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 January 14th, 2026 | 07:20 CET
Targeting cancer metabolism: Why Bayer and Pfizer are restructuring - and why Vidac Pharma is filling a scientific gap
The investment year 2026 marks a decisive turning point for the global biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector. After a period of macroeconomic uncertainty, we are witnessing a renaissance in the life sciences, driven by two fundamental forces: the urgent need for big pharma players to replace their expiring patents with innovation, and the scientific breakthrough of novel mechanisms of action in agile biotech small caps. While industry giants such as Pfizer and Bayer are attempting to steer their cumbersome tankers onto a new course through massive restructuring, the as-yet little-noticed biotech company Vidac Pharma is delivering the technological innovation the market is looking for. With an approach that directly addresses cancer metabolism and reverses the "Warburg effect," which has been known for almost a century, Vidac is positioning itself as a disruptive force in oncology and dermatology. For investors, this constellation offers a rare opportunity: to observe the stability of the giants while betting on the explosive potential of a technological innovator that analysts say is massively undervalued.
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 14th, 2026 | 07:05 CET
Between euphoria and industrial realism: How Linde, Hapag-Lloyd, and dynaCERT are defining the new reality of the hydrogen economy
We are witnessing a decisive turning point in the global hydrogen economy: The phase of speculative euphoria that characterized the beginning of the decade has given way to a phase of industrial realism and technocratic implementation. In investor circles and industry analyses, the term "mean reversion" has become established – a return to reality, away from unrealistic hyper-growth scenarios and toward physically feasible projects. According to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Global Hydrogen Review 2025, the hydrogen sector continues to grow steadily and reached demand of nearly 100 million tons in 2024, but the structure of this growth is more complex than previously forecast. In this new environment, where regulatory interventions such as FuelEU Maritime and emissions trading (EU ETS) set the pace, three distinct winner profiles are emerging: infrastructure giant Linde, logistics heavyweight Hapag-Lloyd, and technology bridge builder dynaCERT, which occupies a highly compelling niche.
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 13th, 2026 | 07:10 CET
Gold records, Sibanye Stillwater, Equinox: Why the USD 5,000 scenario is becoming reality, and Africa is turning into a jackpot for AJN Resources
January 12, 2026, marks a psychological turning point in financial history. With the Handelsblatt article discussing a potential rise in the price of gold to USD 5,000 per ounce, a scenario that was long considered the domain of apocalyptic optimists has entered the mainstream. But unlike previous cycles, this price increase is not only driven by fear, but by a fundamental realignment of the global monetary architecture and an unprecedented supply shortage. We are in a phase that Goldman Sachs, according to its analyses, describes as the "perfect storm": a mixture of geopolitical fragmentation, an aggressive interest rate turnaround, and structural underinvestment in new mines. While the price of gold already climbed to all-time highs of over USD 3,600 in 2025, indicators for 2026 point to an acceleration. In this environment, a continent that has long been neglected is coming into focus: Africa. While established producers such as Sibanye Stillwater and Equinox Gold are consolidating their positions, explorer AJN Resources offers the leverage that risk-tolerant investors are looking for in the early stages, thanks to its unique structure in Congo and Ethiopia.
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 13th, 2026 | 07:00 CET
When the machines grind to a halt: Why Sandvik is trembling, and Almonty Industries is becoming a billion-dollar bet like MP Materials
The 2026 stock market year begins with a realization that is causing industrial producers worldwide to break out in a cold sweat: tungsten, one of the hardest and most heat-resistant metals, is sold out. What began with rare earths last year is now continuing with brutal severity for the material without which no armored steel can be hardened, no smartphone can vibrate, and - most importantly for the global economy - no industrial cutting tools can function. In this tense situation, Swedish industrial giant Sandvik is acting as the "canary in the coal mine" – the Company is signaling the situation on the tungsten market before all other market participants. Sweden's dependence on tungsten carbide is comprehensive. But while the industry struggles for security of supply, savvy investors are recognizing a historical parallel: the situation is the same as the rise of MP Materials in the rare earths sector. Almonty Industries, which owns the largest tungsten mine outside China, still trades at a fraction of MP Materials' valuation. Yet the Company is poised to become the West's tungsten monopolist.
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 12th, 2026 | 07:15 CET
The USD 200 billion poker game: Why a merger between Glencore and Rio Tinto could pave the way for Pasinex Resources
The 2026 stock market year began with a rumor that could shake the foundations of the global commodities industry. In trading rooms from London to Toronto, there were increasing signs that industry giants Rio Tinto and Glencore were once again considering a merger. It would be a historic mega-merger, creating a hegemony with an estimated value of USD 200 billion. Initial exploratory talks between the two companies have now been confirmed. But while analysts are still discussing the antitrust hurdles, the "smart money" is already looking to the second tier. After all, such a mega-merger would have one primary goal: absolute control over the critical metals of the energy transition, above all, copper and zinc. In the shadow of these giants, flexible, high-grade players such as Pasinex Resources are emerging as the real winners, as they deliver precisely the agility and production quality that the cumbersome large corporations lack.
