This is not intended to be a statement for official tax reporting purposes or any form of tax advice. If you have any questions, please call 888.622.1813 between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM ET, Monday through Friday.

The uranium market remains strong despite recent spot price declines, with tight supply, rising demand and long-term fundamentals driving a bullish outlook. Global support for nuclear energy is growing, with ambitious commitments to triple capacity and junior miners playing a key role in addressing supply deficits.

What’s the potential impact of the incoming Trump administration on nuclear power, clean energy and critical materials? Thalia Hayden of ETFguide talks with John Ciampaglia about what potential changes may be on the horizon for U.S. energy policies and some strategies for investment portfolios.

Unlock the power of real assets investing with Sprott’s Masterclass video. Dive into gold, silver, copper and uranium with industry experts Ed Coyne, Ryan McIntyre and Steve Schoffstall as they reveal strategies to navigate global uncertainties and identify opportunities. Discover how to leverage precious metals and critical materials to potentially build a resilient, future-ready portfolio.

Batteries and energy storage continue to underpin electrification trends, solidifying their role as a cornerstone in the global shift toward sustainable energy. Support is being strengthened by strategic investments from governments and corporations, and resilient demand for critical minerals like lithium, copper and nickel. 

John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott, joins James Connor to discuss why gold is increasingly viewed as a safeguard against economic uncertainty and why uranium has become essential to powering big tech's ambitious AI expansion.

Nuclear power is creating a buzz in media circles. Thalia Hayden of @etfguide talks with John Ciampaglia about the powerful comeback of nuclear energy and how tech giants are embracing nuclear energy for data centers.

Big tech is turning to nuclear energy to fuel the massive power needs of AI-driven data centers. They're striking bold deals to develop small modular reactors (SMRs), sparking a surge in uranium demand and helping to support clean energy innovation. At the same time, global uranium supply remains inadequate to meet both current and future reactor requirements.

Gold and silver prices surged in Q3 2024, driven by central bank buying and macroeconomic factors. While gold experienced a historic price increase, silver's price was influenced by both its precious metal value and industrial demand. YTD through September 30, gold is up 27.71% and silver has gained 30.95%.

Demand for electricity over the next decade will put pressure on the U.S. power grid to keep pace. New investment in power-hungry industrial facilities is driving demand, especially the data centers that support artificial intelligence (AI), U.S. reshoring initiatives and the steady electrification of the transport sector.

In our webcast with Nasdaq, John Ciampaglia discusses the rapid emergence of technologies like AI, the race to upgrade power grids, continuing global decarbonization goals and growing middle classes. He gives an overview of how the critical materials behind energy—such as uranium, copper, nickel, lithium and more—are likely to remain growth-oriented investment opportunities for the long term, and how to invest in them in a single allocation.

The uranium market has faced short-term volatility, including price declines driven by geopolitical tensions and economic concerns. Despite these challenges, the long-term outlook remains strong. Supply uncertainties from key producers like Kazakhstan and Russia are contributing to this volatility, but the fundamental supply-demand imbalance suggests further growth potential.

Sprott's Steve Schoffstall discusses how AI, robotics and quantum computing are integrating into the overall global economy and how these developments will reshape the global energy landscape. Learn about electricity production and technological innovation and how to invest in the opportunities they provide.

Author and acclaimed Reuters journalist Ernest Scheyder discusses his book, The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives, with Sprott's Steve Schoffstall in this exclusive interview.

Renewable energy is rapidly replacing fossil fuels as costs decrease and efficiencies improve with increased deployment, making it much cheaper than traditional energy sources. This shift, driven by the exponential growth of renewables, electrification, and efficiency, is expected to significantly alter global power dynamics as fossil fuels are phased out.

Significant investments in AI-related tech stocks have helped push the S&P 500 Index to record highs this year. The rapid growth of AI is significantly increasing the energy demands of data centers, which is likely to lead to a surge in demand for critical materials.

This might be an ideal moment to re-evaluate lithium miners given their potential to benefit as the global energy transition continues. The current dip in the price of lithium miners presents a potential short-term opportunity, given the strong future demand and supply imbalance. 

