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Lode Gold Closes $1.51 Million Upsized Private Placement

Investing 8 Mins Read

Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD,OTC:LODFF) (OTCQB: LODFF) (‘Lode Gold’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it has now closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering for $1.0 million (the ‘Offering’). In three tranches, the Company raised total gross proceeds of $1,513,768 through the issuance of 8,409,825 units of the Company (‘Unit’) at a price of $0.18 per Unit, (see related Company news first tranche, second tranche, and final tranche).

Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (‘Common Share’) and one common share purchase warrant (‘Warrant’). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.35 per share for a period of 36 months following the date of closing. The Company may accelerate the Warrant expiry date if the Company’s shares trade at $0.65 or more for a period of 10 days, including days where no trading occurs.

In conjunction with the private placement finder’s fees of $16,039 will be paid in cash and 89,100 Finders’ Warrants will be issued. Each Finders’ Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.35 per share for a period of 36 months following the date of closing.

Insiders of the Company subscribed to 1,022,111 Units of the private placement.

All securities issued pursuant to this private placement, including common shares underlying the Warrants, are subject to a statutory hold period which expires 4 months from the date of closing.

The completion of the private placement remains subject to the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The proceeds raised from the Offering will go toward execution of the business plans for Lode Gold and its subsidiary, Gold Orogen (1475039 B.C. Ltd.).

Management Changes
Winfield Ding has resigned as the CFO with immediate effect. The Company has initiated a search for a new CFO and has identified several potential candidates for the position. Wayne Moorhouse has agreed to act as the Company’s Acting CFO. Wayne has a wealth of senior company management experience including holding the position of CFO for Roxgold Inc. (TSXV), Midnight Sun Mining Corp. (TSXV), Genco Resources Inc. (TMX), Bluestar Gold (TSXV), and other private and public companies.

Construction Loan Extension
The Company has entered into an amending agreement with Romspen Investment Corporation (the ‘Lender’) to extend the maturity date of a construction loan agreement. The new maturity date of the loan is October 31, 2025. In consideration for extending the maturity date of the loan, the Company will pay the Lender $200,000 of interest owing consisting of $100,000 to be paid in cash and $100,000 to be paid in shares subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Legal Update
As part of the 2024 Restructuring and Growth Plans, a senior secured debt holder, aligned with the Company’s new strategic direction, converted to become one of the largest shareholders, exceeding 19.9%. The former CEO resigned, citing change of control as the reason and proceeded to make a severance compensation claim. The Company disagreed that compensation is due as this debt holder is an existing key shareholder and a Director of the Board. A claim was filed and the court ruled in favor of the claimant for a payment of $222,469. The outcome will have no material impact on the Company’s 2025 financial results as this amount had been accrued in the Company’s accounting records in a prior period.

About Lode Gold

Lode Gold (TSXV: LOD,OTC:LODFF) is an exploration and development company with projects in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States.

In Canada Lode Gold holds assets in the Yukon and New Brunswick. Lode Gold’s Yukon assets are located on the southern portion of the prolific Tombstone Belt and cover approximately 99.5 km2 across a 27 km strike. Over 4,500 m have been drilled on the Yukon assets with confirmed gold endowment and economic drill intercepts over 50 m. There are four reduced-intrusive targets (RIRGS), in addition to sedimentary-hosted orogenic exploration gold.

In New Brunswick, Lode Gold, through its subsidiary 1475039 B.C. Ltd., has created one of the largest land packages in the province with its Acadian Gold Joint Venture, consisting of an area that spans 445 km2 with a 44 km strike. It has confirmed gold endowment with mineralized rhyolites.

In the United States, the Company is focused on its advanced exploration and development asset, the Fremont Mine in Mariposa, California. It has a recent 2025 NI 43-101 report and compliant MRE that can be accessed here https://lode-gold.com/project/freemont-gold-usa/

Fremont was previously mined until gold mining prohibition in WWII, when its mining license was suspended. Only 8% of the resource identified in the 2025 MRE has been extracted. This asset has exploration upside and is open at depth (three step-out holes at 1,300 m hit structure and were mineralized) and on strike. This is a brownfield project with over 43,000 m drilled, 23 km of underground workings and 14 adits. The project has excellent infrastructure with close access to electricity, water, state highways, railhead and port.

The Company recently completed an internal scoping study evaluating the potential to resume operations at Fremont based on 100% underground mining. Previously, in March 2023, the Company completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (‘PEA’) in accordance with NI 43-101 which evaluated a mix of open pit and underground mining. The PEA and other technical reports prepared on the Company’s properties are available on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company’s website (www.lode-gold.com)

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY
Wendy T. Chan
CEO & Director

Information Contact:

Wendy T. Chan
CEO
info@lode-gold.com
+1-(604)-977-GOLD (4653)

Kevin Shum
Investor Relations
kevin@lode-gold.com
+1 (604) -977-GOLD (4653)