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 12th, 2026 | 07:05 CET
USD 16 trillion in transition: How Finexity is rewriting the rules of Wall Street alongside Deutsche Bank and Bank of America
2025 marked a historic turning point for global capital markets. What was long considered a futuristic experiment is now a harsh economic reality: the tokenization of assets, known in technical jargon as "real world assets" (RWA), is breaking down the entrenched structures of the old economy. According to recent studies by leading consulting firms such as the Boston Consulting Group, this market is heading for a gigantic volume of USD 16 trillion by 2030. Two worlds are colliding in this new ecosystem. On the one hand, there are the established top dogs such as Deutsche Bank and Bank of America, which are posting record results and using blockchain to become even more profitable. On the other hand, Finexity AG, a German disruptor, is challenging the status quo. Since its IPO in September 2025, it has been proving that the future belongs not to the management but to the democratization of wealth. For investors, the question arises: Should they bet on the gentle evolution of the giants or on the radical innovation of the challenger?
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 9th, 2026 | 07:15 CET
Nuclear comeback: How AI is revitalizing the sector and American Atomics is becoming a key player alongside General Electric and Siemens
The year is 2026, and global energy markets are evolving rapidly. The narrative of nuclear power as a thing of the past is history – CO2 neutrality and energy security increasingly depend on reliable base-load generation. Driving this change is the rapidly growing energy demand of artificial intelligence. Hyperscalers and data centers require stable, 24/7 power that wind and solar alone cannot guarantee. In this new nuclear era, technology giants such as General Electric and Siemens are central as they build the reactors and grids of the future. However, the most attractive niche may lie at the start of the value chain: American Atomics is addressing uranium supply challenges with new technologies and secure US locations.
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 9th, 2026 | 07:00 CET
Silver shock 2026: Why JinkoSolar and AMD are buying up the market, and Silver Viper Minerals is becoming a key strategic stock
It is January 2026, and global commodity markets are experiencing a tectonic shift that has surprised even seasoned market observers. Silver, long derided as gold's sedate little brother, has thrown off its historical shackles. After an unprecedented price explosion of 147% in 2025, the precious metal is now trading at over USD 74 per ounce. But unlike in previous cycles, this rise is not primarily driven by speculation, but is based on physical scarcity. Industry, led by solar giants and the AI hardware sector, is sucking the market dry. In an environment where companies such as JinkoSolar and AMD are fighting for every gram of conductive material, explorers such as Silver Viper Minerals are moving into the spotlight. They possess what the global economy is desperately seeking: new, high-grade deposits in secure jurisdictions.
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 8th, 2026 | 07:25 CET
Defense in a stranglehold: Why Lockheed and Boeing are grounded without antimony - and Antimony Resources holds the strategic solution
It is a chemical element with the atomic number 51 that has long led a shadowy existence on the world's stock exchanges, but whose strategic importance is now keeping security policymakers at the Pentagon awake at night: antimony. What sounds like a footnote in the periodic table is, in reality, the invisible glue holding together the modern defense and aviation industries. But this glue is becoming scarce. China, which dominates the global market with a share of more than 50% in production and nearly 80% in processing capacity, has begun to tighten the reins on exports. Trade barriers and opaque export restrictions are fueling real fears of a supply stoppage. In this high-risk geopolitical scenario, giants such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing are finding themselves in a bind, while small Western explorers such as Antimony Resources are suddenly becoming owners of assets that could prove indispensable to the national security of NATO countries.
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 8th, 2026 | 07:10 CET
Gold rush without toxins: Why Newmont and Equinox are under pressure, and RZOLV Technologies could become the key stock of the new super cycle
Gold is back on the big stage. Driven by geopolitical hot spots, structural weakness in the US dollar, and the insatiable appetite of central banks, the precious metal is racing from one all-time high to the next. But while prices are rising, the situation for mine operators is deteriorating: dependence on highly toxic cyanide is becoming more and more of a problem. Environmental regulations are becoming stricter, approval procedures are dragging on for decades, and social resistance is blocking billion-dollar projects. The technology company RZOLV Technologies is positioning itself in this area of tension between record prices and ecological dead ends. While industry giants such as Newmont and Equinox Gold are looking for ways to secure their production in a sustainable manner, RZOLV is providing the long-awaited technological answer: gold extraction that does not require any toxic chemicals and thus has the potential to reshuffle the cards in global mining.
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