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Did you bury Texas? Longhorns’ CFP hopes not dead yet: ‘You never know’

Sport 3 Mins Read

  • Despite a previous blowout loss, the Texas Longhorns’ playoff hopes are not entirely extinguished.
  • A decisive 52-37 victory over Arkansas, led by Arch Manning’s four touchdowns, keeps Texas in the conversation.
  • The team’s chances rely on a potential upset of undefeated Texas A&M and chaos among higher-ranked teams.

If you thought Texas’ blowout loss at Georgia served as a playoff extinction-level event, you’re confusing this 12-team bracket with a beauty contest.

It’s not.

At the tail end of the bracket, it could be much more of a they’d-do-in-a-pinch type of affair.

If the selection committee finds itself in a pinch in a couple of weeks, facing a dearth of beauties, well, Texas still lurks.

And if the Longhorns don’t look like a grand prize, just knock back a six-pack and flip on game film of this 52-37 rout of Arkansas. This didn’t look half bad.

Let’s not turn this result into more than it is. This win serves as a blowout of a bad team, an opponent with an interim coach, a rival that lost to playoff-bound Notre Dame by 43 points.

But, the Razorbacks have had a way about hanging close against SEC opponents, before ultimately losing, and Texas changed the script by burying the Hogs.

“The season’s not done,’ Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said afterward on ABC. ‘You never know what can happen.”

Don’t take this as me stumping for Texas’ playoff bona fides. I had an eyewitness view of the Longhorns’ fourth-quarter meltdown in Athens, Georgia. Sarkisian did my job for me when he called his team’s disintegration against Georgia ‘a disaster.’ Couldn’t have said it any better.

The Longhorns did not resemble a playoff team that night, much as it did not in a loss at Florida or in white-knuckle victories at Kentucky and Mississippi State.

Texas languishes on the road. It’s pretty good at home, and it boasts wins against Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, a pair of top-15 teams.

The committee suffers from an affliction known as recency bias. If Texas’ final trip down the catwalk before Selection Sunday is an upset of undefeated Texas A&M in primetime on Black Friday, well, let’s just say hold off on shoveling the dirt on this season.

‘All eyes will be on us,’ Sarkisian said. ‘We’ve got to go compete.”

Need I remind you the first-team-out last season was three-loss Alabama? If Texas reaches 9-3, it’ll tout a resume superior to that of the 2024 Tide.

Texas checked in at No. 17 in the latest CFP rankings. Its playoff hopes would benefit from a dash of chaos inflected upon teams ranked ahead of it. Southern California losing this weekend helps. Look for Texas to be ranked no worse than No. 15 in next week’s pecking order. Add in a victory against Texas A&M, and you never know. If the committee finds itself in a pinch, the Longhorns might look fine.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Slow roll of Billy Napier firing has impacted all of college football

Sport 3 Mins Read

They could’ve avoided all this drama. Could’ve hired Lane Kiffin last year, and been a year ahead of the rebuild. 

Maybe even where Ole Miss is right now. 

If what should have been done last year at Florida was done immediately — Billy Napier fired, Kiffin hired — none of the crazy suffocating college football is playing out day after day.

The beauty of the College Football Playoff demolition derby is in full bloom, and the Heisman Trophy race — can you remember one with less juice? — would be at front of mind. 

Instead of where Kiffin, who has never won a Power conference championship, will coach in 2026 and be paid at the top of his profession.

Instead of Florida and LSU throwing around Monopoly money, desperately trying to recapture the magic of lost glory.

Instead of Florida, for the second time in four years, kicking a field goal in the second half of a blowout loss to extend its NCAA-record streak of avoiding a shutout. It was Tennessee last night, and Oregon State in Napier’s first season, and the record is now at 472 and counting.

But that Florida had to do it twice within the four-year Napier framework tells you all you need to know about the spectacular fail of a hire. 

Yet Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin doubled down last season after the Gators got hot and beat, ironically, LSU and Ole Miss. He ignored the obvious signs of ineptitude — too many to even explain now after the fact — and threw more good money after bad. 

If Stricklin makes the tough decision last fall, 2024 would’ve been the second-half collapse with an interim coach, and 2025 would’ve been Year 1 under Kiffin.

Think about the talented Florida roster with a coaching staff that includes Kiffin, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Charlie Weis Jr. (who Napier tried to hire after the 2023 season), and former Florida coach Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator (he was interested in the DC job this season). 

It’s not a stretch to think Florida could be the team in the CFP hunt, not Ole Miss. Florida could be the team, organically built through high school recruiting and supplementing from the portal (the one thing Napier crushed), as the team no one wants to play in December.

Instead Florida sustained its first home loss to Tennessee since 2003, and worst loss to Tennessee since Steve Spurrier’s first season at Florida in 1990. And we’ll go through the next seven days — Rivalry Week, no less — debating what Kiffin will do and how it will impact three programs.

Ohio State vs. Michigan. Texas vs. Texas A&M. Georgia vs. Georgia Tech. Alabama vs. Auburn. Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt.

Significant games, with significant CFP impact. All overshadowed by the Kiffin decision.

If only what should’ve been done eventually was done immediately.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Where will Georgia Tech football fall in top 25 after loss to Pitt?

