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 March 25th, 2026 | 07:25 CET
Copper and PGMs as Strategic Bottlenecks: Is Power Metallic Mines Coming into Focus for Rio Tinto, Lundin Mining, and Others?
The energy transition and the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure have ushered in a new era in the commodities sector. Copper and platinum group metals (PGMs) have become increasingly expensive. The copper market hit a record high of over USD 14,500/t in January of this year. The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns of a significant supply deficit that could reach about 30% of demand by 2035. While capital expenditures in the sector remain well below their peak, demand is exploding due to artificial intelligence (AI) and new data centers. Industry giants such as Rio Tinto are positioning themselves through capital-intensive large-scale projects, while Lundin Mining is investing billions to scale up production in South America. For investors, however, the focus is increasingly shifting toward the quality and jurisdiction of new discoveries. This is where Power Metallic Mines comes into the spotlight: the explorer has identified a polymetallic system in the Canadian province of Québec that significantly exceeds the average grades of major producers, making the company a highly attractive takeover candidate.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 24th, 2026 | 07:15 CET
Energy Crisis Escalates: A.H.T. Syngas Comes to the Rescue of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses – Haffner and Vow Position Themselves
The escalation of the war in the Middle East and the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are putting energy supply chains and the raw materials they depend on to the test. Since approximately 20% of global LNG trade flows through the strait, European natural gas prices have skyrocketed to record levels. The Dutch TTF benchmark reached a level of over EUR 90 per MWh in early March - a threefold increase within a few days that threatens the upturn in the manufacturing sector. In this market environment, the spotlight is turning to companies that offer immediately available, decentralized solutions for energy self-sufficiency. While many corporations are still stuck in long-term planning for a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure, players like Haffner Energy and Vow are driving niche solutions for heavy industry and logistics. For medium-sized industrial companies, however, A.H.T. Syngas Technology offers a promising solution. Investors should recognize the dependence on global supply chains and bet on companies that are smartly tackling high energy costs.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 23rd, 2026 | 07:35 CET
Silver Shortage Drives the Market: Why Silver Viper Is Significantly More Dynamic Than Fresnillo and Pan American Silver
The silver market is currently reaching its capacity limits. A supply deficit that has persisted for six years, totaling 820 million ounces by the start of this year, is being met with record demand. Key drivers include photovoltaics, electric mobility, and the rapid expansion of data infrastructure. Solar energy alone consumed around 448 million ounces in the first half of 2025, as new cell types require more silver. This drove the price above USD 100 per troy ounce. Against this backdrop, market leaders such as Fresnillo and Pan American Silver must replace their dwindling reserves in established mining regions like Mexico with high-quality resources. This hunger for resources directly impacts companies at the beginning of the value chain. Agile explorers controlling projects in close proximity to existing infrastructure are coming into focus. One such example is Silver Viper Minerals, which is strategically positioned within the Mexican silver sector through its acquisition of the Coneto project and the involvement of Fresnillo as a key shareholder. We highlight the opportunities for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 20th, 2026 | 08:25 CET
Decarbonization of Heavy Industry: Challenges for thyssenkrupp and BASF – CHAR Technologies as a Solution Provider
Heavy industry faces technological hurdles in the race to meet climate targets. The full implementation of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in January of this year is exacerbating the economic conditions. Decarbonizing the steel and chemical industries is proving complex, as these sectors require carbon not only as an energy source but also as an essential reducing agent and raw material. While European corporations like thyssenkrupp are focusing on hydrogen-based direct reduction plants, dependence on coke in existing blast furnaces persists. BASF is simultaneously advancing chemical recycling through pyrolysis oils, but faces scaling hurdles. This bottleneck brings the beginning of the recycling chain into focus: without the massive use of biochar as a substitute for metallurgical coal, the goals can hardly be achieved. CHAR Technologies is closing this supply gap with its high-temperature pyrolysis technology, has secured ArcelorMittal as an investor, and is positioning itself as a supplier to industry.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 20th, 2026 | 08:15 CET
Defense Boom on Shaky Ground: Antimony Resources Reaps the Benefits, Risks at RTX and Olin
The defense industry is celebrating record orders, but supply chains for key raw materials reveal a structural weakness: the current defense boom is thus built on shaky ground. One example is the availability of the semimetal antimony. The US Geological Survey classifies antimony as a critical raw material, as there are no alternatives for its applications in modern defense technology. China controls an estimated 60 to 70% of global primary production and has recently dominated downstream processing through strict export controls on dual-use goods. This geopolitical instrumentalization of the raw material led to a price rally in which, according to media reports, antimony rose from USD 13,500 per ton in April 2024 to nearly USD 60,000 per ton at times. Rising prices are forcing the West to shift its focus to the beginning of the supply chain. Investors should shift their attention from the defense industry's multi-billion-dollar order books to securing raw materials, as the industry's giants depend on the development of secure North American deposits. This is where the still-small but promising company Antimony Resources comes into play.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 19th, 2026 | 07:45 CET
Modern Warfare: Can Volatus Aerospace Compete with Industry Leaders Rheinmetall and DroneShield?