The uranium spot price has remained range-bound between $85 and $95 per pound, and ended the first half at $85.34 (June 30, 2024). Uranium miners fell in June, but bounced back in early July, outperforming the commodity YTD. Over the longer term, physical uranium and uranium miners have demonstrated significant outperformance against broad asset classes, particularly other commodities.

Gold has been on the move since Q2 ended, after having gained 12.79% year-to-date as of June 30, gold's best six-month start since 2020. Gold enjoyed strong support from central bank buying. Silver closed Q2 at $29.14, its highest quarterly close since Q3 2012. Silver was supported by the gold breakout and global monetary expansion policies.

The world is in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution (4IR) as technological developments like artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, IoT, genetic engineering and quantum computing bring about an unprecedented integration of the digital, physical and biological realms. Electrification and energy are pivotal to advancing 4IR technologies, and the resulting demand pressures on critical minerals like copper, lithium and uranium are supporting a new commodity supercycle.

In this episode of Shifting Energy (Season 1), Thalia Hayden of @etfguide talks with John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management, about the growing energy requirements of AI and how uranium, copper, silver and other metals may benefit.

In this episode of Shifting Energy (Season 1), Thalia Hayden of etfguide talks with Steve Schoffstall, Director of ETF Product Management at Sprott Asset Management, about the nickel growth story, what's driving it and the investment opportunities now and ahead.

Thus far in 2024, the uranium spot price has stabilized between $85 to $95 per pound after a significant 88.54% increase in 2023. This phase indicates a healthy correction within a bullish market cycle. Uranium miners have shown improved performance, catching up to gains in the spot price. 

The copper market is entering a new supercycle, built on several rising geopolitical and market trends contributing to a strong bullish outlook. Demand is surging as countries invest in clean energy and protect their access to copper, while supply is constrained by a lack of new mine development.

Silver is a critical player in the global shift toward cleaner energy. Solar panels and EVs, both essential for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, rely heavily on silver. Other new technologies, including AI, have also sparked demand for silver, while overall silver supply has declined.

Replay our webcast, focused on gold and silver, and featuring John Hathaway and Maria Smirnova. Gold is enjoying strong support from central bank buyers like China, and silver is benefitting from increased demand for PV solar panels.

The rise of AI and data centers is likely to significantly increase global electricity demand, creating challenges for power grids but also opportunities for stable, clean energy sources like nuclear power. AI data centers are also likely to support increased demand for copper.

Nickel's future looks promising due to its role in achieving net-zero emission goals. Stricter regulations and government support for electric vehicles are driving up demand for nickel, which will benefit nickel mining companies in the long run. Nickel-intensive batteries are also increasingly being used in large-scale energy storage systems that employ thousands of NMC batteries to power renewable energy projects.

Rising global commitments to nuclear energy are helping to make uranium a compelling investment. While spot uranium prices have come down slightly after a significant rise, we believe there is room for growth given that demand is expected to climb as the need for low-carbon energy sources intensifies. We believe that uranium miners can add growth potential and diversification to investor portfolios.

As the world embraces clean technologies, the search for and expansion of copper mines will be essential. Early investors who gain exposure to copper mines may benefit from the rapidly increasing demand.

The uranium market showed mixed performance in March: the spot uranium price fell but miners' stocks rose due to long-term positive outlook for uranium demand. With no meaningful new supply on the horizon for three to five years, we believe the uranium bull market has further room to run.

The energy sector has experienced a remarkable transformation, primarily driven by the rapid growth and integration of renewable energy sources. Central to this transition is the advancement of battery storage technology, a critical enabler that promises to reshape how we generate, distribute and consume electricity. As we examine this evolving landscape, it becomes evident that battery storage is a technological cornerstone for a sustainable energy future.

Gold reached an all-time closing high and is up 8.09% YTD (as of 3/31/2024) after rising 13.10% in 2023. We believe several fundamental factors are in place for gold to move higher, in particular, strong central bank buying. We also see three drivers for a higher silver price: 1) silver tracks rising gold due to central bank buying, 2) reflation trade and 3) increased solar panel demand.

