At home in Southern Germany, the passionate stock exchange expert has been accompanying the capital markets for about twenty years. With a soft spot for smaller companies, he is constantly on the lookout for exciting investment stories. That it depends thereby less on large names, but on the future potential and whether the market also recognizes these perspectives, was one of its first learnings at the stock exchange.
On these pages, Nico examines current events at listed companies and takes a closer look at companies that are traded under the radar of the market, in addition to well-known securities.
In order to be able to take advantage of speculative opportunities on the stock exchange, Nico not only focuses on a balanced asset allocation of defensive and opportunity-oriented securities, but also on an intact risk management. "In addition to position size and entry in several tranches, investors should also develop a sense of timing and get to know a stock better before investing," says the columnist.
Commented by Nico Popp
Commented by Nico Popp on November 9th, 2026 | 23:05 CET
Billion-dollar opportunity in cardiac therapy: Cardiol Therapeutics, Kiniksa and Novo Nordisk
Created and Published on Behalf of Cardiol Therapeutics
The treatment of inflammatory heart diseases is becoming one of the most lucrative segments of the pharmaceutical industry. The only drug approved to date for recurrent pericarditis is expected to exceed USD 1 billion in revenue this year. While established industry heavyweights generate enormous revenues from injectable biologics, emerging biotechnology companies are preparing the next stage of development. The focus is on the search for oral therapies intended to open up access to treatment for a much broader patient population.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 6th, 2026 | 05:20 CET
Gold Above USD 4,000 Fuels Nevada Gold Rush: Phenom Resources, SSR Mining and Barrick Mining Reshape Their Operations
On Wednesday, gold climbed back above USD 4,000 per ounce. Following the Democrats' victory in the US congressional elections and a weaker dollar, the price rose by around 3%. The industry is also receiving a tailwind from Washington. Since March 2025, Executive Order 14241 has been designed to accelerate federal permitting processes for mining projects, including through the FAST-41 transparency programme. With new mining projects now taking an average of 16 years to develop, according to research by Crux Investor, and grassroots exploration declining across the industry, producers are increasingly investing cash flow in Nevada, considered a politically safe jurisdiction. Against this backdrop, industry players are repositioning themselves to secure new resources.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 5th, 2026 | 05:34 CET
How First Hydrogen, Schaeffler and SpaceX Are Targeting the Trillion-Dollar Humanoid Robot Market
Artificial intelligence is learning to walk, but to do so it needs muscles made of steel and high-precision gearboxes. While aerospace company Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is investing billions in new AI infrastructure and automotive supplier Schaeffler already operates a factory where robots assemble robot components, Canadian hydrogen pioneer First Hydrogen is now also venturing into robotics. The race to develop the joints for these machines has begun, and the roles in this emerging industry are being reshuffled.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 5th, 2026 | 05:29 CET
Standard Uranium, Uranium Energy and Cameco: Uranium price breaks records, but producers' shares fall
The global market for nuclear fuels is currently looking extremely robust. According to business magazine Forbes, the price for long-term supply contracts reached a record USD 96 per pound at the end of October, while the spot price stood at USD 89.95. According to industry analysts, this prolonged cycle is being fuelled by a chronic supply deficit of around 10,000 tonnes per year and sharply rising electricity demand driven by the expansion of data centres for artificial intelligence. In addition, primary supply is tightening because Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan's state-owned producer, is deliberately curtailing its production in 2026 by around 10% compared with approved volumes – according to the company, market conditions do not warrant operating at full capacity. Despite the positive backdrop for the uranium price, mining operators' shares are currently undergoing a deep correction.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 4th, 2026 | 05:42 CET
Dermatology with Tailwinds: How Galderma Is Deploying Billions, Vidac Pharma Awaits Crucial Clinical Data and Biofrontera Expands
Dermatological research is undergoing a phase of rapid growth. While established corporations generate enormous revenues in systemic therapies, new, targeted approaches to treating precancerous skin lesions are on the verge of clinical validation. High growth rates at Galderma, new approval decisions by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Biofrontera, and upcoming trial data at Vidac Pharma show how significantly skin disease treatment is changing. We show what opportunities this could create for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 4th, 2026 | 05:32 CET
Steel industry in transition: Vale, Champion Iron and Strategic Resources and the race for the pellet premium
The iron and steel industry is undergoing a major technological transformation. As the sector comes under pressure to reduce its CO₂ emissions, direct reduction is gaining importance relative to the conventional blast furnace route. In commodity markets, this is reflected in a widening price gap: the benchmark price for iron ore briefly fell below USD 90 per tonne in October, while prices for high-grade iron ore pellets have held up considerably better. Strategic Resources, a development-stage company, is targeting precisely this segment. Unlike established producers Vale and Champion Iron, which are adapting their operations, Strategic Resources aims to build a steelmaking supply chain without coking coal from the outset.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 3rd, 2026 | 05:22 CET
Rock Tech Lithium, Vulcan Energy and Rheinmetall: Lithium meets defence
Security policy and the energy transition are becoming increasingly intertwined. At the centre is lithium, which is crucial for both civilian electric mobility and new weapons systems. Reports of a potential investment by Rheinmetall in the German-Canadian lithium developer Rock Tech Lithium have cast a spotlight on this possible new collaboration. Meanwhile, in south-western Germany, Vulcan Energy is demonstrating how far the company has already progressed towards European production. We put the background into context.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 30th, 2026 | 05:43 CET
Antimony Countdown: BASF Needs New Supplies as Perpetua Resources and NSJ Antimony Develop North American Sources
Created and published on behalf of NSJ Antimony
On November 27, 2026, China's suspension of its antimony export ban to the United States is due to expire. Without an extension by Beijing, US buyers risk losing access to this metalloid, which is essential for flame retardants and armaments. This was reported by industry publication Mining Weekly. According to market information provider Fastmarkets, antimony was trading at USD 18,300 to USD 19,000 per tonne in Rotterdam in mid-October. This is well below the all-time high of approximately USD 59,750 reached in summer 2025. However, the West's dependence on Chinese refineries remains unchanged.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 30th, 2026 | 05:37 CET
Methane Regulation: ExxonMobil Issues Warning, EQT Expands Exports and Zefiro Methane Scales Up Well Remediation
Created and published on behalf of Zefiro Methane Corp.
Reducing methane emissions is becoming an increasingly important political priority on both sides of the Atlantic. While the European Union and international gas producers negotiate deadlines for new import regulations, the United States is accelerating the remediation of abandoned wells. With substantial government funding, a lucrative market is emerging for specialist environmental service providers. Zefiro Methane is at the centre of this development, rapidly expanding its operations across North America with fresh capital and new framework agreements.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 28th, 2026 | 05:45 CET
Split in the Tungsten Market: How Almonty, MP Materials and Rheinmetall Are Responding
The tungsten market is currently splitting into two distinct segments. While Chinese ammonium paratungstate (APT) prices are falling significantly, according to the Shanghai Metals Market, Western tungsten prices remain largely stable. Meanwhile, Washington's regulatory procurement requirements are forcing Western industrial companies to realign their supply chains. From 2027, new US legislation will prohibit the Department of Defense from using tungsten sourced from geopolitically sensitive countries such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. This legislation decouples Western prices from the Asian market and puts secure supply sources in sharper focus.
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