The defense industry has been booming for years - that is hardly news anymore. In 2025, global defense spending reached USD 2.63 trillion. In their latest studies, analysts at Forecast International predict that this annual spending will rise slightly by the end of 2026 and reach USD 2.9 trillion by the end of the decade. At the NATO summit in The Hague in 2025, the Allies committed to increasing their defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product by 2035, with 1.5% specifically earmarked for innovation. In a report, McKinsey highlights the shift from platform-centric hardware toward software-defined warfare and cost-effective, replaceable mass-produced systems. While industry giants like Rheinmetall still rely heavily on traditional defense equipment, DroneShield is addressing the growing niche of drone defense. Volatus Aerospace is leveraging its long-standing civilian expertise with drones and is coming into focus as a supplier to NATO forces.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 18th, 2026 | 07:35 CET
Consolidation in the Gold Sector: Solid Returns with Newmont and Barrick – Top Opportunity Lahontan Gold
The gold market has entered a new phase in recent months. With gold prices stabilizing above the USD 5,000 per ounce mark and occasionally reaching peaks of up to USD 6,300, the environment for commodity investments has fundamentally changed. Top-tier jurisdictions have become an absolute necessity for investors and mining companies alike, especially given the current geopolitical landscape. Nevada, which has taken the top spot globally in the Fraser Institute's Investment Attractiveness Index, is considered the premier destination for investors. While Newmont and Barrick Mining dominate operational production by volume through their Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, Lahontan Gold is increasingly coming into focus amid a wave of consolidation. As established mining operators face declining ore grades, Lahontan offers an ideal combination of infrastructure maturity and exploration leverage with its Santa Fe project. A closer look at the business models shows how these companies are positioning themselves to benefit from the current market cycle.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 18th, 2026 | 07:25 CET
Focus on Copper and PGMs: A Solid Foundation with Ivanhoe and Sibanye – Analyst Favorite Power Metallic Mines
Decarbonization and AI-driven digital infrastructure are driving demand for platinum group metals (PGMs) and copper. Modern data centers use approximately 27 metric tons of copper per megawatt of installed capacity. According to S&P Global, a global supply shortfall of 10 million metric tons of copper is looming by 2040. In this environment, industry giants such as Ivanhoe Mines and Sibanye-Stillwater are benefiting from their massive production capacities and supplying the industry. For investors seeking exceptional returns, however, the Canadian explorer Power Metallic Mines is coming into focus. The company is exploring a polymetallic system in Québec that, according to a detailed analysis by GBC Research, is likely to undergo a significant revaluation. Using examples of major producers, we explain why Power Metallic is active in an attractive sector and what opportunities the stock offers.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 17th, 2026 | 08:00 CET
AI and Nuclear Power: Solid Returns with Meta and Intel – High-Flying Opportunity: Standard Uranium
Future economic growth will depend heavily on the availability of reliable, low-carbon baseload power. The high energy demands of technology companies driven by AI innovations are contributing to a renewed interest in nuclear power. The reasons go far beyond previous environmental visions. As studies by McKinsey and PwC show, the AI industry is growing by 15 to 20% annually through 2030. To avoid falling behind, companies like Meta and Intel are investing billions in a completely new AI infrastructure. Through partnerships with players like Oklo and TerraPower, Meta is driving the development of a 6.6 GW nuclear campus to operate its AI superclusters in a climate-neutral manner. Intel is focusing on optimizing energy efficiency directly at the chip level, as the power consumption of modern racks has risen to up to 120 kW. To satisfy the hunger for nuclear fuel, Standard Uranium is driving the search for tomorrow's safe deposits forward with its ambitious winter drilling program. For investors, the current trend offers opportunities - we show where the greatest leverage lies.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 17th, 2026 | 06:50 CET
Energy for the AI Era: The Outlook for RE Royalties, Clearway Energy, and RWE
The financing of energy projects is becoming increasingly important due to crises and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), energy consumption by data centers could rise to 945 TWh by 2030, while McKinsey expects investments of nearly seven trillion USD in US infrastructure. This is also forcing industry to accelerate the expansion of electricity generation capacity. Three companies have positioned themselves in this dynamic landscape. While RWE is betting big on renewable energy through global investments in offshore wind farms, Clearway Energy focuses on operating wind and solar farms in the US. Clearway secures reliable cash flows through contracts with global corporations. The Canadian company RE Royalties, on the other hand, acts as a financing partner that benefits from the expansion of energy infrastructure while avoiding the operational risks of a direct plant operator. The fact that all of the companies mentioned are thriving in the current environment is underscored by the Inflation Reduction Act in the US and the latest market reforms in the EU. Reason enough to take a closer look at the market from an investor's perspective.
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