In this  episode of Shifting Energy (Season 1), Thalia Hayden @etfguide talks with Ed Coyne, Senior Managing Partner and Steve Schoffstall, Director of ETF Product Management at Sprott Asset Management about the copper growth story, what's driving it and the investment opportunities now and ahead.

Learn how renewed interest in nuclear power, rising global energy demands, and the transition to clean energy are driving investment opportunities in uranium, copper and their miners.

Electricity demand is expected to grow 86% by 2050. At the same time, most of the world is committed to seeking zero-carbon emissions and increasing nuclear energy capacity. At the center of this growth and transformation are uranium and copper – two critical materials that are in high demand and limited supply. These materials and their miners are potentially attractive investment opportunities.

Used in far more than just coins today, nickel is the hidden metal that’s everywhere in our modern world. To walk us through its fascinating story, Ed Coyne is joined by Gary Coates from The Nickel Institute.

Uranium markets pulled back in February after a rapid rise—in our view, this is a healthy pause in the ongoing uranium bull market. Announcements from Kazatomprom and Cameco underscored the uranium markets' structural supply deficit, while global governments continued to champion the benefits of nuclear energy.

Steve Schoffstall visits Nasdaq TradeTalks to talk about Sprott’s continued expansion in the critical minerals sector, including the launch of Sprott Copper Miners ETF (COPP). Steve touches on the demand for copper in the ongoing global energy transition and what it means for the copper market overall. 

Ed Coyne stops by Nasdaq Investment News to discuss copper’s role in the energy transition, its current status in the market and how Sprott is capturing the potential opportunity with the Sprott Copper Miners ETF (COPP) and the Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF (COPJ).

February was a lackluster month for critical materials, but the backdrop remains very positive. The global commitment to clean energy hit a new milestone in 2023 as investment in energy transition surged to an unprecedented $1.77 trillion, led by electrified transport. Over the past 10 years, investment in global energy transition has grown at a 24% compound annual rate, several times the global GDP growth rate.

Critical minerals are essential for the global energy transition as we gradually phase out CO2-intensive energy sources with cleaner sources, including nuclear, solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy and greater use of electric vehicles (EVs). We believe the unique supply and demand dynamics for critical minerals will underpin potential investment opportunities in the years ahead.

John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management, joins Thalia Hayden on Sprott’s new video series, Shifting Energy. They discuss surging uranium prices, the latest nuclear renaissance and potential investment opportunities. The series was created in partnership with ETF Guide to keep viewers on top of energy transition investment opportunities. 

Per Jander from WMC is back for Part 2 of our All Eyes on Uranium series. Per and host Ed Coyne discuss the recent production guidance announcements from Kazatomprom and Cameco and the overarching issue of the structural supply deficit in uranium.

The demand for copper in energy grids, electric vehicles and clean energy technologies, combined with diminishing ore grades and limited inventories, underscores copper's growing importance. We believe copper prices and miners are likely to benefit from the growing supply-demand gap.

Today, in the United States alone, copper is a crucial element in nearly 7 million miles of electrical transmission and distribution wires. This white paper introduces the trends that are driving copper markets and copper miners, and explains our positive outlook for growth.

Uranium price surged 11% in January to $101 per pound, fueled in part by Kazatomprom's cut in guidance for 2024 production by ~14%. Junior uranium miners were top performers for the month, climbing 18.78%. Supply uncertainties continue to dominate markets, given the situation in Niger and possible bans on Russian uranium. 

A significant transition is underway in global energy production. The era of renewable energy is emerging and beginning to reshape power generation. Recent trends suggest that this shift is no fleeting phenomenon but a fundamental transformation powered by the relentless fall in renewable energy costs. The world is investing heavily in renewables. Some 62% of total global energy investment is now directed to clean energy.

Low carbon energy technologies are driving increasing demand for minerals critical to the energy transition.

Per Jander joins host Ed Coyne for the first of a series of podcasts covering all the latest developments in uranium. Part 2 will be recorded and released after the upcoming announcements from Kazatomprom and Cameco in early February.

