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 September 30th, 2026 | 07:40 CEST
Copper Rally Nears Record Highs: What Production Shortfalls at Freeport-McMoRan and Ivanhoe Mines Mean for Explorers Like Power Metallic
The world relies on copper to keep running. Whether it is artificial intelligence, massive data centres, or military equipment, demand is rising across key sectors. According to a recent study by S&P Global, the market is heading toward an annual deficit of 10 million metric tons by 2040. While commodity exchange prices are hitting new record highs and US tariff threats are depleting physical inventories, supply chains are revealing fundamental weaknesses. A strategic realignment of the mining industry seems inevitable. We examine the current situation and key players.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 30th, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
West Africa's Gold Rush: How Desert Gold Is Forging Its Own Path Alongside Barrick Mining and B2Gold in Mali
The price of gold keeps hitting new record highs, yet a state of emergency continues to prevail in key mining regions such as West Africa. While the precious metal promises high margins on the global market, established mining companies in Mali increasingly face government crackdowns. Although these developments are not halting day-to-day operations, they do require strong negotiating skills from the major producers. It is precisely in this operational environment that agile Africa experts are positioning themselves with smart strategies. We shine a spotlight on Barrick, B2Gold and Desert Gold.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 29th, 2026 | 07:35 CEST
Daimler Truck, Deutz and dynaCERT: Retrofit Technology as a Bridge Solution
Anyone who travels on German highways every morning can immediately see how important trucks are to our daily lives. Truck drivers keep the economy moving. Yet at first glance, it is not obvious that the logistics industry is caught in a conflict of priorities: calls for greater climate protection are running up against the high costs of the transport business. Zero-emission trucks are expensive, while the necessary infrastructure is still largely lacking, forcing transport companies to find pragmatic interim solutions. This opens up opportunities for agile companies and forward-thinking investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 29th, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
Nevada Reshuffles: Barrick, Newmont and SSR Mining Pursue New Projects – Phenom Resources in the Middle of It
Gold is more relevant than ever. Persistent geopolitical risks and inflation concerns are driving investors increasingly toward the traditional safe haven. After a record high above USD 5,500 in January, the price of an ounce of gold traded around USD 4,150 at the end of September despite the recent correction, still firmly at historically elevated levels. For established producers in the US state of Nevada, this price environment is generating substantial cash flows, while operating costs for ongoing mining operations are also rising. This is forcing major mining companies to rethink their strategies and is creating new opportunities for agile exploration companies operating in the same region.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 29th, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Operation Vivaldi Is Changing the Nature of Warfare: First Hydrogen Follows Ukraine's Lead and Joins the Arms Race
Modern warfare is changing every week. This is exemplified on the battlefields of Ukraine, where, in recent weeks as part of Operation Vivaldi, heavy drones have deployed remote-controlled kamikaze ground robots more than 10 km behind enemy lines. The processes behind this latest Ukrainian offensive are compressing conventional innovation cycles from years to weeks and days, rewriting the rules of the game for the defence industry. Amid this arms race, significant opportunities are opening up for technology companies that approach innovation with the same drive as Ukraine's startups and its units on the front lines. Those that deliver highly flexible, comprehensive solutions from a single source are likely to lead the drone market of the future. We take a closer look at the latest developments at First Hydrogen.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 25th, 2026 | 07:50 CEST
Breakthroughs in Skin Cancer Treatment: New Approaches from Biofrontera and Moderna – Vidac Pharma Faces a Busy Fall
For a long time, the treatment of skin cancer and its precancerous stages resembled a makeshift compromise: Doctors used scalpels, froze affected areas, or prescribed aggressive creams that destroyed tissue. It was not uncommon for patients to suffer pain and weeks of delayed wound healing. But a completely new dynamic is currently emerging in the sector. Suddenly, innovations involving light beams, messenger RNA (mRNA), and the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells are making headlines. We present the latest developments in skin cancer and its precancerous stages. The race for innovation has only just begun.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 25th, 2026 | 07:40 CEST
Drone Warfare Reshuffles the Deck: Rheinmetall Struggles, DroneShield Reinvents Itself and Volatus Aerospace Passes the First Blind Flight
A switch is flipped, and suddenly drones that were once feared lose their bearings. On battlefields around the world, a simple frequency jamming is often enough to disable the GPS navigation systems widely used in drones completely. This situation is forcing the entire drone industry to rethink its approach and is opening up new opportunities. Those who can navigate reliably despite jammers are prepared for the future. We present the latest developments at Rheinmetall, DroneShield and Volatus Aerospace.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 25th, 2026 | 06:55 CEST
Germany: A Quantum Champion? How Aqarios Quantum Technologies Is Winning Over BASF, E.ON and IBM – Innovations at Quantum eMotion and Amazon
The world is becoming increasingly complex — a statement few would disagree with. Take a closer look at the inner workings of logistics, manufacturing or even data centres, and the complexity becomes even more apparent. The reason is simple: ever-increasing amounts of data. Traditional computers are reaching their limits in the face of this new reality. But a solution exists: quantum computing. Quantum technology is moving from universities into real-world applications. Quantum computing is evolving from a research topic into a tool for creating greater value. While tech giants like Amazon and Nvidia are thinking far into the future, specialized software pioneers are already demonstrating today how complex business processes can be drastically accelerated. The good news: A promising quantum pioneer hails from Germany and has been trading on the stock market for some time as the only German "pure-play" quantum stock.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 22nd, 2026 | 07:40 CEST
Climate Protection as a Source of Returns: Companies Like BP Face Demand, Halliburton Hesitates and Zefiro Steps In
Created and Published on Behalf of Zefiro Methane Corp.
Forests, farms and abandoned industrial sites across the US may seem idyllic, but they often share a barely visible problem: an odourless gas is escaping from the ground that warms the climate many times more powerfully than carbon dioxide. Countless orphaned wells are left to rust away because the companies that once operated them have long since gone bankrupt. State authorities are now taking action, requiring those responsible to clean up these environmental liabilities. While companies struggle under these regulatory requirements, well-plugging specialist Zefiro Methane is turning environmental risks into tangible opportunities for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on September 22nd, 2026 | 07:05 CEST
Tungsten Shortage: Almonty Secures Sandvik Deal – New US Defense Rules Raise Pressure on Lockheed & Co.
In extreme operating conditions, cutting-edge technology relies on materials that push the boundaries of physics. Whether in ammunition, engines, or milling heads that machine titanium blocks for stealth jets—there is no getting around tungsten. With the highest melting point of any pure metal and an enormous density, the element is considered indispensable for industry and the defence sector. Yet, of all things, the West is almost left high and dry when it comes to this key component. Beijing controls over three-quarters of global production and also dominates downstream processing. However, price spikes and stricter trade rules are now shaking the industry awake. At the centre of it all is the US tungsten specialist Almonty Industries.
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