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 June 19th, 2026 | 07:35 CEST
How MustGrow Biologics Benefits from Agrochemical Realignment with Patented Bioactive Technology – Pressure on Bayer and Corteva
Created and published on behalf of MustGrow Biologics Corp.
Extreme heat waves, increasingly degraded soils, and strict regulatory limits on synthetic chemical crop protection products—global agricultural markets are facing a critical period of adjustment. Once temperatures cross the critical threshold of 30 °C, most agricultural crops begin to suffer drastic yield losses, as sterile pollen and weakened cell walls cause irreparable damage to plant biology. According to the joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) titled "Extreme Heat and Agriculture," even individual heat waves can cause agricultural productivity to plummet by up to 50%. For most major crops, yield losses are already a threat at temperatures as low as 30 °C. The frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events have increased significantly over the past 50 years. These ecological stressors are shifting growing conditions in both temperate and Mediterranean zones, forcing the entire agricultural value chain to rethink its approach.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on June 18th, 2026 | 07:35 CEST
The Secret Mechanism That Kills Cancer Cells: What Revolution Medicines and Merck & Co. Need to Learn from Vidac Pharma
There is, without exaggeration, a looming "patent cliff" of enormous scale: an estimated USD 236 billion in annual revenue losses are forcing the biopharmaceutical industry to find new paths forward. Pharma giants must replace dwindling blockbuster revenues by strategically acquiring innovative oncology platforms, as conventional cancer therapies are increasingly reaching their limits. This innovation pressure is triggering a consolidation wave in which research-driven biotech companies with protected mechanisms of action are moving into the center of potential takeover activity. In particular, intracellular and metabolic treatment approaches are rapidly gaining importance in the fight against treatment-resistant cancers. We take a look at Revolution Medicines' successes and identify the next potential high-flyer.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on June 18th, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
The Simple Path to Inflation-Protected Cash Flows: Why JPMorgan Chase and Altius Minerals Are Eyeing Globex Mining
Persistent geopolitical uncertainty, rising inflation, and tighter lending standards by commercial banks mean that even the mining sector is no longer operating under ideal conditions. Since missing production targets can trigger significant share price declines, major commodity companies are constantly searching for new deposits. At the same time, rising development costs are making mine operations more expensive, while the US Federal Reserve is adopting a more restrictive stance in light of inflation data. In this market environment, the royalty and streaming model is gaining importance because gross revenue royalties can provide inflation-protected cash flows without direct operational risks. We present a potential beneficiary of this trend and explain how the model works.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on June 17th, 2026 | 07:05 CEST
Is Tech Heading for a Correction? Intel and Marvell Technology Are Expensive – Could Lahontan Gold Be a Rotation Winner?
With tech stocks trading at historically high valuations, earnings power dwindling, and a noticeable slowdown in the AI boom, the US stock market appears to be signalling the end of the AI hype. While leading tech stocks are losing significant momentum, other sectors are becoming attractive again. Take gold, for example. Supported by persistently high central bank demand—global central banks purchased around 863 metric tons of gold in 2025, according to the World Gold Council—the precious metal is once again coming into focus as a safe haven. Renowned banks such as Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan are already forecasting a cyclical upswing for the precious metal to as high as USD 6,000 per ounce. This sector rotation particularly benefits undervalued exploration companies in politically stable regions. We present an exciting stock with a promising project in the US.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on June 17th, 2026 | 06:40 CEST
The Direct Path to High-Purity Silicon: How HPQ Silicon Boosts Efficiency for Companies Like Wacker Chemie and Panasonic
Low-quality anode materials, high energy prices, and the Chinese monopoly on complex processes—the situation surrounding the supply of high-performance battery cells and their raw materials is forcing the industry to take action. To increase the energy density of next-generation electric vehicle batteries, the automotive industry needs to transition from conventional graphite anodes to high-purity silicon anode materials. Graphite systems are reaching their physical limits, while silicon compounds promise a theoretical charge capacity up to 10 times higher. However, since established multi-step synthesis processes are complex and expensive, the focus is shifting toward low-carbon, energy-efficient alternatives. We explain the background and introduce a solution.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on June 16th, 2026 | 07:40 CEST