John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management, sits down with Andrew Bell of BNN Bloomberg to discuss the uranium market and Sprott’s growth in the space. Campaglia: "We’ve been very active in educating the market and investors about the uranium thesis since we acquired the Uranium Participation Corporation in July of 2021."

What forces are likely to drive energy transition materials and precious metals markets in 2024 and over the next decade? We discuss 10 critical macroeconomic and market-specific themes ranging from deglobalization and climate policy to the new commodity supercycle and a potential silver price breakout.

Nuclear waste is not something to be feared. The care with which it is handled and stored contributes to the fact that nuclear power is one of the safest forms of baseload energy generation known to humanity. In this video, we dispel the many fears and concerns about spent nuclear fuel. 

2023 provided the long-awaited inflection point for the uranium contracting cycle whereby we have finally achieved replacement rate levels. We believe the era of uranium inventory destocking and utility complacency is over. Long-term security of supply concerns, fanned by lingering geopolitical risks and the challenges of expanding primary production, are likely the key themes to watch.

The Sprott Energy Transition ETFs are a suite of ETFs designed with the potential for revenue and asset growth by investing in the miners of critical minerals that enable clean energy generation, transmission, and storage: Lithium, Uranium, Copper, Nickel, and several others.

Justin Huhn, founder of Uranium Insider, joins host Ed Coyne for a deep analysis of the uranium fuel supply chain and the challenges to satisfy expanding demand. "This year alone, demand is around 200 million pounds and supply is about 160 million pounds. That means we're about 40 million pounds short."

The U3O8 uranium spot price broke through $80 per pound, gaining 8.39% in November and is up 67.10% YTD; uranium stocks followed suit. COP28 was dubbed the "nuclear COP" in recognition of nuclear power's increasing importance and a growing awareness of a uranium supply-demand gap.

The long-term trajectory for EVs is positive despite the recent slowdown. The EV industry is navigating the typical challenges of early technology adoption, with continuous investments and technological advancements driving the transition to electrification. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the preferred battery technology for EVs, thanks to their superior technical properties and significant investment in their development and infrastructure.

Battery metals are expected to account for 95% of lithium demand by 2030. Battery minerals are crucial for the global clean energy transition, as they enable both cost-effective, on-demand power systems and the decarbonization of the transportation sector.

The uranium market is experiencing increased demand, driven by its integral role in clean energy generation through its use in nuclear power.

Per Jander and James Connor discuss the uranium market, highlighting the catalysts for sharp increases in uranium prices in 2023, including increased utility and producer activity, production shortfalls from major players like Cameco and Orano, and geopolitical uncertainties affecting supply. Per Jander expresses optimism for the uranium market, emphasizing strong demand, ongoing long-term contracting discussions and potential supply disruptions as factors that could contribute to further price increases in 2024.

The uranium price increased in October, reaching a 12-year high at $74.48 per pound. Although uranium mining stocks pulled back last month, the stronger uranium price has boosted producer revenues and the potential for mine restarts and new developments. A growing supply deficit is helping to support higher price levels as the West focuses on reshoring supply chains. 

Daisy Jennings-Gray from Benchmark Minerals Intelligence joins host Ed Coyne for a deep dive into today’s battery metals markets.

As the United States advances in its pursuit of clean energy, it is strategically redirecting its energy security emphasis from oil to critical minerals. This dynamic shift is designed to decrease reliance on oil, and diminish the influence of oil geopolitics and the sway of petrostates such as Russia.

John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management joins CNBC Fast Money to talk about the uranium market and share Sprott's views on the benefits of nuclear energy and the need for energy security.

Ed Coyne, Senior Managing Partner, sits down with Gillian Kemmerer of Asset TV to discuss the energy transition to uranium and other battery metals, and what investors should take into consideration in this space. He also shares Sprott's outlook on gold. 

Despite a pullback on gold investments, demand from sovereigns and central banks remains unwavering. Over the past decade, China has been committed to bolstering its gold reserves to enhance its economic and geopolitical standings. Silver is likely to be in high demand as the energy transition expands, given it is critical to solar PV panel technology, EV batteries and 5G cellular service. 