Sport 3 Mins Read

Georgia Tech entered its Week 13 matchup against Pittsburgh with a straightforward goal: Beat the Panthers and you’re in the ACC championship game.

The Yellow Jackets left the game not with a guaranteed conference title game berth, but with regrets about what could have been.

Pitt’s Ja’Kyrian Turner rushed for 201 yards and a touchdown and Georgia Tech’s Haynes King threw a pair of interceptions — including a backbreaking 100-yard pick-6 that caused a 14-point swing in the third quarter — as the Yellow Jackets fell 42-28 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.

The loss was Georgia Tech’s second in its past three games after an 8-0 start that had vaulted it into the top 10 of the major national polls. More consequentially, though, the setback knocked the Yellow Jackets from the ranks of ACC teams with only one loss in conference play, a crowded group that now includes Virginia, SMU and Pitt, the last of which now owns a critical head-to-head tiebreaker against Georgia Tech. Without a chance at a conference championship, coach Brent Key’s team will have a meager chance at an at-large berth to the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

What does the loss to the Panthers mean for the Yellow Jackets’ short-term outlook? Here’s a look at where Georgia Tech may fall in the US LBM Coaches Poll:

Georgia Tech rankings: Where will Yellow Jackets drop after Pitt loss?

Even before Saturday’s loss to Pitt, there were signs that Georgia Tech wasn’t being valued as much by voters in the major national polls as other teams with similar records.

With a 9-1 record, the Yellow Jackets were No. 12 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, making them the lowest-ranked Power Four team with one loss or fewer.

At least some of that had to do with Georgia Tech’s propensity for close games, even against subpar competition. Four of the Yellow Jackets’ nine wins had come by one score, a run that included a 27-20 win against a 3-7 Colorado team, a 24-21 victory against 6-5 Clemson and a 36-34 win last Saturday against 1-10 Boston College. What appeared to be good wins in the moment haven’t held up well over time, either. Wake Forest, at 8-3, has the most wins of any FBS team they’ve defeated this season.

Georgia Tech’s lone loss before Week 13 wasn’t easy to shake off, either, as it came against a North Carolina State team that had been 1-3 in ACC play entering the matchup.

It wasn’t just human voters that were skeptical of the Yellow Jackets, either. Georgia Tech entered this weekend at No. 36 of 136 FBS teams in ESPN’s SP+ rankings, with the No. 17 strength of record and No. 88 strength of schedule.

Key’s squad has gotten some help this week, which may mitigate the impact of the Pitt loss a bit. Three of the teams behind it in the Coaches Poll — No. 16 USC, No. 21 Missouri and No. 24 Houston — lost this week.

The Yellow Jackets are a tough-minded team that has consistently found ways to win, but it may see a sizable drop in the polls, especially since voters will likely try to contort their rankings so that an unranked Pitt team is ahead of them.

Final ranking prediction: No. 21

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Crypto Market Update: Bitcoin Price Logs Weakest Month Since 2022

Investing 4 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (November 21) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

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

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$83,590.70, down by 10.4 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$81,868.75 and its highest was US$91,971.75.

Bitcoin price performance, November 21, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin’s slide continues as it heads for its worst month since the 2022 crypto crash.

The largest cryptocurrency fell and touched US$81,000 on Friday before recovering to around US$84,166, extending a monthly decline of about 23 percent that marks its heaviest drop since June 2022.

Despite pro-crypto messaging from the Trump administration and a year of strong institutional adoption, Bitcoin has now fallen more than 30 percent from its early-October record high.

The downturn accelerated following the massive October 10 liquidation event that erased US$19 billion in leveraged positions and wiped roughly US$1.5 trillion from the combined value of all cryptocurrencies.

Institutional flows reflect the same caution. US-listed Bitcoin ETFs have recorded a record US$3.79 billion in outflows this month, surpassing February’s previous high, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone seeing more than US$2 billion in redemptions.

In total, about US$1.2 trillion has been wiped from crypto markets over the past six weeks, according to CoinGecko data.

Ether (ETH) was at US$2,736.63, down 11.2 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest price on Friday was US$2,675.70 and its highest was US$3,033.20.

Altcoin price update

  • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.94, down by 12.2 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest price of the period was US$1.86 and its highest was US$2.13.
  • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$128, down by 13 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$123.30 and its highest was US$141.97.

Fear and Greed Index snapshot

As of Friday, CMC’s Crypto Fear & Greed Index has plunged to 11, firmly in “extreme fear” and its lowest level since late 2022.

Reports of large-scale whale liquidations have added to the uncertainty, amplifying pressure across an already fragile market. Further, traders brace for potential Federal Reserve inaction on rate cuts. CME’s FedWatch now shows only 37.6 percent expecting a 25-basis-point cut in December, while more than 62 percent anticipate no change, a reversal from near-even odds just a week ago.

Prediction market Polymarket reflects the same trend, pricing a 63 percent chance of no move after sentiment flipped late Tuesday.

CMC Crypto Fear and Greed Index, Bitcoin price and Bitcoin volume.

Chart via CoinMarketCap.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bitcoin logs weakest month since 2022

Bitcoin is heading for its steepest monthly decline since the wave of corporate failures that hit the crypto sector in 2022, with the token sliding below US$82,000 on Friday.

Its November losses have now reached roughly 25 percent, reversing much of the momentum that carried prices to record highs in early October.