Orphaned Oil Wells Turn into Billion-Dollar Market: Chevron and Clean Harbors Under Pressure; Zefiro Methane in Focus
Methane emissions from decommissioned and abandoned oil and gas wells in North America have been drastically underestimated for decades. Scientific studies by McGill University show that actual emissions in Canada are seven times higher than official figures, while in the US they exceed government estimates by about 20%. Since methane has a greenhouse effect approximately 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period, plugging these leaks is a top priority. Through the bipartisan US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), billions in government subsidies are flowing into the remediation of abandoned and orphaned wells. This situation makes it easier for energy companies to act and creates a stable demand environment for specialized environmental service providers. We present a company that is currently fully focused on growth.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on June 16th, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
The Steel Industry in Flux: How Strategic Resources Is Solving the Problems Facing Rio Tinto and thyssenkrupp
High energy costs, a lack of pipelines, and a sluggish hydrogen ramp-up are slowing down the steel industry's "green" transformation. To replace traditional coal-fired blast furnaces with modern direct reduction plants, steel giants need iron ore with a minimum iron content of 67%. Since these high-purity, pelletizable deposits are few and far between, cutthroat competition is breaking out over stable supply chains. Western steel companies must optimize their supply sources to remain competitive. Pressure from regulators and the market is ever-present.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on June 15th, 2026 | 07:45 CEST
Lithium Makes a Comeback: Processing Is a Bottleneck for Mercedes-Benz and Siemens Energy – Rock Tech Lithium Breaks the Monopoly
With scarce raw material reserves in the West, a more restrictive trade policy, and China still holding a monopoly on raw material processing, the situation surrounding battery-grade raw materials calls for action. After the price of lithium hit a preliminary low in June 2025, "white gold" saw a robust recovery of around 180% by February 2026, reaching a high of USD 10.48 per pound. The real bottleneck, however, is not extraction, but the chemical refinement into high-purity lithium hydroxide monohydrate for battery applications. Since a comprehensive investigation by the US Department of Commerce now classifies lithium supply security as a matter of national security, the development of resilient domestic processing infrastructure has moved to the forefront of industry priorities. The German-Canadian company Rock Tech Lithium plays a crucial role.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on June 12th, 2026 | 06:50 CEST
Geostrategic Raw Materials Alliance: Export Controls Hit SpaceX and Rheinmetall – Wall Street Bets on Almonty
Trade barriers, reduced mining quotas, and a US legal import ban on certain critical metals set to take effect in 2027—the West's traditional raw materials supply chains are under pressure. At the heart of the supply bottleneck is tungsten, which, due to its melting point of 3,422 °C, is irreplaceable for modern kinetic military applications and high-temperature-resistant alloys in the aerospace sector. Since alternative, non-Chinese production capacities have so far accounted for less than 10% of global production volume, Western technology companies face a very real supply crisis. Tungsten heavyweight Almonty Industries is stepping into this supply vacuum and, thanks to new production capacities, is emerging as a key player and de facto monopolist.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on June 12th, 2026 | 06:40 CEST
Gold Sector in M&A Frenzy: Dwindling Reserves Drive B2Gold and Orezone – Hidden Gem: Desert Gold
Dwindling mineral reserves in low-risk regions, stagnating discovery rates, and increasingly complex permitting processes—the situation in the gold mining sector is forcing leading producers to act. Since developing new large-scale greenfield projects is associated with sharply rising costs, industry giants are increasingly shifting their focus to acquiring projects already at an advanced stage. According to surveys by the industry portal MiningBeacon, the gold sector accounted for over 40% of the total mining transaction volume in the first five months of 2026 alone, amounting to deals worth USD 41 billion. West African shear trends and established mining regions are therefore becoming target areas for resource-hungry corporations that need to utilize their processing capacities to full capacity.
Read