Uranium's performance helped the energy transition complex close higher in September. From a macro outlook, solar panels are emerging as a critical player in the global energy transition. Evolving technologies in renewable energy, especially in the solar space, are driving a surge in silver demand which may likely outpace supply over the next decade.

The global transition to clean energy is driving demand for critical minerals like uranium, copper and battery metals such as lithium and nickel. These minerals are crucial for nuclear power, electric vehicles, wind, solar, and hydropower.

With demand for nuclear fuel growing and supply facing challenges, the prevailing sentiment at the recent World Nuclear Symposium in London was “take what you can get.” Just back from the event, John Ciampaglia and Per Jander join host Ed Coyne to update us on the full story.

Uranium and uranium mining stocks posted their best month in two years, as the price of U3O8 reached a 12-year high. YTD as of 9/30/23, physical uranium has risen 51.88% and uranium mining equities have gained 23.93%. Positive sentiment toward nuclear power is growing, and the WNA estimates that uranium demand will double by 2040. Western nations are strategically maneuvering to reduce their dependence on Russia for both uranium supplies and related services.

Per Jander, WMC Technical Advisor to Sprott Physical Uranium Trust, draws upon his years of experience as a uranium trader to reveal how the market works. Who are the buyers and sellers, how is uranium transacted and how will the market evolve moving forward? Per answers these questions and more to give investors a better understanding of the dynamics of the uranium trade.

The global nuclear power industry is experiencing a revival. Geopolitical events and a surge in energy demand have shifted sentiment positively, with countries investing in new nuclear reactor builds, restarts and extensions. This has created a growth opportunity for uranium miners, especially as the uranium supply is facing challenges in meeting current and future demand.

The clean energy transition and worldwide energy security goals are fueling a global power shift. This shift has reignited interest in nuclear power, accelerated electric vehicle (EV) adoption and spurred renewable energy deployment. In this environment, uranium, lithium, copper and other high-demand, short-supply critical minerals are vitally crucial — and potentially attractive as investment opportunities.

Uranium and uranium mining stocks had a strong month in August. YTD as of 8/31/2023, spot uranium and uranium mining stocks have climbed 25.49% and 21.52%, respectively, outperforming the frothy S&P 500 TR Index's YTD return of 18.73%. We believe the uranium bull market is intact and favorable supply-demand dynamics will likely continue to provide support.

Uranium had a strong month in August, contrasting with the decline of most energy transition metals due to China's economic troubles and shadow banking woes. The investment capital spurred by the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is turning the U.S. into a cleantech powerhouse, reshaping global economics. The old China-led commodity supercycle is giving way to a new U.S.-based supercycle focusing on clean energy and innovation.

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption has surged in recent years, creating unprecedented demand for lithium, a critical component of EV batteries. With lithium demand expected to rise substantially in the years ahead, lithium miners are at the nexus of the global EV transformation. 

With the introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act, US policy makers have reset the landscape for nuclear energy. Ed is joined by Benton Arnett from the Nuclear Energy Institute to walk us through the details.

Uranium continued to outshine other commodities, with U3O8 surging 16.35% and uranium miner stocks climbing 9.11% YTD as of July 31, 2023. The growing embrace of nuclear energy is driving demand and sparking a resurgence in uranium mine operations. The U.S. opened its first new nuclear power facility in 30 years (Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle) and is actively legislating to reduce dependency on Russia's nuclear supply chain.

Given increased electricity demand and the risks posed by climate change, the U.S. power grid desperately needs modernization. There is an immediate need to expand the grid’s capacity, increase its resilience and support its most vulnerable components – the transmission and distribution lines. This is driving the development of energy storage systems and V2G (vehicle-to-grid) technology and is a major copper demand driver. 

John Ciampaglia discusses the energy transition on Nasdaq Trade Talks with host Jill Maladrino. Ciampaglia explores transformative investment opportunities in the energy transition, from the explosive growth of EV battery materials to the resurgence of nuclear energy. Discover how the shift toward decarbonization and critical mineral supply chains is fueling long-term market potential.