Overall, data from CoinGecko shows the total crypto market value dipping back under US$3 trillion as Ether and mid-cap tokens recorded similar double-digit declines.

Analysts link the downturn to cascading liquidations that began on October 10, when nearly US$19 billion in leveraged bets were wiped out in a single session. Selling pressure intensified again this week with a two-day liquidation tally topping US$2 billion, according to CoinGlass.

Long-dormant whale activity has added to uncertainty after a wallet holding Bitcoin since 2011 unloaded more than US$1.3 billion in late October.

S&P stocks shed US$2.7 trillion

A sharp pullback across US equities sparked another wave of risk-off trading in crypto, sending Bitcoin to its weakest level in seven months.

The S&P 500’s nearly 4 percent decline on Thursday erased more than US$2.7 trillion in market value, according to Bloomberg calculations, overshadowing an earlier bounce driven by enthusiasm around AI-linked earnings.

Crypto assets fell in tandem, with Bitcoin briefly revisiting the US$85,000 range and total liquidations surpassing US$800 million for the day.

Coinbase rolls out Ether-backed loans

Coinbase has launched a new lending feature that allows eligible US users to borrow up to US$1 million in USDC by using Ether as collateral.

The product is integrated with the Morpho protocol on Base, though users interact with it entirely through Coinbase’s interface. Borrowers keep exposure to ETH’s price movements while accessing liquidity without having to sell their holdings.

The company says the service is available across most US states, with the exception of New York due to regulatory requirements.

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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MP Materials, US Department of Defense Strike Saudi Rare Earths Refinery Deal

Investing 3 Mins Read

MP Materials (NYSE:MP) and the US Department of Defense have entered into a joint venture with Saudi Arabia’s Maaden to build a rare earths refinery in the Kingdom, marking the first major project under a new US-Saudi critical minerals cooperation framework signed in Washington this week.

The binding agreement gives both the US and MP a collective 49 percent stake in the refinery.

Maaden will hold not less than 51 percent, and the refinery will be built in Saudi Arabia, where it will process feedstock from both local deposits and international sources. Once operational, it will produce separated light and heavy rare earth oxides for customers in the US, Saudi Arabia and allied countries.

Rare earths are essential for the production of weapons systems, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and high-performance electronics. Secure supply has become increasingly important due to China’s sector dominance.

James Litinsky, MP’s founder and CEO, said the company views the partnership as an extension of its strategic role in Washington’s efforts to diversify global supply chains. “We are honored that the U.S. government asked MP to partner on a project of this magnitude and importance for America and its allies,” he said.

Maaden CEO Bob Wilt said the project fits squarely within the Kingdom’s national mining and industrial strategy.

“This JV is a significant step forward in the development of this important global sector, underpinned by the support of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources,” Wilt noted.

The joint venture was negotiated under a critical minerals framework signed by senior US and Saudi officials this week. The document is intended to formalize cooperation on rare earths, battery metals and other strategic inputs.

For Washington, the initiative reflects an effort to reshape supply chains away from geopolitical competitors. For Riyadh, it supports a long-term plan to leverage energy resources and expand its footprint in high-tech materials markets.

Financially, the deal is structured to be light in capital for MP.

The Department of Defense will fund the entire US contribution to the venture on a non-recourse basis, allowing MP to deploy technical expertise in separation and refining without taking on debt tied to the refinery’s construction.

The Saudi venture also connects to MP’s growing public-private alignment with the US defense sector.

In July, the company and the Department of Defense announced a multibillion-dollar partnership to accelerate the buildout of a domestic rare earth magnet supply chain. Under the partnership, MP is also constructing a second magnet manufacturing facility known as the 10X Facility, which is expected to begin commissioning in 2028.

When completed, MP’s total US magnet output will reach roughly 10,000 metric tons annually.

Beyond government partnerships, MP has also moved into large-scale commercial magnet supply. Also in July, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and MP announced a US$500 million long-term agreement that will supply Apple with magnets manufactured in the US using 100 percent recycled rare earths feedstock.

Under the arrangement, MP will expand its Fort Worth, Texas, Independence factory to produce components for hundreds of millions of Apple devices starting in 2027. Apple and MP spent nearly five years jointly developing recycling techniques to meet the company’s performance and design requirements.

MP will add a dedicated recycling line at Mountain Pass to support commercial scale as magnet production ramps.

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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Tech Weekly: NVIDIA Earnings Impress, Bezos Launches AI Startup

Investing 5 Mins Read

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

In this article:

    This week’s tech sector performance

    This week, the stock market displayed a mixed performance amid ongoing uncertainty about artificial intelligence (AI) company valuations and policy decisions from the US Federal Reserve.

    On Monday (November 17), both the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) and the Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) fell below their 50 day moving averages for the first time since late April, a significant technical breakdown. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) also closed below this important threshold for the first time since October 10.

    Tuesday (November 18) saw continued volatility and some attempted stabilization attempts, but market participants remained cautious. Heavyweight tech and chip stocks were down ahead of NVIDIA’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) earnings call on Wednesday (November 19), but a global relief rally followed the firm’s upbeat earnings report and raised Q4 guidance. However, enthusiasm was short-lived, with markets pulling back on midday Thursday (November 20) after September US jobs numbers temporarily dashed hopes of a December interest rate cut from the Fed.

