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CHF WEEKLY ROUND-UP: Dec. 19, 2025 - Jan. 16, 2026

The opening days of a new market year can carry a symbolic and practical significance called the “January Barometer”, which suggests that a positive start to January can lead to stronger returns for the year. Historical data show that stocks that have finished higher in January have ended the year higher about 86% of the time. It is only the first two weeks of 2026, and globally, most markets are in an uptrend, though with some volatility. There are signs of continued strength in many areas but remember: it is time to shed both the wins and losses of last year, lest they become burdens. This year will not be just a continuation or repeat of the last. The frenzy around AI and superstar tech stocks continues, defying criticism that their prices are already too high. Geopolitical noise around Venezuela, Iran, and even Greenland has become distracting. Stay sharp and clear-headed, things will settle down. Remain open to opportunities; it may be a year for more trading than holding.


The TSX index was up by 28.5% in 2025, and up 51.3% in years 2024-2025, rising an additional 4.25% year to date (YTD), with another new all-time high this week. The TSX has already started to outperform the S&P. The Venture exchange was up 52% in 2025, up 79.5% in the 2024-2025 period, and is up more than 10% YTD. The next Bank of Canada (BoC) rate announcement is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28. While BoC is suggesting that rates will remain steady, the Canadian economy remains weak with uncertainty around the all-important CUSMA trade deal. Unemployment, at 6.8%, remains high, and job growth is slow. Prime Minister Carney went to China this week, hoping to boost trade and investment. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is insisting on keeping Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, saying that giving China “a foothold” in the Canadian market will hurt Canadian industry and workers. Carney reached his first deal on trade since taking office, a deal with Beijing to reduce tariffs on a set number of Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for China dropping duties on agricultural products. In advance of the trip, international security experts emphasized that while improved relations are desirable, the prime minister must avoid strategic dependence on China as a trading partner, given its history of political interference, economic coercion, and the use of trade for political leverage. China remains a complex, yet poor partner, not one for strategic alignment.


U.S. markets rocked in 2025, with the Dow up 13%, the S&P up 16.4%, and the NASDAQ up 20.4%, and all at or near all-time highs so far in 2026. Last year, U.S. economic growth soared on the back of a productivity boom. The estimated GDP growth rate for the final quarter of 2025 was raised 5.3% yesterday after the release of November's solid retail sales report. Economists expect more of the same through the rest of the decade, and given expectations for earnings growth, the market’s trend is likely to continue. The Trump administration has again threatened Federal Reserve Chair Powell, over some vague comments last summer about a Fed building project, keeping the pressure on. The President apparently has identified his replacement for Powell. There is a near certainty that the Fed will hold rates steady at its January 27-28 meeting, according to futures. Wall Street no longer expects a rate cut until June. The U.S. dollar (USD) has held its ground and is still viewed as a safe-haven currency.


Precious metals set multiple all-time highs last year, with gold advancing 65% year-to-date and silver 150%, and they are off to a roaring start in 2026. Platinum and palladium are moving too; include the PGE in investment targets. Some analysts continue to warn of a bubble. Precious metals remain under-owned, and shares are still lagging the metal prices, representing only a fraction of global financial assets. Gold prices opened at USD$4,603.90/oz this morning, up 7% since the start of the year, and have been building support above USD$4,600.00/oz for the last week. Silver prices opened at USD$89.11/oz this morning, after reaching USD$93.00/oz and are starting to build a support level at USD$90.00/oz this week. With industry leaders calling silver the next “generational metal” and prices being driven by rising demand from electrification, clean energy, and data centres, as well as a persistent supply deficit. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) officially added silver to its final 2025 List of U.S. Critical Minerals. Canada, which holds some of the richest silver deposits in the world, has not included it in its critical mineral strategy. The next quarter is historically when precious metals perform; hang on to your metals and shares. Sprott Money says silver has triggered a breakout with potential upside to USD$106/oz, and gold is targeting USD$5,100/oz–USD$5,200/oz in what could be a parabolic rally.