In the first half of 2023, the gold bullion price rose by 5.23% despite competition from a euphoric equity market. Even with contrasting approaches, central banks and investment funds became the main players shaping the gold market in the first half of the year. Central bank buying drove demand, and gold is reverting to its historical role as a significant reserve asset as central banks seek to diversify amid geopolitical uncertainties.

Joe Lowry, aka Mr. Lithium, joins Ed Coyne to walk us through all things lithium, including where ”Elon's first principle's rhetoric falls off the side of the table”.

As the world seeks to reach net-zero targets and transition to cleaner, renewable forms of energy, copper is a requirement—but the amount of copper needed to successfully facilitate the energy transition is staggering. Learn about this critical mineral, its uses and how copper miners may be well positioned to benefit from increased investment in the low-carbon and renewable energy sector.

Uranium markets rallied in June with the U3O8 uranium spot price adding 2.61%. U3O8 has climbed a healthy 15.95% YTD, while most other commodities have lost ground. Greater focus on the uranium supply-demand gap helped boost uranium mining stocks in June, with junior miners up 18.88%. Positive momentum in reshoring supply chains continues, given looming sanctions on Russian uranium.

Energy transition metals miners posted strong results in June, with uranium mining equities leading the group. The U.S. is entering the early stages of a manufacturing supercycle driven by massive energy transition investment, which includes building a secure and resilient domestic EV battery supply chain. The U.S. and EU are likely to replace China as the primary drivers of future metals demand, as China's two-decades-long commodities dominance has likely crested.

Chemical reactions of fossil-fuel plants release more radiation into the environment than the operation of nuclear energy plants — 10 times more. Most nuclear-industry waste is relatively low in radioactivity, and only a small amount is produced. Estimates put the total waste from a nuclear reactor supplying one person's electricity needs for a year at the size of a standard brick.

Just back from the World Nuclear Fuel Market 49th Annual Meeting, Per Jander joins Ed Coyne for an update on uranium markets. The theme was “Mind the Gap”, not a nod to the London Underground but rather the pressing need for increased uranium production as countries ramp up nuclear power capacity.

The U3O8 uranium spot price gained 1.58% in May,* increasing from US$53.74 to $54.59 per pound as of May 31, 2023. Uranium has posted a healthy 12.99% year-to-date return as of May 31, and continued to show strength and diversification relative to other commodities, which declined 13.16% YTD (as measured by the BCOM Index).

Gold attempted to breakout above $2,050 in early May before drifting lower as the U.S. debt-ceiling drama deepened and the U.S. dollar strengthened. At the same time, global central banks have been accumulating gold at a record pace. This highlights gold's role as a neutral reserve asset that has the potential to mitigate increasing counterparty risks amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

Lithium and lithium miners staged a sharp rebound rally in May and were the positive exception among critical minerals. The sector was weighed down by China's faltering recovery, ongoing global growth concerns and the U.S. debt ceiling drama. China’s dominance in critical minerals poses risks to the West’s manufacturing base and national security, highlighting the need for onshoring and friend-shoring energy transition supply chains.

Sprott’s Steve Schoffstall joins Benzinga’s Michael Murray and Anne-Marie Baiynd to discuss uranium, lithium and Sprott’s energy transition ETFs—including URNM, URNJ and LITP on Benzinga’s State of the Markets: ETF Capital Insights.

The gold market continues to be bullish as the probability of a recession rises, regional banking stress resurfaces and the Fed seems determined "get inflation down to 2%, over time". Globally, we are entering a more challenging period featuring subpar economic growth, increasing risks to systematic financial stability, stubbornly high inflation and rising geopolitical risks. Against this backdrop, we believe gold should perform well, even if the U.S. debt ceiling disaster is averted.

The long-term secular growth outlook for energy transition materials got several boosts in April, despite tepid performance for the month. Chile's decision to nationalize its lithium reserves reinforces the metal's role as a global strategic economic asset. M&A activity has heated up in the copper mining sector with lofty bids, including Glencore's $23 billion rejected offer for Teck Resources at a 20% premium.