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

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

This news release includes ‘forward-looking statements’ and ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the use of proceeds, advancement and completion of resource calculation, feasibility studies, and exploration plans and targets. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘potential’, ‘target’, ‘budget’ and ‘intend’ and statements that an event or result ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘could’ or ‘might’ occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: the status of community relations and the security situation on site; general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; the supply and demand for, inventories of, and the level and volatility of the prices of metals; relationships with strategic partners; the timing and receipt of governmental permits and approvals; the timing and receipt of community and landowner approvals; changes in regulations; political factors; the accuracy of the Company’s interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of the Company’s mineral deposits; the availability of equipment, skilled labour and services needed for the exploration and development of mineral properties; currency fluctuations; and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include a deterioration of security on site or actions by the local community that inhibits access and/or the ability to productively work on site, actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, unknown impact related to potential business disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak, or another infectious illness, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading ‘Risks and Uncertainties’ in the Company’s most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265413

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Investing

Editor’s Picks: Gold Sets New Price Record, Silver Hits 14 Year High

Investing 4 Mins Read

It’s been a historic week for precious metals, with gold nearly hitting the US$3,600 per ounce mark, and silver passing US$41 per ounce for the first time since 2011.

The gold price spent the summer in a consolidation phase, and part of what’s spurring its latest move is expectations that the US Federal Reserve will lower interest rates at its next meeting.

The central bank has held rates steady since December 2024, even as President Donald Trump places increasing pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to cut.

Powell’s August 22 speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, began stoking anticipation of a cut, and August US jobs data, released on Friday (September 5), has all but guaranteed it will happen.

Non-farm payrolls were up by 22,000, significantly lower than the 75,000 expected by economists. Meanwhile, the country’s unemployment rate came in at 4.3 percent.

CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool now shows a 90.2 percent probability of a 25 basis point rate cut in September, with a 9.8 percent probability of a 50 basis point reduction.

Bond market turmoil also helped move the gold price this week.

Yields for 30 year US bonds rose to nearly 5 percent midway through the period, their highest level since mid-July, on the back of a variety of concerns, including tariffs, inflation and Fed independence.

Globally the situation was even more tumultuous, with 30 year UK bond yields reaching their highest point since 1998; meanwhile, 30 year bond yields for German, French and Dutch bonds rose to levels not seen since 2011. In Japan, 30 year bond yields hit a record high.

Tariff developments have also created uncertainty this past week.

After an appeals court upheld a ruling that many of Trump’s tariffs are illegal, the president’s administration asked the Supreme Court to fast track its review of the decision.

Going back to gold and silver, their recent price activity is certainly raising questions about what’s next. The broad consensus among the experts focused on the sector is positive, but the metals are beginning to get more mainstream attention too.

Notably, investment bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) now has a gold price prediction of US$4,000 by mid-2026, although the firm notes that the yellow metal could rise to nearly US$5,000 if just 1 percent of private investors shift from treasuries to gold.

‘If 1 per cent of the privately owned US Treasury market were to flow to gold, the gold price would rise to nearly $5,000 per troy ounce’ — Daan Struyven, Goldman Sachs

Bullet briefing — Hoffman on gold, Hathaway on silver

It’s been a short week, at least in North America, so instead of the usual news stories this bullet briefing will highlight a couple of my favorite recent interviews.

Nothing in gold’s path

First is Ken Hoffman of Red Cloud Securities. It was my first time speaking with Hoffman, and he made a compelling case for how gold could get to US$10,000.

Watch the full interview with Hoffman above.

Silver a ‘smouldering volcano’

Next is John Hathaway of Sprott. He shared what he thinks will be the trigger for gold’s next move higher — a major decline in equities — but he also discussed his bullish outlook on silver, which moved past US$40 not long after our interview.

Watch the full interview with Hathaway above.

We’re definitely entering uncharted territory right now, and I want to make sure I bring you commentary from the experts you want to hear from — drop a comment below to let me know who you’d like me to talk to, and also what questions you have.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Sport

Travis Kelce (yes that Travis Kelce) slapped by Chargers’ Teair Tart

Sport 1 Min Read

Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart slapped Kelce on the front of his helmet following a two-yard run by Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt with a little over eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Referees quickly threw a flag and penalized Tart for unnecessary roughness.

The penalty moved the football to the Chargers’ 11-yard line. Patrick Mahomes reached the end zone on an 11-yard run on the ensuing play to cut Kansas City’s deficit to 13-12. Harrison Butker missed the game-tying an extra point.

Kelce had just one catch for 10 yards at the time of the penalty.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Sport

‘Baseball hates me’: Dodgers suffer another bad loss

Sport 4 Mins Read
  • World Series champion Dodgers are stuck in a rut to start September.
  • Los Angeles has lost four in a row against last place-teams.
  • $72 million reliever Tanner Scott has struggled mightily in recent months.

Yes, the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are going through it. And while a title defense that’s been injury-wracked and arrhythmic from the jump has kept them from pulling away from the San Diego Padres, what they’re facing now is particularly grim.

After a 2-1 walk-off loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 5, the misfiring parts of this roster – a sputtering offense and a closer struggling to the point of despondency – were laid bare once again.

Their fourth consecutive loss by three or fewer runs has created frayed dispositions in the clubhouse.

‘They suck. They suck,’ says closer Tanner Scott of the close losses after he gave up the game-winning homer to Orioles rookie Samuel Basallo with two outs in the bottom of the ninth at Camden Yards. ‘For everyone that threw tonight that was great, for that to happen, just sucks. It sucks.