    Comments made at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum further contributed to market caution, with Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) President John Waldron warning that markets could still face further declines.

    In contrast, former Barclays (NYSE:BCS) CEO Bob Diamond offered a more optimistic view, calling the recent selloff a “healthy correction” rather than the start of a bear market.

    Later on Thursday and into Friday (November 21), the odds of a December rate cut rose again as Fed officials, including San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly and New York Fed President John Williams, signaled concerns about slowing economic growth and a cooling labor market. Markets surged on the back of the news to end the trading day sharply higher after a volatile week that saw all three major indexes post losses.

    This renewed optimism quelled some selling pressure going into the weekend, although investor caution around AI valuations and Fed policy remains prevalent.

    3 tech stocks moving markets this week

    1. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)

    NVIDIA reported stronger-than-expected Q3 earnings with revenue of US$57 billion, beating expectations of US$55 billion, and earnings per share of US$1.30 versus the predicted US$1.25. The company also offered an optimistic Q4 revenue forecast of US$65 billion, surpassing analysts’ expectations of US$62 billion.

    However, he also noted that the sustainability of this growth depends on continued investor confidence.

    He warned that, similar to past tech bubbles like the dot-com era, AI companies today may be overvalued, with expectations currently outpacing reality. Murillo cautioned that while AI is making breakthroughs, its practical applications are still limited, and there is risk that an AI bubble could burst, impacting even large tech giants.

    Despite recent share price declines amid debates of an AI bubble, CEO Jensen Huang reassured investors, stating, “There’s been a lot of talk about an AI bubble. From our vantage point, we see something very different.”

    After a midweek gain of over 5 percent due to its earnings report, NVIDIA posted a weekly loss of 3.79 percent.

    2. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

    Alphabet rallied in early trading on Monday after Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A,NYSE:BRK,B) disclosed a US$4.3 billion stake in the company and reduced its stake in Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). Alphabet then released Gemini 3 on Tuesday. The updated AI model has enhanced reasoning, coding and multimedia, alongside Antigravity, a Gemini-powered coding platform, and Nano Banana Pro, its latest detailed image-generation model.

    The week’s momentum was further fueled by reports that Google is on the verge of securing a US$1 billion annual deal with Apple to power the next-generation Siri, underscoring its dominant AI position across rival platforms.

    The company ended the week 4.86 percent higher.

    3. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

    Apple was the steady pillar of tech resilience this week.

    With no obvious catalyst driving its price action this week, the company has maintained gains and investor interest following the strong earnings and product launches from earlier weeks.

    Consistency speaks to Apple’s enduring market strength and the confidence investors have in its long-term growth trajectory as it integrates AI across its product and services ecosystem.

    The company posted a modest advance of 0.99 percent for the week.

    NVIDIA, Alphabet and Apple performance, November 17 to 21, 2025.

    Chart via Google Finance.

    Top tech news of the week

              Tech ETF performance

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

              This week, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) declined by 5.28 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) saw a weekly loss of 5.14 percent.

              The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) decreased by 4.63 percent.

              Tech news to watch next week

              With fewer major tech earnings reports expected next week, market focus will likely shift to key economic data releases. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) will deliver its Q3 results on November 25.

              Analysts predict earnings of around US$2.48 per share, representing approximately 15 percent year-on-year growth. Revenue estimates hover around US$27.29 billion, suggesting nearly 12 percent annual growth.

              Important economic reports include the US Consumer Confidence Index on November 25 and the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index on November 26.

              US markets will close on November 27 for Thanksgiving and have a shortened session on November 28. November 28 will also bring Canada’s Q3 GDP release.

              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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              Editor’s Picks: Gold and Silver Prices Stay Steady, Barrick Faces Breakup Rumors

              Investing 4 Mins Read

              The gold price remained fairly steady this week after last week’s brief uptick, largely trading between US$4,000 and US$4,100 per ounce.

              As is often the case, its sister metal silver was more volatile, jumping briefly above the US$52 per ounce level midway through the period.

              The precious metals faced some pressure on Thursday (November 20) after the release of September US jobs data. The Department of Labor report, which was delayed due to the government shutdown, came in stronger than expected, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 119,000 for the month — more than double the gain of 50,000 estimated by analysts.

              The jobs numbers have dampened expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its December meeting, as have minutes from the central bank’s latest meeting.

              ‘This (data) essentially confirms what the Fed discussed in October — a slowing yet stable jobs market. A December rate cut now appears increasingly unlikely’ — Peter Grant, Zaner Metals

              The minutes highlight the divide among Fed officials, who were not all in favor of October’s rate reduction. They also state that while ‘several participants’ believe lowering rates could be appropriate next month, ‘many’ want to leave rates unchanged.

              Fed Chair Jerome Powell said previously that a December cut isn’t a ‘foregone conclusion.’

              Aside from that, the minutes indicate broad approval for the end of quantitative tightening (QT) on December 1. Adrian Day of Adrian Day Asset Management highlighted the end of QT in our recent interview, saying that he sees a potential transition to quantitative easing ahead.

              Bullet briefing — Barrick faces turmoil, MP does Saudi refinery deal

              Barrick Mining faces more turmoil

              Turmoil continued for gold and copper producer Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) this week after a series of company developments made headlines.