The U3O8 uranium spot price climbed 6.01% in April, closing the month at $53.74. The U3O8 price reacted positively to China's bullish comments about its ambitious plans to expand its nuclear energy capacity to supply 18% of its electricity needs by 2060, up from 5% today. YTD, the uranium spot price has gained 11.24% as global acceptance of nuclear energy increases and positive momentum builds within the uranium industry.

Host Ed Coyne and Nick Pickens from Wood Mackenzie discuss the bullish outlook for copper in 2023. Copper is key to electrical power generation and transmission, and sits at the center of the energy trilemma: the challenge of balancing cost, sustainability and security of supply.

Commodity prices weakened in March in reaction to financial system stress and recession fears. As deglobalization accelerates, unfettered access to critical minerals is not likely to last. The old system of free and fair access to commodities, including critical minerals, is moving toward one marked by interregional competition, and unstable availability and pricing. China has moved aggressively to acquire critical minerals in the past 20, but we believe the West has near-unmatched capabilities and is a formidable competitor.

The U3O8 uranium spot price fell slightly in March, from $50.85 to $50.70. YTD through 3/31/2023, uranium has gained 4.93%, demonstrating resilience relative to other commodities (down 6.47% as measured by the BCOM Index). Along with other equities, uranium mining stocks fell in March, victims of the selloff following the U.S.'s biggest banking crisis since 2008. Positive headlines on nuclear power restarts continued in March.

In March, gold posted its highest monthly close since July 2020 and rounded out a solid Q1 2023 gain of 7.96%. Gold is now up 21.38% from last autumn's low (9/26/22) following the most aggressive central bank purchases in decades and gold investment flows catalyzed by the U.S. banking crisis. We are very optimistic given that many significant long-term bullish macro factors for gold have become stronger, while some shorter-term cyclical gold bearish factors have faded.

Treva Klingbiel of TradeTech and Per Jander at WMC Energy join Sprott's Ed Coyne to discuss the inner workings of uranium pricing and contracts, the future of nuclear energy generation capacity and the development of SMRs.

As the world moves towards cleaner forms of energy to achieve net zero emissions targets, the critical minerals and metals needed to reach those goals are stepping into the limelight. Nickel is one of these critical minerals. It is essential for the batteries used in electric vehicles, which are becoming more popular by the day as vehicle manufacturers and consumers embrace the EV revolution and countries add incentives or build in legislation supporting their adoption.

February saw energy transition materials/critical minerals markets correct, but the secular story remains strong. As the global energy transition "arms race" heats up, the drive to secure supply is fast becoming more important than price. All signs indicate the 40-year bond bull market has likely ended and the next great secular bull market in commodities has begun.

Although markets in February saw a reversal of January's positive performance, spot uranium posted a slight gain of 0.20%, outperforming many other asset classes. Uranium miners made headlines with significantly-sized uranium contracts that reflect higher demand for long-term supply commitments. Uranium market fundamentals are the most positive in over a decade and are likely to continue to be the primary performance driver.

Gold fell in February, closing the month at $1,827 in a correction characterized by a stall in buying, but not selling. Since gold's autumn 2022 low of $1,622, global central banks have been buying gold at record rates; more than three times their long-term averages. The current scale of central bank buying is massive — an annualized rate of 1,724 tonnes vs. an average of 512 tonnes over the past decade. Central bank gold purchases as a percentage of global gold demand have also tripled to 34% from their average of 11% over the past several years.

John Ciampaglia: “I think it's an interesting time to be investing in uranium — from a fundamental perspective, from an energy policy perspective, from a geopolitical risk perspective….we've experienced a sea change in the level of interest related to uranium, energy transition materials and mining investments.” Bloor Street Capital's Nuclear and Uranium Virtual Conference featured John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management, and Per Jander, WMC Energy, Director, Nuclear & Renewables.

As the world sets aggressive goals to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and move to cleaner energy sources, critical minerals will be essential. Due to years of underinvestment, we believe demand is likely to outstrip supply for many energy transition materials, including uranium, lithium, copper, nickel and others. The investment opportunities may be powerful.