‘It feels terrible. I have to figure it out. Baseball hates me right now.’

Scott, signed to a $72 million contract to be the Dodgers’ highest-leverage reliever, instead has been a punching bag in the 78-63 Dodgers’ latest cold streak. He’s given up 10 earned runs in his last nine innings pitched, including five home runs, dating to July 6.

But scolding the pitchers during this skid is like blaming the firefighters, not the arsonists; emergency starter Shohei Ohtani did not give up a run and five relievers gave up just one run to the Orioles until Scott yielded the game-winning blast.

No, it’s the Dodger lineup that’s been flaccid in this streak, even as it is decimated.

Catcher Will Smith, probably their best player this year, was injured earlier on the trip, leaving a big hole in the lineup. Third baseman Max Muncy should return next week from an oblique strain, and that’s no small addition: The Dodgers are 54-35 when he’s in the lineup, 24-28 when he’s sidelined.

Yet this is a team of Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts and Ohtani and 2024 hero Teoscar Hernández, right?

Freeman tallied the lone Dodgers run with his 19th home run and as such, figured he’d be questioned postgame. He thought hard, pondered potential answers and still found himself mystified.

‘I’m not going to sit here and give some cliches. We’re just not playing very good,’ says Freeman. ‘Our pitching was great tonight. Offensively, we were not good.

‘There’s no sugarcoating this. We need to figure this out and figure this out quick.’

If momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher, the Dodgers are in good stead with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Unfortunately, Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers has been on a roll as well, and ready to dig into a Dodgers offense missing apparently indispensable cogs.

‘I’ve said it the last two weeks: Nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. You’ve got to be a pro and make it happen,’ says manager Dave Roberts. ‘This is our team. We’ve got guys coming back but for the next few days, this is what we got.’

Smith likely won’t play the rest of the weekend, and his replacement, top prospect Dalton Rushing, will get a CT scan Sept. 6 to rule out any further damage after fouling a ball off his right leg; X-rays were negative, but he was on crutches after the game.

Not exactly the sight the flailing Dodgers needed to see. Ohtani, too, can see that his mates are pressing.

‘We, individually, are trying to find ways on our own to make sure we’re hitting better than we are and I think a side effect of that is we’re a little too eager and putting a little too much pressure on ourselves,’ says Ohtani through team translator Will Ireton. ‘In a sense, that’s really hurting us more than helping us.

‘I do feel it, in a sense my job is to make hard contact and get on base, finding ways for myself and Mookie to make sure there’s runners on base for Will Smith and Freddie Freeman.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Sport

As Chiefs get early season wake-up call, Chargers earn statement win

Sport 3 Mins Read
  • The Chargers led against the Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil from start to finish.
  • The Chargers ended a seven-game losing streak against the Chiefs.
  • The Chiefs face their Super Bowl 59 opponent, the Eagles in Week 2.

The Los Angeles Chargers’ seven-game losing streak versus the Kansas City Chiefs faded away in Brazil on Friday night. Los Angeles’ upset win in South America is an early season notice for the Chiefs.

The AFC West isn’t going to be a cakewalk for Kansas City this year.

Justin Herbert and the Chargers controlled most of the game against the defending AFC champions and held on for the 27-21 victory. Herbert passed for 313 yards and three touchdowns as the Chargers preserved a lead from start to finish.  

Friday’s AFC West battle was an offensive struggle for the Chiefs, who were outgained by the Chargers, 143 to 33, in the first quarter and went 0-7 on third down in the first half.

“We can learn from this as we move forward,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters postgame. “We were a little flat in the first half and that cost us.”

Patrick Mahomes tried to will the Chiefs to victory in the second half. He had a circus third-down completion to JuJu Smith-Schuster on third down and made an amazing 49-yard pass to Hollywood Brown on fourth down in the fourth quarter. Kansas City scored on all three of its possessions in the second half, but they were playing catch up the entire evening as the Chargers seemingly padded their lead every time Mahomes and the Chiefs responded.

Kansas City’s defense had an opportunity to give Mahomes the football again, but Herbert made the game’s decisive play with a little over two minutes remaining when he scrambled 19 yards on third-and-14 and made an overemphasize slide in satisfaction.

“It wasn’t good enough. Just in general, they came out with more energy than we did. Their defense and our offense. We didn’t execute,” Mahomes told reporters after the loss. “And obviously, we didn’t play good enough in the first half.”

Herbert is now 3-7 in his career versus Kansas City. It was the Chargers’ first victory against the Chiefs since Sept. 26, 2021. The Chargers’ win also extended Jim Harbaugh’s record to 6-0 in NFL season openers.

Yet for the Chiefs, the loss was a memo that the AFC West division is bound to be more difficult to navigate this season. The Chargers are better as they illustrated Friday night. Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos reloaded, and the Las Vegas Raiders have a new identity with Pete Carroll at the helm.

“It’s a learning moment, especially for the young guys on the team. We’re gonna get everybody’s best and we have to play up to that standard if we want to win football games. I felt like we didn’t play to that standard (Friday), everybody – offense, defense and special teams,” Mahomes said. “But credit to the Chargers. They had a great plan, came in played great football and beat us. Now we have to learn from that knowing that next week is gonna be just as tough.”