              First, Reuters reported that Barrick’s board is considering splitting the company into two different entities: one focused on North America, and the other on Africa and Asia.

              Four sources familiar with the firm’s thinking told the news outlet that Barrick’s African assets could also be sold outright, as could the Pakistan-based Reko Diq mine — essentially undoing Barrick’s 2019 merger with Africa-focused Randgold Resources.

              Barrick didn’t respond to requests for comment, but later in the week news hit that activist investor firm Elliott Investment Management has taken a ‘large stake’ in Barrick.

              Sources told the Financial Times that Elliott is now among Barrick’s 10 top investors, meaning its stake is worth at least US$700 million. Elliott hasn’t shared information about what it would like Barrick to do, but is reportedly ‘encouraged’ by the idea of breaking the company in two.

              Barrick has faced numerous headwinds recently, including the seizure of a key gold mine in Mali and the departure of CEO Mark Bristow. Bristow, who took the helm at Barrick after it joined forces with Randgold, abruptly stepped down in September after facing criticism.

              Although shares of Barrick are up close to 130 percent year-to-date, the company has underperformed compared to its peers in the gold space.

              Bristow is not the only person to leave Barrick lately — the last piece of news about the company this week is that two senior managers and a top executive have departed. CEO Mark Hill announced the changes in a memo seen by Bloomberg, saying the company is looking to evolve its operating model so that it’s in line with strategic priorities.

              MP’s latest rare earths deal

              Rare earths miner MP Materials (NYSE:MP) and the US Department of Defense are teaming up on a strategic joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden).

              The deal, which will see the three entities collaborate on a Saudi Arabian rare earths refinery, comes after the US and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic framework on securing critical supply chains. The refinery will process rare earths feedstock from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, and will be able to produce both light and heavy rare earths.

              Under the Trump administration, the US has ramped up efforts to break China’s rare earths dominance, boosting relationship with MP Materials in the process — in July, the defense department agreed to buy US$400 million worth of preferred stock in the company, a move that MP called a ‘transformational public-private partnership.’

              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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              Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Sigma Lithium Flips the Switch with 64 Percent Gain

              Investing 10 Mins Read

              Statistics Canada released October’s consumer price index (CPI) data on Monday (November 17). The figures showed that inflation softened during the month, falling to 2.2 percent year-over-year from 2.4 percent in September.

              The agency cited a 9.4 percent decrease in gasoline prices as the main contributing factor, following a 4.1 percent decrease the previous month. However, less gasoline prices, CPI actually rose by 2.6 percent in both October and September.

              Statistics Canada also noted slowing grocery prices, reporting a 3.4 percent year-over-year increase in October compared to the 4 percent recorded in September. Additionally, October saw the largest month-on-month drop in grocery prices since September 2020 at 0.6 percent.

              On Thursday (November 20), StatsCan released September’s monthly mineral production survey.

              The data shows that gold production declined month-over-month, while copper and silver output increased.

              Gold production fell to 16,978 kilograms compared to 17,651 kilograms in August. Meanwhile, copper production rose significantly to 36.23 million kilograms from 30.47 million, and silver production jumped to 28,384 kilograms from 24,801 kilograms.

              Shipments, however, increased broadly in September. Gold shipments rose to 19,025 kilograms from 16,289 kilograms in August, and silver shipments jumped to 33,296 kilograms from 25,636. Copper shipments increased the most, spiking to 44.04 million kilograms from 27 million.

              For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news round-up.

              Markets and commodities react

              Canadian equity markets were in retreat this week.

              The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) was flat, gaining just 0.19 percent over the week to close Friday (November 21) at 30,160.65.

              Meanwhile, the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) lost 1.3 percent to 854.76. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) had another bad week, dropping 3.44 percent to close at 145.59.

              The gold price fell 0.43 percent to US$4,065.32 by 4:00 p.m. EST Friday. The silver price fared worse, dropping 1.07 percent to US$50.02.

              Meanwhile, in base metals, the COMEX copper price ended the week down 0.3 at US$5.07 per pound.

              The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) dropped 2.01 percent to end Friday at 546.41.

              Top Canadian mining stocks this week

              How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

              Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

              Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

              1. Sigma Lithium (TSXV:SGML)

              ​Weekly gain: 64.01 percent
              Market cap: C$1.48 billion
              Share price: C$13.67

              Sigma Lithium is a lithium mining company advancing its Grota do Cirilo operation in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

              Operations at the Greentech processing facility were commissioned in 2023, with an annual nameplate capacity of 270,000 metric tons of lithium oxide concentrate. The company is currently constructing its Phase 2 expansion that will more than double that capacity.

              In its third-quarter results released on November 14, Sigma reported that net revenue increased to US$28.5 million, 69 percent higher than Q2 and 36 percent higher than the same period in 2024.

              The report also stated that Sigma upgraded its mining operations in Q3 with the goal of reaching the plant’s full capacity of 300,000 metric tons in 2026. As part of this process, Sigma is doubling its mining fleet. The company expects production to resume by the end of November, with full operational capacity expected in Q1 2026.