At opening today, copper prices are USD$5.90/lb, after surging to USD$6.07/lb at the start of the week. Investors interested in a broad basket of AI interests should also want to buy into financial products that include hard assets that feed data centres, such as copper miners and metals-related assets. Copper is becoming more expensive, reflecting rising demand from the AI industry, including semiconductors. “Dr. Copper”, as it is sometimes referred to, may be signalling stronger global economic growth in 2026. Other base and industrial metals experienced a run-up in prices during the last month, and even nickel prices showed some recovery. As geopolitical noise abated, there may be some pullback. The reality is that there simply isn't enough of any metal to support global expansion plans. Be positioned in these elements.


In battery and critical materials, cobalt prices levelled off this week at USD$25.50/lb, the highest in two and a half years. Lithium prices, at USD$22.82/kg, have more than doubled in the last three months. Is this a turning of the market? Lithium demand is expected to surge significantly in 2026, primarily driven by energy storage systems and expectations for growth in the production of electric vehicles (EVs).  Projections indicate a potential shift in the market towards a supply deficit. It is still a waiting game in battery materials, but prices for battery-ready materials are rising in China. Be invested in this sector, with issuers that have the financial ability to sustain through tight markets and hold high-quality projects across multiple battery commodities in jurisdictions with favourable policies. The massive infrastructure investment focused on energy production and transmission, needed to light up this sector, has not arrived yet. Uranium prices have been in a slow but steady uptrend for the last year, reaching USD$83.40/lb this week. Do not avoid this commodity.


We are pleased to present our round-up of client news released between December 19, 2025, and January 16, 2026.


Mining



On January 5, 2026, Arya Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RBZ) announced the appointment of Roger March, P.Geo. to its board of directors. Mr. March is a highly accomplished professional geoscientist with more than 30 years of experience in mineral exploration, resource evaluation, feasibility studies, and project development. He is currently employed by Foran Mining Corporation, where he has spent 14 years to date in progressively senior technical and leadership roles within a public company environment. 


On January 8, 2026, Nuinsco Resources Limited (CSE: NWI) announced it has now issued 73,180,000 common shares at a subscription price of $0.005 per Share for aggregate proceeds of $365,900 as part of the private placement announced November 7, 2025. Proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to advance the Company’s Prairie Lake critical metals project located near Terrace Bay, ON. 


On January 12, 2026, Arya Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RBZ) announced that it closed the non-flow-through portion of its previously announced non-brokered private placement. A total of 1,413,334 common shares were issued at a price of $0.30 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $424,000.20. In total, Arya has now raised $1.644 million through a combination of flow-through and non-flow-through financings. 


On January 13, 2026, Rocky Shore Gold Ltd. (CSE: RSG) announced that it has engaged Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. to prepare an NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Company’s Gold Anchor Project in central Newfoundland, which will aim to define current Mineral Resource Estimates on the Mosquito Hill and Reid Deposits. The Technical Report is planned for completion toward the end of Q1-2026. Ken Lapierre, President and CEO of the Company, commented, “At the Gold Anchor Project, compilation of historical data in and around the porphyry-controlled Reid and Mosquito Hill Deposits has identified a much larger pervasive gold-bearing porphyry environment, now termed by us as the ‘Porphyry Gold Corridor’. Within this approximately Three-kilometre-long corridor, both surface gold deposits are open in all directions, and additional untested porphyry targets have been identified. Our plan is to get this area drill-ready for the summer of 2026. As we await our final permit to drill our structurally controlled, high-grade Lane Pond Gold Target planned in Q1-2026, we remain optimistic for the potential value creation the Gold Anchor Project will deliver for Rocky Shore in 2026.” 


On January 14, 2026, Libra Energy Materials Inc. (CSE: LIBR) (OTCQB: LIBRF) (FSE: W0R0) invited existing and prospective investors to visit them at Booth #212 at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC), to be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre (1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC) from Sunday, January 25, 2026, to Monday, January 26, 2026. Register for VRIC here. 


On January 14, 2026, Pirate Gold Corp. (TSXV: YARR) (OTCQB: SICNF) was highlighted on the Rocks and Stocks News program hosted by noted mining commentator Allan Barry Laboucan, who did a play-by-play of the newly released Pirate Gold video and talked about what he feels stands out about the Treasure Island project.



SAVE THE DATE

  • Athena Gold | Libra Energy - Booth #212

  • Pirate Gold Corp. - Booth #701

  • Pirate Gold Corp. - Booth #304

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