The Chiefs will get the benefit of playing at home next week. However, Week 2 will pose a daunting test against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, a team Kansas City is still licking its wounds from the Super Bowl 59 rout.

“We got to learn fast,” Mahomes said. “We’re playing the reigning Super Bowl champs next week.”

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Sport

World Cup 2026: Who has qualified already?

Sport 5 Mins Read

The qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup involves nearly every sovereign nation on the planet, with every team pursuing one of the 48 berths at next summer’s massive tournament.

While the United States, Mexico, and Canada were all guaranteed places as host nations, the other 45 berths have to be earned the hard way. Qualifying kicked off all the way back on Sept. 7, 2023, with a game between Paraguay and Peru being the first to kick off. From there, each of the six continental confederations work through a sometimes byzantine process to sort out the nations that will take the field at the next men’s World Cup.

Over the last two days, four nations have sealed their places at next summer’s tournament. On Thursday, Uruguay and Colombia both clinched their places with wins in South America, while Paraguay joined them after a scoreless draw against Ecuador (and then declared a national holiday to celebrate). Morocco became the first African nation to qualify, sealing their place with a 5-0 rout of Niger on Friday.

Here’s what to know about who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, who might join them in the near future, and a breakdown of how many berths each of the world’s regions gets:

Who has qualified for World Cup 2026?

The 2026 World Cup will be the first ever to include 48 nations, a massive jump up from the 32 that competed in Qatar in 2022. The qualifying process varies from confederation to confederation, with 17 nations having clinched their places in next summer’s massive tournament.

Here is a complete list of every country to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as of Friday, Sept. 5:

  • Host nations: Canada, Mexico, United States
  • Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Uzbekistan
  • Africa: Morocco
  • Concacaf: None yet
  • Europe: None yet
  • Oceania: New Zealand
  • South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay

World Cup qualifying: Who could clinch a 2026 spot next?

World Cup qualifying is going on worldwide, with each confederation’s schedule and process containing variations. However, in the next few days, three countries could claim their places at the 2026 tournament:

  • Algeria: A win on Monday against Guinea (which will be played in Casablanca, Morocco, as Guinea doesn’t have a stadium that meets CAF standards) combined with Uganda failing to beat Somalia in Kampala would send Algeria to their fifth men’s World Cup.
  • Egypt: With three games left to play, Egypt leads Group A by five points over Burkina Faso. Those two meet in Ouagadougou on Tuesday, and a win for the visitors would get ‘the Pharoahs’ back into the World Cup after they missed out in 2022.
  • Tunisia: Tunisia leads Group H by seven points with three games to play, leaving them with several paths to clinch qualifying. A win on Monday at Equatorial Guinea would do the job, as would Namibia failing to defeat São Tomé and Príncipe on Tuesday.

Additionally, there are two high-pressure games in South America, where Venezuela and Bolivia are fighting for the region’s only intercontinental playoff spot. Venezuela holds a one-point lead between the two (as well as a 12-goal edge in the first tiebreaker, goal difference), meaning that a win at home over Colombia will keep their hopes alive.

Bolivia must beat Brazil — something they’ve only done once, back in 2009 — and hope for Venezuela to stumble at the finish line. Otherwise, the ‘Vinotinto’ will begin looking forward to the intercontinental playoff.

World Cup 2026: How many spots for each region?

Here is a complete breakdown of how FIFA sorted out all 48 berths at the 2026 World Cup:

  • Host nations (3): Canada, Mexico, and the United States all qualified as soon as they were picked to host the tournament.
  • Asia (8): Six Asian countries have qualified. The Asian Football Confederation’s fourth round (which will settle who claims the final two automatic bids) begins on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
  • Africa (9): African qualifying sorted 54 countries into nine groups of six (though Eritrea withdrew from Group E before play began). Group winners all qualify, while the best four runners-up will have a pathway to the intercontinental playoff.
  • Concacaf (3): The region’s third round — featuring three groups of four — began on Thursday, Sept. 4. Group winners qualify directly, while the two best runners-up will enter the intercontinental playoff.
  • Europe (16): UEFA qualifying features 54 teams broken up into 12 groups. Group winners qualify for the World Cup, while the second-place finishers (along with the top four teams from the UEFA Nations League who didn’t win their qualifying groups) will enter a playoff for Europe’s final four berths that is set for March 2026.
  • Oceania (1): New Zealand has already claimed Oceania’s only guaranteed berth at the 2026 World Cup.
  • South America (6): CONMEBOL’s marathon qualifying tournament is down to one final round of games, but all six direct spots have already been clinched. The region’s seventh-place finisher (which will be either Venezuela or Bolivia) will go into the intercontinental playoff.
  • Intercontinental playoff (2): New Caledonia is the only team locked into a spot in what will be a six-team tournament scheduled for March 2026.
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Sport

Sinner sets up highly anticipated US Open men’s final

Sport 5 Mins Read

NEW YORK — The final that everyone anticipated has come to fruition. The top two seeds will clash for the title at Flushing Meadows.

Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open final in defense of his title on Sunday, Sept. 7 after the top-seeded Italian took down Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night.

Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian making his first appearance in the US Open semifinals in four years, was aiming to become the second men’s singles player from his country to reach a Grand Slam final.

With the victory, the 24-year-old Sinner becomes the fourth and youngest man in the Open Era to play in the finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments in one season.

It will be the first time ever two male players have played in three straight Grand Slam finals within one year.

After winning the Australian Open in January over Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz beat Sinner in a five-set thriller at the French Open final. Sinner returned the favor by taking home the Wimbledon title in July, and the Spaniard went on to defeat him for the Cincinnati Open championship, serving as a tune-up for the US Open. Alcaraz and Sinner have won each of the seven Grand Slam championships, and the stakes couldn’t be bigger. Not only is a $5 million check at stake, but the winner of Sunday’s match will become the No. 1-ranked player in the world.

Sinner was surgical in the first set, winning 6-1, using a powerful forehand to force Auger-Aliassime into multiple errors, and capitalizing on opportunities to establish a strong lead.

Those opportunities came in the second set, as it was Sinner who was uncharacteristically sloppy, with only two winners as both men played a chess game to see who could get over on each other’s lightning-fast serve, both sometimes topping out at over 120 mph. Auger-Aliassime took control and won the last three games of the set, sending the crowd at Ashe into thunderous applause.

Sinner called for medical personnel to check on him in between the second and third sets. When he returned from the timeout he went straight to work, winning three straight games after the score was tied at two games each and ending the set when Auger-Aliassime’s backhand went into the net.

Sinner, now on a 27-match hard-court winning streak, struggled at times to put away Auger-Aliassime, who didn’t help his cause with five double faults, but finally wrapped up the three-hour, 21-minute affair when Auger-Aliassime committed the last of his 41 unforced errors, a forehand return that hit the net.

Jannik Sinner vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime semifinal highlights

Order restored as Sinner takes the third set

Two down, one to go for Sinner as he methodically put away Auger-Aliassime in the third set 6-3. Between the second and third sets, Sinner called for medical personnel to check on him, and when he returned from the timeout, he went straight to work, winning three straight games after the score was tied at two games each and ending the set when Auger-Aliassime’s backhand went into the net.

Auger-Aliassime wins second set

Auger-Aliassime roared back into the match by taking the last three games of the second set, winning 6-3. Sinner is not getting his first serve over, and Auger-Aliassime punished him, especially in the eighth game, allowing the momentum that Sinner had from the first set to disappear completely. Sinner lost a set for only the second time all tournament.

Auger-Aliassime shows signs of life

Sinner has made some uncharacteristic errors, and Auger-Aliassime has held serve so far. If he can get the set to at least a tiebreak or break Sinner’s serve, there might be a match. Tied at three games each heading down the stretch in the second set.

Sinner takes first set in easy fashion

Sinner is rolling, winning the first set 6-1, and dominating with his forehand. Auger-Aliassime can’t get out of his own way with 11 unforced errors and is getting a workout chasing Sinner’s return all over the court. Mismatch on all levels so far.

Sinner dominant in early going

Sinner has been absolutely surgical so far, breaking Felix Auger-Aliassime and dominating when it is his turn to serve. Sinner’s lead of 3-0 might be insurmountable if the young Canadian can’t put up much of a fight.

How to watch Jannik Sinner vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime

No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner will face off against No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime in a U.S. Open men’s semifinal match.

  • Date: Friday, Sept. 5
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium (Flushing, New York)
  • TV: ESPN

Watch the US Open on Fubo

How to watch 2025 US Open: Dates, TV, streaming

  • Dates: Sunday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Sept. 7
  • Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York
  • TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
  • Stream: Fubo
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Investing

How to Invest in Lithium Stocks and the Lithium Market

Investing 7 Mins Read

Despite the current low price environment, the long-term demand for battery metals is robust and offers opportunity for those interested in lithium stocks.

Seasoned metals investors who want to look beyond gold and silver are getting involved, while new investors are being drawn into the space by expanding battery market and lithium supply deals between auto makers and lithium producers.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to get familiar with the lithium market before investing in lithium stocks. Here’s a brief overview of some of the basics, including supply and demand, prices and companies.

In this article

    Where is lithium mined?

    Lithium is found globally in hard-rock deposits, evaporated brines and clay deposits. There’s some contention as to which type of deposit is superior, but generally there are challenges and upsides for both.

    The world’s largest hard-rock mine is the Greenbushes mine in Australia, and the bulk of the world’s lithium brine production comes from salars in Chile and Argentina. Most large lithium reserves are in Chile, and the prolific “Lithium Triangle” spans Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. Australia was once again the world’s largest lithium producer in 2024, followed by Chile and China.

    Canada and the United States, ranked as the seventh and ninth largest lithium producing countries, are increasingly becoming hotspots for lithium development and production as North American auto makers seek to secure domestic supply sources.

    What’s the difference between battery-grade and technical-grade lithium?

    Technical-grade lithium is used in ceramics, glass and other industrial applications, while battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide are used to make lithium-ion batteries. These lithium products can also be used for technical applications in a pinch, although battery-grade lithium fetches premium market prices over technical-grade. Those aren’t the only classifications, though. Pharmaceutical grade lithium carbonate is used in medicine.