              The report boosted Sigma’s share price, as did climbing lithium prices, which have gained more than 10 percent in November and more than 50 percent since bottoming out in June.​

              2. Li-FT Power (TSXV:LIFT)

              ​Weekly gain: 52.63 percent
              Market cap: C$201.24 million
              Share price: C$4.35

              Li-FT is a lithium exploration company advancing its flagship Yellowknife lithium project in the Northwest Territories, Canada.

              The 1,843 hectare property, located east of the city of Yellowknife, hosts 13 spodumene-bearing pegmatites. Its current combined inferred resource estimate across eight of those pegmatites stands at 50.38 million metric tons of ore grading 1 percent lithium oxide for 1.25 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

              The company also owns the Cali project in the Northwest Territories, and the Pontax, Rupert and Moyenne projects in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada.

              On Tuesday, Li-FT filed a final base shelf prospectus to replace the previous prospectus that expired on October 21. The company said the new filing will permit it to offer common shares, warrants, subscription receipts, units or debt securities up to a total of C$200 million until it expires in December 2027.

              Li-FT also said it was changing its financial year-end from November 30 to December 31 to better align with the timing of the company’s financial reporting and with its peers.

              The company is another lithium stock benefiting significantly from rising lithium prices this week.​

              3. LithiumBank Resources (TSXV:LBNK)

              Weekly gain: 45.59 percent
              Market cap: C$32.45 billion
              Share price: C$0.50

              LithiumBank is a lithium exploration and development company advancing its Boardwalk and Park Place lithium brine projects in Alberta, Canada, both of which overlap with the Leduc and Swan Hills formations.

              Boardwalk consists of 395,369 acres of brine-hosted licenses about 85 kilometers east of Grand Prairie in an area with a history of hydrocarbon extraction.

              According to Boardwalk’s mineral resource estimate from a February 2025 technical report, the project hosts a measured resource of 1.67 million metric tons of LCE with an average grade of 81.2 milligrams per liter (mg/L), and an indicated resource of 3.52 million metric tons of LCE with an average grade of 81.8 mg/L, all within the Leduc formation.

              Park Place, located 50 kilometers south of Boardwalk, consists of 1.4 million acres of licenses. A June 2024 mineral resource estimate demonstrated an inferred resource of 10.08 million metric tons LCE with a grade of 79.4 mg/L at the Leduc aquifer, and 11.6 million metric tons of LCE with an average grade of 80.9 mg/l at the Swan Hills aquifer.

              The most recent news from the company came on Thursday, when LithiumBank reported that, following its award of C$3.9 million in funding for certain milestones through Alberta’s Emission Reduction Act in July, it is working to acquire a second past-producing well at Boardwalk.

              LithiumBank is focused on commencing near-term production at Boardwalk using modular direct lithium extraction plants, which the company said it believes this second well can likely support.

              Rising lithium prices also helped support LithiumBank this week.

              4. Abcourt Mines (TSXV:ABI)

              Weekly gain: 41.67 percent
              Market cap: C$72.45 million
              Share price: C$0.085

              Abcourt Mines is a gold mining and development company focused on ramping up operations at its Sleeping Giant gold mine in the Abitibi region of Québec.

              Sleeping Giant hosts an underground mine along with a mill capable of processing 750 metric tons per day. The property consists of four mining leases covering an area of 458 hectares and 69 claims.

              A July 2023 preliminary economic assessment demonstrates an after-tax net present value of US$77.5 million with an internal rate of return of 33.3 percent over a payback period of 2.2 years.

              The company has been working on restarting mining operations at the site throughout 2025, and achieved its first gold pour in September.

              The most recent news came on November 11, when the company released an update from Sleeping Giant. In the announcement, the company stated that in October it had milled 2,563 metric tons of ore with a head grade of 6 grams per metric ton of gold, producing 475 ounces of gold.

              Abcourt also said progress at the site was continuing with one stope in production and two more under development. Additionally, civil engineering was underway at the tailings facilities in preparation for a planned lift in summer 2026.

              5. Pure Energy Minerals (TSXV:PE)

              Weekly gain: 38.1 percent
              Market cap: C$10.19 million
              Share price: C$0.29

              Pure Energy is a lithium exploration company that owns a 3 percent net smelter return (NSR) on the Clayton Valley lithium brine project in Nevada, United States.

              The project consists of 950 placer claims covering 9,450 hectares. In September 2024, Pure Energy announced that its project partner, SLB, had completed an earn-in to acquire a 100 percent stake in Clayton Valley, leaving Pure Energy with its NSR.

              Through 2023 and into 2024, SLB completed construction of a direct lithium extraction pilot plant at the site, with the first lithium production occurring in March 2024.

              This Thursday, Pure Energy released its management discussion and analysis for the quarter ending September 30, 2025. In the report, the company restated its position in Clayton Valley, noting that it is receiving annual payments of US$400,000 from SLB until commercial production, after which time it will receive its 3 percent NSR on minerals produced.

              Pure Energy’s share price increased significantly this week alongside rising lithium prices.

              FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

              What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

              The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

              How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

              As of May 2025, there were 1,565 companies listed on the TSXV, 910 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,899 companies, with 181 of those being mining companies.

              Together, the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

              How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

              There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

              The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

              These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

              How do you trade on the TSXV?

              Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

              Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

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

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

              This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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              Sport

              UConn outlasts Michigan in top-10 thriller to remain undefeated

              Sport 8 Mins Read

              The top-10 women’s basketball matchup between No. 1 UConn and No. 9 Michigan, the first meeting between the two programs, lived up to the billing on Friday. 

