiency, and unmatched safety, we are now strongly positioned to deliver a competitive and sustainable alternative for grid and industrial energy storage.’

*To view photographs, tables and figures, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/17QS44T3

About Altech Batteries Ltd:

Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS (‘Fraunhofer’) to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY(R) Sodium Alumina Solid State (SAS) Battery. CERENERGY(R) batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY(R) batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.

The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY(R) battery, with plans to construct a 100MWh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce CERENERGY(R) battery modules to provide grid storage solutions to the market.

Source:
Altech Batteries Ltd

Contact:
Corporate
Iggy Tan
Managing Director
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com

Martin Stein
Chief Financial Officer
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com

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