    How is lithium priced?

    Getting a look at lithium prices isn’t easy, and that can make it difficult for investors who are looking to assess the viability of a given project. Pricing in the lithium industry has always been opaque due to the dominance of a few major producers, with investors having very little pricing information they can trust.

    Simon Moores of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence has emphasized that pricing can be a difficult concept for investors to grasp.

    “The biggest myth surrounding pricing is, ‘What is the price of lithium?’ Because there is no one price,” he said. “The newcomers want one lithium price, but the existing market has a wide range of lithium chemicals and then grades within a specification.’

    There are also distinct prices for lithium on markets in different regions, meaning lithium hydroxide in China will be priced slightly different than in Europe.

    For those looking to invest in lithium who want to learn about lithium prices, it’s best to read reports on lithium price trends from experts to help you understand what is happening in the market.

    What factors drive the lithium market?

    A major driver for the lithium market is its use in the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, energy-storage systems, smart phones and laptops.

    Global EV sales reached 17 million units in 2024, up 25 percent from the previous year, according to International Energy Agency (IEA) data. The figure represents more than 20 percent of all new cars sold worldwide. Looking forward, EV sales are expected to increase by another 25 percent to surpass 20 million in 2025, amounting to about one-quarter of total new car sales for the year.

    Tesla with its Nevada-based gigafactory was the first carmaker to stoke excitement in the lithium space. However, advancements in Chinese battery technologies, strategic pricing and government support led to Chinese EV maker BYD Company (HKEX:1211) overthrowing Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) as the global EV market leader in sales for 2024. That trend has continued into 2025, as Elon Musk’s involvement in US politics has also damaged Tesla’s brand for both sides of the political spectrum.

    The ascension of a Chinese automaker on the global EV stage doesn’t come as a surprise to most market insiders. The IEA is forecasting that China will see more than 14 million new EVs will be sold in 2025, representing 60 percent of all new cars sold in the country. Even more impressive, this figure is more than all EVs sold worldwide in 2023.

    When it comes to the lithium batteries that power electric vehicles, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows that in 2023, “China controlled nearly 85% of the world’s battery cell production capacity by monetary value.”

    In the US, the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president has cast a shadow over the North American EV market. On September 30, 2025, the Trump Administration is set to scrap the US$7,500 consumer tax credit for EVs offered under the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act. Government incentives to purchase EVs has also evaporated in Canada, despite the mandate that by 2035, 100 percent of new vehicle sales must be zero-emission vehicles.

    “North America, and in particular Canada, is experiencing a slowdown of EV sales in 2025. With Trump’s latest cuts in his ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ the USA could struggle to see any growth in the EV market overall in 2025,” said Rho Motion Data Manager Charles Lester.

    Data centers and artificial intelligence technologies represent another key demand trend for lithium as they require significant investments in battery energy storage systems.

    “Batteries are now essential — not just for EVs, but to balance power systems across sectors,” said Paul Lusty, head of battery raw materials at Fastmarkets, at Fastmarkets’ Lithium Supply & Battery Raw Materials conference in June.

    On the supply side, China has made a major push in recent years to expand its lithium mine production, leading to an oversupplied market. The resulting lithium price slump forced Australian lithium miners to stall development plans, curtail production and even place some operations on care and maintenance.

    Fastmarkets has reported that China is set to surpass Australia as the world’s largest lithium producing country by 2026.

    Lithium mine supply disruptions out of China are already having an oversized impact. In mid-August 2025, Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) (SZSE:300750,HKEX:3750) confirmed it had suspended operations at Jianxiawo, one of the world’s largest lithium mines, after the mine’s permit expired on August 9 and the company failed to obtain an extension.

    The news sent lithium spot prices higher as well as the stock values of ex-China lithium miners such as Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC), Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) and Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN).

    How to invest in lithium stocks

    So what’s the best way to invest in lithium? How should investors interested in lithium stocks begin? To start, it helps to understand the lithium production landscape.

    For a long time, most lithium was produced by an oligopoly of lithium producers often referred to as the “Big 3”: Albemarle (NYSE:ALB), Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) (NYSE:SQM) and FMC. Rockwood Holdings was on that list too before it was acquired by Albemarle several years ago.

    However, the list of the world’s top lithium-mining companies has changed in recent years. The companies mentioned above still produce the majority of the world’s lithium, but China accounts for a large chunk of output as well. As already discussed, the Asian nation is on track to become the largest lithium-producing country by 2026.

    For now, the biggest producer continues to be Australia, which is home to many lithium mines, including up-and-comer Liontown Resources’ (ASX:LTR,OTC:LINRF) Kathleen Valley operations. The mine entered open-pit production during H2 2024, and the plant hit commercial production in January 2025. The company is currently transitioning Kathleen Valley from an open-pit to underground mining operation, making it the state of Western Australia’s first underground lithium mine.

    In other words, lithium investors need to be keeping an eye on lithium-mining companies in Australia and other jurisdictions in addition to the New York-listed chemical companies that produce the material.

    Of course, smaller lithium stocks are worth watching too — to find out which ones are currently thriving, check out our top global lithium stocks article. You can also check out our articles on the biggest lithium stocks globally, top performing Australian lithium stocks and top Canadian lithium stocks.