              The Huskies defeated the Wolverines 72-69 at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, cutting Michigan’s gutsy comeback just short. 

              UConn completely dominated the first half of the contest and built up a 20 point lead by the third quarter. Just when it looked like UConn was going to cruise to its fifth win of the season, Michigan upped the pressure and completely changed the momentum of the game with an 18-2 run to close the third quarter down by four points.

              The Huskies showed their experience and quickly stretched their lead back to 13 points with 3:37 remaining, but the Wolverines never faltered and continued coming at the Huskies. Michigan sophomore guard Syla Swords knocked down three of her eight 3-pointers in the final minute of the contest, including a deep 3 with 13 seconds remaining to come within one point, 70-69.

              What ensued next was utter chaos. Michigan fouled UConn’s Azzi Fudd with eight seconds remaining and Fudd made both her free throws to go up 72-69. Michigan’s Olivia Olson inbounded the ball to Swords, who was stripped in the backcourt by UConn’s KK Arnold. Ashlynn Shade then turned the ball over to Michigan’s McKenzie Mathurin, but the Wolverines weren’t able to get a final shot off.

              UConn improves to 46-1 all-time at Mohegan Sun Arena. UConn is 136-56 all-time in games where both teams are ranked in the top 10. This was the first meeting between UConn and Michigan.

              Azzi Fudd finished with a game-high 31 points, two steals and two blocks, while Sarah Strong added 16 points, 20 rebounds, six assists, four blocks and three steals. 

              Swords had 29 points and nine rebounds in the losing effort, while Olson added 18 points and 10 rebounds.  

              UConn vs. Michigan highlights

              End of Q3: UConn 49, Michigan 45 

              We have a ball game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. 

              Michigan trailed by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, but the Wolverines went on an 18-2 run to cut their deficit to four points. UConn had six turnovers in the third quarter, which fueled Michigan’s comeback and the Wolverines outscored the Huskies 18-4 in the frame.

              Syla Swords scored nine points in the third quarter and has a team-high 17 points, while Olivia Olson is up to 12 points. 

              The Huskies shot 2-of-15 from the field in the third quarter. UConn has not scored since the 6:19 mark.

              Halftime: UConn 45, Michigan 27

              UConn guard Azzi Fudd ended the second quarter with an exclamation point after knocking down a buzzer-beating jumper to push the Huskies’ lead over Michigan to 18 points at halftime. 

              The Huskies have been utterly dominant. UConn is shooting 46% from the field and 6-of-17 from the 3-point line, while holding the Wolverines to 28% from the field and 5-of-17 from 3. That’s a major feat considering the Wolverines are averaging 99.2 points per game this season, the fourth highest-scoring offense in the nation. 

              Fudd has a team-high 18 points and two steals for the Huskies, while sophomore forward Sarah Strong already has a double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals in 20 minutes of play. 

              Michigan appeared to settle in during the second quarter, scoring 22 points in the frame compared to only five points in the first quarter, but the Wolverines are still struggling to take care of the ball with 10 total turnovers in the half. 

              Michigan sophomore guard Olivia Olson leads the Wolverines with nine points (4-of-10 FG, 1-of-5 3PT), while sophomore guard Syla Swords added eight points (2-of-12 FG, 2-of-6 3PT).

              UConn first meeting vs. Michigan

              End of Q1: UConn 22, Michigan 5

              UConn showed why it’s the top-ranked team in the nation following a dominant first-quarter performance. The Huskies came out with their foot on the gas on Friday and built a 17-point lead, while holding the Wolverines to five points through the first 10 minutes.

              Michigan shot a dismal 2-of-20 from the field and 1-of-7 from the 3-point line due to the constant pressure applied by the Huskies. UConn forced Michigan into five turnovers, which the Huskies converted to five points.

              Sarah Strong and Ashlynn Shade each scored six points for UConn in the first quarter. Strong is already up to nine rebounds, rounding out her stat line with three blocks, one assist and one steal in 10 minutes of play. Azzi Fudd added five points and two steals. 

              Michigan’s Syla Swords has three points, while Olivia Olson added two points. 

              UConn jumps to 10-3 lead vs. Michigan

              The top-10 showdown between UConn and Michigan is underway at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, home of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, which is less than 30 miles from Storrs, Connecticut.

              Both teams came out with early jitters and missed some shots early on, but Huskies forward Sarah Strong opened up the scoring with a layup nearly two minutes into the game. Strong has done a little bit of everything so far. She’s up to four points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block as the Huskies lead 10-3 with 4:41 remaining in the first quarter.

              Michigan sophomore guard Syla Swords got the Wolverines on the board with a 3-pointer, Michigan’s only field goal so far. Michigan is 1-of-7 from the field.

              What time is Michigan vs. UConn women’s basketball?