We believe we are in the early stages of an energy transition materials secular bull market and favorable supply-demand dynamics are likely going forward. The upward revision in global growth, the timing effect of the China credit impulse and the surprise ending of China's zero-COVID policy have provided a tailwind for the metals market. For energy transition metals, we see this as a cyclical boost on top of the robust secular demand that is in play.

January was a strong month for uranium markets, with U3O8 uranium spot price posting a 5.05% increase and uranium mining equities gaining 14.65%. Looking ahead, we believe the uranium bull market still has a long way to run. Over the long term, increased demand in the face of an uncertain uranium supply is likely to support a sustained bull market.

A global clean energy transition is underway. Significant investment in energy infrastructure will be required over the coming decades as we evolve how we generate, transmit and store energy. Critical minerals will be essential. We believe investing in the mining companies that produce critical minerals may offer attractive investment opportunities, as discussed in this video with Ed Coyne, Senior Managing Director at Sprott, and Steven Schoffstall, Director ETF Product Management.

Learn about the critical minerals driving the global energy transition. Investment opportunities presented by the clean energy transition will likely center around the critical minerals that are vital to powering the planet through low-carbon energy sources and revolutionizing the transportation sector through the electrification of the world’s vehicle fleet. Sprott Energy Transition ETFs are designed to give investors access.

Three key themes for uranium markets in 2023: 1) increased emphasis on energy security worldwide; 2) higher conversion/enrichment prices may boost spot uranium prices; and 3) the global energy transition supports the case for nuclear power. Uranium's performance was notably strong in 2022, despite the overall bear market. Although uranium mining equities fared less well, we believe that the positive fundamentals for uranium and nuclear energy are likely to provide support in 2023.

Per Jander of WMC Energy and John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management talk with Sprott’s Ed Coyne about what may be ahead for uranium in 2023, the resurgence in nuclear power interest as energy security concerns become top of mind, and what’s happening in uranium conversion and enrichment.

This year’s top 10 list offers Sprott’s thoughts on what will likely drive markets in the coming year and decade, from a macro perspective and the vantage of our asset classes: Precious Metals and Energy Transition Materials. We believe the global clean energy transition will grow more urgent as energy markets continue re-ordering and energy security becomes synonymous with national security. The signposts point to a commodity-intensive, inflationary and capital-intensive decade where energy transition materials and precious metals will become far more valued than in the prior market regime.

The uranium markets did not perform as well as other sectors in November, despite having posted relatively strong performance throughout 2022. While the price of U3O8 uranium has lagged since May 2022, conversion and enriched uranium prices have significantly appreciated. We believe that current demand, coupled with a shift away from Russian suppliers, is likely to support a higher U3O8 uranium spot price.

The U3O8 uranium spot price climbed 8.32% in October, rising from $48.25 to $52.27 per pound. YTD as of October 31, 2022, the uranium spot price has climbed by 24.12%. We believe the uranium bull market remains intact despite the negative macroeconomic environment. Our outlook is supported by the unprecedented number of announcements for nuclear power plant restarts, life extensions and new builds that are all creating demand for uranium.

Uranium, an element born of the stars, is as complex as it is paradoxical. This heavy metal holds dormant powers both inspiring and terrifying. This new video shares incredible facts about uranium’s inter-planetary origins and looks at the critical role of uranium in the burgeoning green energy economy.

September was tough on uranium (both physical and stocks), which was negatively impacted by the month's drawdowns. We believe the uranium bull market remains intact, especially given that many countries are facing energy shortages and rocketing costs. Nuclear energy provides a solution as a reliable, affordable baseload energy source. 

Throughout history, gold has played a prominent role in the advancement of human civilization. Seen as a representation of the sun, of the gods and of true value, gold is a form of real money without counterparty risks. Symbol Au, atomic number 79, gold has been used to adorn the tombs of the great pharaohs and to help power spacecrafts that extend the horizons of humanity’s domain. Learn about gold’s culture, uses and history.

Research and development on small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) are underway globally and generating tremendous buzz. But SMRs are not likely to contribute meaningful amounts of carbon-free power for another decade. By contrast, nuclear power plant life extensions and uprates hold the power to boost carbon-free electricity production in the interim and provide a bridge to a future date when new SMR technologies will be commercially available.