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

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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    Aurum Resources

    Investing 9 Mins Read

    Investor Insights

    Aurum Resources offers a compelling value proposition through its highly prospective gold assets in Côte d’Ivoire, a fast-emerging gold region in West Africa. Its cost-effective exploration strategy of drill rig ownership also distinguishes it from its peers.

    Overview

    Aurum Resources (ASX:AUE) is a mineral exploration company primarily focused on gold through its Boundiali and Napié gold projects in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.

    Côte d’Ivoire’s gold mining sector is experiencing significant growth and development, with several key projects contributing to the country’s economic expansion. The overall gold mining sector in Côte d’Ivoire is supported by substantial investments in infrastructure and exploration.

    Geopolitically, Côte d’Ivoire outperforms most developing countries in the world in political, legal, tax and operational risk metrics. Additionally, Côte d’Ivoire continues to make notable strides in its political stability and Absence of Violence and Terrorism Index.

    Boundiali Gold Project – BD Target 1 Artisanal Working

    In March 2025, Aurum completed the acquisition of 100 percent of Mako Gold, bringing together its strong balance sheet and industry-leading drilling efficiencies to accelerate resource growth across northern Côte d’Ivoire. The company now holds a 90 percent interest in the highly prospective Napié Project, a 224 sq km land package with a 30 km strike near Korhogo.

    Aurum has delivered a major milestone in 2025 with a +50 percent increase in the JORC Mineral Resource Estimate at its Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, adding 820koz for a total of 2.41Moz. This lifts the company’s group resources to 3.28Moz, including Napié, highlighting the scale and growth potential of Aurum’s portfolio.

    Supported by a seasoned board and management team with deep gold sector expertise—and strengthened by its recent capital raising—Aurum is well-funded to expand resources and advance development plans that drive long-term shareholder value.

    Company Highlights

    • 3.28Moz and Growing in Côte d’Ivoire: Two cornerstone gold projects — Boundiali (2.41Moz) and Napié (0.87Moz) — positioned for rapid growth with multiple resource updates and development milestones in 2025–2026.
    • Outstanding Metallurgy = Simple, Profitable Processing: Boundiali delivers free milling ore with 95 percent recoveries and a straightforward flowsheet, while Napié achieves +94 percent recoveries in tests, showcasing strong economics and low technical risk.
    • Aggressive, Cost-Effective Growth Strategy: In-house drill fleet drives efficiency and scale: 100,000m at Boundiali and 30,000m at Napié planned in 2025.
    • Premier Mining Jurisdiction: Located in Côte d’Ivoire’s prolific Birimian Greenstone Belt, backed by a stable, supportive government and excellent infrastructure—creating the right conditions for mine development success.
    • Leadership with a Proven Track Record: A seasoned management team with a history of value creation, supported by committed shareholders who back the company’s long-term growth vision.

    Key Projects

    Boundali Gold Project

    The Boundiali gold project in Cote d’Ivoire is located within the Boundiali Greenstone Belt, which hosts Resolute’s Syama gold operation (11.5 Moz) and the Tabakoroni deposit (1 Moz) in Mali. Neighbouring assets also include Barrick’s Tongon mine (5 Moz) and Montage Gold’s Kone project (4.5 Moz).

    The Boundiali project area covers the underexplored southern extension of the Boundiali belt, where a highly deformed synclinal greenstone horizon traverses finer-grained basin sediments, and to the west, Tarkwaian clastic rocks lie in contact with a granitic margin. The project benefits from year-round road access and excellent infrastructure.

    The first stage of drilling at Boundiali occurred from late October 2023 to end of November 2024 for both the BM and BD tenements (BM1 and BM2; BD1, BD2 and BD3 targets) and was designed to test below-gold-in-soil anomalies oriented along NE trending structures, define new gold prospects and define maiden JORC resources. With over 63,000m diamond holes drilled during this period, Maiden JORC gold resources estimate was delivered in late December 2024.

    Drilling costs are estimated at US$45 per metre, as Aurum owns all of its eight drilling rigs and employs its operators, representing a significant value proposition relative to peers who use commercial drilling companies that charge upwards of $200 per meter. The company believes there is potential for multi-million ounce gold resources to be defined with hundreds thousands meters of drilling over years within the Boundiali Gold Project’s land holding areas.

    The Boundiali gold project comprises four contiguous granted licenses: PR0808 (80 percent interest), PR0893 (80 percent and earning to 88 percent interest), PR414 (100 percent interest), and PR283 (earning to 70 percent interest). Historic exploration at PR0893 includes 93 AC drill holes and four RC holes. Airborne geophysical surveying, geological mapping and extensive soil sampling have also been performed at PR0893, while PR0808 has had 91 RC holes drilled for 6,229 metres along with geochemical analysis and modeling. Detailed geochemical sampling and drilling at PR414 revealed three strong gold anomalies and returned impressive high-grade results.