              Top-ranked UConn (4-0) faces No. 6 Michigan (4-0) in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 21, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

              Michigan vs. UConn: TV, streaming

              • Date: Friday, Nov. 21
              • Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
              • Location: Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut
              • TV: FOX
              • Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

              UConn Huskies starting lineup

              • (2) KK Arnold
              • (12) Ashlynn Shade
              • (21) Sarah Strong
              • (22) Serah Williams
              • (35) Azzi Fudd

              UConn women’s basketball roster

              Michigan Wolverines starting lineup

              Head coach: Kim Barnes Arico

              • (1) Olivia Olson
              • (3) Mila Holloway
              • (5) Brooke Quarles Daniels
              • (12) Syla Swords
              • (15) Ashley Sofilkanich

              Michigan women’s basketball roster

              Check out UConn’s championship rings

              The ‘Power of Friendship’ lifted the UConn women’s basketball team to the program’s 12th national championship in April and the phrase has been commemorated forever in the team’s new bling.

              Nearly seven months after the Huskies defeated South Carolina 82-59 in the 2025 NCAA championship game to win the university’s first title since 2016, Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers returned to Storrs, Connecticut, to receive the first national championship ring of her career alongside former teammates.

              ‘The power of friendship … is the reason that we did win it,’ said Bueckers, who helped design the ring alongside Azzi Fudd and Caroline Ducharme. ‘We just went off of straight vibes and we stuck together through it all.’

              From facing UConn to fueling them: Kayleigh Heckel’s seamless transition

              STORRS, Conn. — If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

              That may not be exactly how sophomore Kayleigh Heckel ended up playing for No. 1-ranked UConn, but it is true that she finished her freshman season at USC with a loss to the team she ended up joining after entering the transfer portal.

              ‘My last game at USC was against UConn,’ Heckel said in a video posted by UConn prior to the season. ‘The stakes were high, was the Elite Eight game, so excited to be on this side now.’ Read full story here.

              UConn freshman Blanca Quiñonez latest target of Auriemma’s tough love

              UConn freshman Blanca Quiñonez, who Auriemma jokes ‘leads the free world in turnovers,’ is the most recent recipient of Auriemma’s affection. The Ecuador native played in her second collegiate game Nov. 16, scoring 18 points but also turning the ball over five times.

              UConn remains No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball poll

              The defending champion Connecticut Huskies remain in the No. 1 spot in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, released on Tuesday, Nov. 18. UConn looks to become the first repeat champion since winning four straight from 2013-16.

              USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

              1. UConn (4-0)
              2. South Carolina (4-0)
              3. UCLA (5-0)
              4. Texas (4-0)
              5. LSU (5-0)
              6. Maryland (5-0)
              7. Oklahoma (4-1)
              8. TCU (4-0)
              9. Michigan (3-0)
              10. Baylor (4-0)
              11. USC (2-1)
              12. North Carolina (3-1)
              13. Tennessee (3-1)
              14. Ole Miss (3-0)
              15. Iowa State (5-0)
              16. North Carolina State (2-2)
              17. Vanderbilt (3-0)
              18. Kentucky (5-0)
              19. Louisville (3-1)
              20. Iowa (4-0)
              21. Oklahoma State (5-0)
              22. West Virginia (4-0)
              23. Notre Dame (3-1)
              24. Duke (3-2)
              25. Michigan State (4-0)

              The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

              This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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              Sport

              Speed skating phenom Jordan Stolz qualifies for Winter Olympics

              Sport 3 Mins Read

              Jordan Stolz made it official: He’s going to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

              The American phenom locked a spot on the U.S. speed skating team with his first-place finish in the 1,000 meters on Friday, Nov. 21 at the World Cup event in Calgary, Alberta. His time of 1:06.0 was 0.63 off his own world record.

              Because Stolz was a medalist at the world championships in March, winning silvers in the 500 and 1,500 meters and a bronze in the 1,000, he was eligible to secure his place on the team ahead of the Olympic trials by finishing in the top five in the same distance at two of the first four World Cups.

              Stolz won the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters at the first World Cup speed skating event in Salt Lake City last weekend. That meant his next top five in any of those distances would guarantee him a trip to the Olympics.

              Stolz does still need to qualify to race the 500 and 1,500 meters. He’ll race both distances Saturday, Nov. 22 and will have another 500 meters Sunday, Nov. 23.

              ‘It’s not something I think that hard about,’ Stolz said after winning the 1,000 meters in Salt Lake. ‘I just try and focus on (how I’m) feeling physically. Each race, trying to make it feel a little bit better, get a little more comfortable.’

              It was pretty much a given that Stolz would make the Olympic team. He swept the sprint distances at the world championships in 2023 and 2024, and was the overall champion in each of the three races last season.

              But there is something to be said for having qualification out of the way already rather than having to wait until the Olympic trials, which are Jan. 2-5 in Milwaukee, and hope nothing goes wrong.

              Like what happened four years ago, when Erin Jackson came into trials as the world’s best in the 500 meters, only to slip during her race and finish third.

              Jackson made the team when Brittany Bowe, who’d won the race, declined her spot for Jackson. Jackson would go on to win gold in the 500 meters at the Beijing Olympics.

              U.S. Speed Skating changed its Olympic qualifying procedures as a result. In addition to world medalists being able to secure their spots with two top-five finishes, a skater who is on the podium in the same distance at two World Cups qualifies for the team.

              ‘If you’re able to hit those benchmarks, then you deserve to have a spot on the team,’ Bowe said in Salt Lake. ‘I think it’s a great addition to have some sense of security going into the Olympic trials if you’re podiuming consistently or you’re on the world championships podium last year. So I do love the addition.’

              This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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