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 July 9th, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
Immediate Cash Flow: Desert Gold Is Making the Big Leap and Barrick Mining and B2Gold Continue to Bet on Mali
When people think of West Africa, geopolitical unrest or rugged terrain often comes to mind. Yet right here, in the deep geological layers of the famous Senegal-Mali Shear Zone, a lot is happening for the gold market. Following a period of profound political tensions and a sweeping overhaul of its laws, Mali is experiencing an unprecedented resurgence as a mining destination. The operating environment for international resource companies is shifting away from unpredictable confrontation, toward stable cooperation and increased domestic value creation. This is attracting powerful corporations and savvy investors alike, as the raw material buried beneath the desert dust promises stable returns amid growing global uncertainty. Mali is transforming from a crisis hotspot into a hotspot for investors looking to place a bold bet on the most precious of all metals. We present a particularly attractive opportunity and shed light on the market.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 9th, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Why the Base Load Bottleneck Threatens SpaceX and Amazon—and How Standard Uranium Stands to Benefit
When you pick up your smartphone from your nightstand in the morning, you rarely give a thought to the massive infrastructure behind the scenes. But the brave new digital world of global data streams and machine-learning algorithms has an energy-hungry, and sometimes dirty, secret. Artificial intelligence consumes so much electricity that power grids are collapsing one after another. When computing power needs to keep pace with AI innovations, solar farms are no longer enough. Base load power is needed—and nuclear power provides it. So high-tech needs uranium, and that is exactly what brings the tech elite together with resource companies. We explain the connections and highlight the opportunities.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 8th, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
Overcoming the Range Limitation: SpaceX Thinks Big, Siemens Energy Believes in AI, and First Hydrogen Solves Earthly Problems
When street sweepers make their rounds in major German cities on Saturday mornings, we usually still hear a monotonous diesel hum in our ears. But behind the scenes, a transformation has long been underway. Climate neutrality is forcing fleet operators to rethink their approach. The mantra: move away from diesel and toward new technologies. However, all-battery-powered trucks often reach their limits in multi-shift operations due to insufficient range and hours-long charging times. This is where innovative technologies like hydrogen come into play. We introduce three exciting companies and highlight opportunities for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 8th, 2026 | 07:05 CEST
Canada and Europe Are Jointly Securing Raw Materials: Why BMW and Volkswagen Should Keep an Eye on Power Metallic Mines
The automotive industry's transition to electric mobility is disrupting traditional supply chains. While efficient assembly used to be the key factor, in the era of electric vehicles, secure, environmentally responsible access to critical minerals matters most. Above all, strict legal requirements, such as the European Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, are forcing automakers to fully document the origin of their raw materials all the way back to the mine. In this complex landscape, Canada has emerged as one of the most important partners for European industry. The standards and mineral content are just right here—we introduce the market and potential beneficiaries.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 7th, 2026 | 07:35 CEST
Pulling the Plug on Cancer: Agios Pharmaceuticals, Revolution Medicines, and Vidac Pharma
Without health, everything else is nothing. In recent years, companies in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors have already achieved major successes when it comes to easing the suffering of the chronically ill and of cancer patients. Progress is increasingly being made thanks to innovative platform approaches that make it possible to combine different technologies. One example is thermodynamic and metabolic platforms. We examine the latest trends and explain how investors can also benefit from innovations in biotechnology.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 7th, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
This Market Is Growing 17.1% Annually: Bayer and KWS SAAT Rethink Their Strategies – MustGrow Biologics Gains Momentum
Created and published on behalf of MustGrow Biologics Corp.
It is not only drought that is putting pressure on farmers. Regulators are increasingly banning chemical active ingredients that have been used for decades in an effort to protect soils and consumers. Already, 168 countries have significantly restricted or completely banned the use of approximately 568 chemical pesticides. At the same time, the European Union aims to have at least 25% of its agricultural land farmed organically by 2030. As many highly effective products are being phased out, farmers around the world are facing growing challenges. The question of how to maintain crop yields under these changing conditions has become a key concern for industry. This trend is fueling the biopesticides market, which, according to current industry forecasts by Fortune Business Insights, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.1%, reaching USD 40.61 billion by 2034.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 7th, 2026 | 06:55 CEST
Tungsten Emergency: Why Almonty Is Exceptionally Positioned - Sandvik and Lockheed Martin Under Pressure
Beijing's tightened export controls on critical raw materials such as tungsten show how heavily the West depends on established supply chains. China still controls around 80% of global tungsten production. In response to this threat, from January 1, 2027, the US will ban the import of tungsten from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea for military purposes. This regulatory turning point and a surge in demand from the defense sector drove the world market price for ammonium paratungstate (APT) from historic lows in the low triple-digit range per metric tonne unit (MTU = 10 kg) to well over USD 3,000 per MTU. We take a closer look at the market and show how investors can profit from the tungsten emergency.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 6th, 2026 | 07:10 CEST
Why the Antimony Bottleneck Threatens Hensoldt and BASF, and How Antimony Resources Benefits
Created and published on behalf of Antimony Resources Corp.
The world order is different from before 2022. China is tightening the reins on critical metals. The situation with semiconductor and alloy raw materials in particular calls for action. The strategic semimetal antimony is increasingly becoming a critical bottleneck for Western industry. China's export restrictions - the country controls around 36% of global mine production and around 70% of global antimony refining capacity - have triggered deep uncertainty among European groups in the chemical and defence sectors. The solution is new supply chains and mines in secure jurisdictions. We examine the current situation and present a possible beneficiary.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 3rd, 2026 | 08:20 CEST
Legacy Assets as a Competitive Advantage: New Paths for Barrick and Rio Tinto – North Arrow Minerals Unlocks a Desert Treasure
There is no innovation without change. Breaking new ground is becoming increasingly important. But in which direction should companies be heading? Geopolitical upheavals, the restructuring of global supply chains, and the AI revolution are colliding with long-standing challenges such as climate change. While industrial companies must invest billions to remain competitive, resource companies are often in a stronger position, as raw materials sit at the very beginning of almost every value chain. Today, we take a look at companies that are consciously breaking new ground and outline the opportunities this may present for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 2nd, 2026 | 07:40 CEST
M&A Window Opens: Newmont Needs Gold, Lahontan Has It – Optimism at Commerzbank
Gold is currently on a roller-coaster ride. But behind the scenes, declining ore grades and challenging regulatory requirements are weighing on the business of major producers. As established mining companies must replenish their reserves, advanced junior mining companies in politically stable mining regions are coming into focus. In times when economic activity is slowing in many economies, and the interest rate market is becoming more volatile, it is also worth taking a look at the banking sector.
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