    In May 2024, Aurum entered a strategic partnership agreement to earn up to a 70 percent interest in exploration tenement PR283, to be renamed Boundiali North (BN). Aurum, through subsidiary Plusor Global Pty Ltd, has partnered with Ivorian company Geb & Nut Resources Sarl and related party (GNRR) to explore and develop the Boundiali North (BN) tenement which covers 208.87sq km immediately north of Aurum’s BD tenement. Further to this agreement,

    Aurum announced it has earned 80 percent project interest after completing more than 20,000 m of diamond core drilling.

    Boundiali Project JORC Mineral Resource Estimate

    Aurum has announced a maiden independent JORC mineral resource estimate of 1.59 Moz gold for its 1,037 sq. km. The Boundiali Gold Project comprises the BST, BDT1 & BDT2, BMT1 and BMT3 deposits. Drilling is ongoing on these deposits, and Aurum has identified other prospects at Boundiali which have yet to be drilled. Since October 2023, the company has completed an extensive 63,927-metre diamond drilling program. This aggressive exploration campaign has rapidly defined a significant gold resource of 50.9 Mt @ 1.0 g/t gold for 1.6 million ounces.

    In August 2025, Aurum announced a 50 percent increase in the JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). The update adds 820koz, lifting Boundiali’s resource to 2.41Moz and boosting total group resources to 3.28Moz, including Napié. The 2025 MRE covers six deposits, including BST1, BDT1, BDT2, BDT3, BMT1, and BMT3, with drilling ongoing and additional untested targets offering strong growth potential.

    Aurum is working towards completing an open pit PFS for the Boundiali Gold Project by the end of 2025. This will provide an evaluation of the project’s economics and technical feasibility.

    Napié Gold Project

    Aurum holds a 90 percent interest in the Napié Project in north-central Côte d’Ivoire, acquired through its takeover of Mako Gold. Located approximately 30 km southeast of Korhogo, the project covers a 224 sq km land package with a 30 km strike length along the highly prospective Napié Shear Zone.

    As of June 2022, Napié hosts a JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate of 868,000 ounces of gold (22.5 Mt at 1.20 g/t Au), based on the Tchaga and Gogbala deposits—two of four known prospects along the shear. To date, only 13 percent of the Napié Shear has been explored, leaving substantial potential for further discoveries.

    Napié Project – Previous results with detailed mapping area on Komboro Prospect shown in black rectangle

    Project Highlights:
    • Gold Resource: Shallow open pit 0.87Moz JORC Resource at 1.20g/t Au, with mineralisation open along strike and at depth. Maximum resource depth between 160 m – 195m across the two deposits
    • Exploration Upside: Less than 13 percent of the 30 km Napié Shear has been explored, offering significant potential for resource growth.
    • Preliminary Recovery Test Work: Returned more than 94 percent average gold recoveries.
    • Resource Growth Target: First MRE update planned end of 2025, to significantly expand the resource base.
    • Infrastructure: Excellent access to hydroelectricity, roads, and water, supporting future development.

    Management Team

    Troy Flannery – Non-executive Chairman

    Troy Flannery has more than 25 years’ experience in the mining industry, including nine years in corporate and 17 years in senior mining engineering and project development roles. He has a degree in mining engineering, masters in finance, and first-class mine managers certificate of competency. Flannery has performed non-executive director roles with numerous ASX listed companies and was the CEO of Abra Mining until October 2021. He has worked at numerous mining companies, mining consultancy and contractors, including BHP, Newcrest, Xstrata, St Barbara Mines and AMC Consultants.

    Dr. Caigen Wang – Managing Director

    Dr. Caigen Wang founded Tietto Minerals (ASX:TIE), where he led the company as managing director for 13 years through private exploration, ASX listing, gold resource definition, project study and mine building to become one of Africa’s newest gold producers at its Abujar gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire. He holds a bachelor, masters and PhD in mining engineering. He is a fellow of AusIMM and a chartered professional engineer of Institution of Engineer, Australia. Wang has 13 years of mining academic experience in China University of Mining and Technology, Western Australia School of Mine and University of Alberta, and over 20 years of practical experience in mining engineering and mineral exploration in Australia, China and Africa. Other professional experience includes senior technical and management roles in mining houses, including St. Barbara, Sons of Gwalia, BHP Billiton, China Goldmines PLC and others.

    Mark Strizek – Executive Director

    Mark Strizek has nearly 30 years’ experience in the resource industry, having worked as a geologist on various gold, base metal and technology metal projects. He brings invaluable geological, technical and development expertise to Aurum, most recently as an executive director at Tietto Minerals’, which progressed from an IPO to gold production at the Abujar gold project in West Africa. Strizek has worked as an executive with management and board responsibilities in exploration, feasibility, finance, and development-ready assets across Australia, West Africa, Asia, and Europe.

    Steve Zaninovich – Non-Executive Director

    Ateve Zaninovich is a qualified engineer with over 25 years of experience in mining project development, business development, maintenance, and operational readiness, with a focus on gold, base metals, and lithium. He is currently director of operations at Kodal Minerals, where he is responsible for advancing the Bougouni Lithium Project. His previous roles include project director at Lycopodium Minerals for the Akyem Gold Project in Ghana and chief operating officer at Gryphon Minerals. Following Gryphon’s acquisition by Teranga Gold Corporation, he became vice-president of major projects and a member of Teranga’s executive management team.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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