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 April 24th, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
Gold Heading for Another Record High? Lahontan Gold, Coeur Mining, and Commerzbank's USD 5,000 Forecast
The gold market remains under the influence of the price increases seen at the start of the year and a generally volatile geopolitical situation. According to analyses by the World Gold Council (WGC), global debt has reached levels increasingly viewed as unsustainable, significantly raising the risk of a sovereign debt crisis as a potential "black swan" event in this decade. Given the circumstances, gold remains an anchor of stability. The fiscal policies of many Western nations, particularly the US, face the challenge of rising interest rates despite a massive debt burden. At the same time, significant tensions are emerging in the private credit markets, where companies must also refinance. Leading institutions such as Commerzbank, therefore, expect the gold price to head back toward the USD 5,000 per ounce mark. While this does not represent a significant increase from current levels, it indicates that gold is stabilizing at a high level following its rally. While banks see opportunities in gold, both established producers and emerging explorers are leveraging the current market environment to set the course for the future. We highlight these opportunities.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 23rd, 2026 | 07:35 CEST
Automotive Supply Chain Reset: Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and ESG Leader Power Metallic Mines
The automotive industry is under immense pressure: its supply chains for essential battery raw materials such as nickel, copper, and cobalt urgently need to become independent of Chinese imports. According to reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA), China currently controls around 80% of global production capacity for lithium-ion batteries and as much as 97% of the value chain for anode materials. A one-month supply stoppage would result in losses of over USD 8.5 billion in the European Union alone, according to the agency. While automakers such as Ford are transitioning production at their Cologne plant to all-electric fleets and require secure sources of raw materials in stable jurisdictions to do so, Mercedes-Benz is pursuing a strategy of direct participation in mining projects to ensure compliance with the strict environmental standards of its Ambition 2039 initiative. In this tense market environment, Power Metallic Mines is specifically exploring copper, nickel, and platinum group metal deposits in Canada. The flagship project is the Nisk project in Quebec, which is set to supply the entire range of key metals. By utilizing modern exploration technologies, the company is precisely identifying the resources that are indispensable for the next generation of high-performance batteries and catalysts for the automotive giants.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 22nd, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
At the Heart of Industrial Transformation: HPQ Silicon, Plug Power, and Evonik
Industry increasingly requires advanced materials for the energy and mobility transitions. Both megatrends depend on highly specialized inputs—whether for more powerful batteries, more efficient energy storage, or scalable hydrogen infrastructure. Established chemical companies like Evonik Industries contribute to this development through the production of materials such as pyrogenic silica, which supports thermal stability and performance in modern battery systems. At the same time, hydrogen pioneers like Plug Power are building comprehensive ecosystem solutions. The younger company HPQ Silicon fits into this picture with innovative processes for the low-emission production of nanomaterials and silicon anodes. Through its collaboration with Novacium, HPQ recently reported a milestone: prototype GEN4 battery cells with capacities exceeding 7,000 mAh, significantly outperforming conventional industrial cells. At the same time, the on-demand hydrogen production technology developed by HPQ offers a decentralized alternative to electrolysis infrastructure, such as that offered by Plug Power. Investors should take note: HPQ Silicon is positioning itself at the intersection of specialty chemicals and emerging hydrogen-related applications.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 22nd, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
USD 4.7 billion for 150,000 Abandoned Oil Wells – A Billion-Dollar Market Emerges: Zefiro Methane, Halliburton, and JPMorgan in focus
Cleaning up the legacy of the US oil industry has evolved into a distinct economic sector, driven by government subsidy programs worth billions and the rapidly growing trade in emissions credits. According to analyses by the International Energy Agency (IEA), abandoned wells emit significant amounts of methane—a greenhouse gas that is around 80 times more harmful than CO₂ over a 20-year period. In the US, methane leakage from legacy oil infrastructure can pose environmental and safety risks, including groundwater contamination and localized gas buildup. To address this issue, the US government is allocating nearly USD 4.7 billion through the Infrastructure Act to plug and remediate approximately 150,000 so-called orphan wells. The consulting firm McKinsey estimates that demand for permanent CO₂ removal credits could grow to as much as 100 million tons by 2030. We take a closer look at this emerging sector and highlight a particularly interesting opportunity for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 20th, 2026 | 08:20 CEST
Energy Infrastructure as a Profit Driver: Market Leaders RWE, E.ON, and the Yield Booster RE Royalties
Driven by decarbonization, digitalization, and the extremely high energy demands of data centers for AI applications, electricity is becoming more than ever the most important pillar of the modern world. Current studies underscore the need for the energy industry to rethink its approach. According to the Boston Consulting Group, investments totaling around EUR 860 billion will be required in Germany alone by 2030 to meet climate targets. This amounts to approximately EUR 100 billion per year, nearly half of which is attributable to the energy sector. This massive investment volume clearly shows that the government cannot shoulder these tasks alone and that private capital is essential to achieve these ambitious goals. At the same time, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that global electricity demand will rise by more than 3.5% annually through 2030. The AI boom is primarily responsible for this. Utility companies and renewable energy projects are likely to benefit. Investors in this sector can choose between major utilities like RWE, grid operators like E.ON, or specialized financiers like RE Royalties. Here is an overview.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 20th, 2026 | 08:00 CEST
The Uranium Renaissance: Cameco, Rio Tinto, and the Hidden Gem Stallion Uranium
For several years now, the energy market has been undergoing a transformation known as the second nuclear renaissance. Driven by the rapidly rising demand for electricity for artificial intelligence (AI) and the associated data center infrastructure, as well as climate goals, nuclear power has become an indispensable pillar of the global baseload supply. According to reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear power already reached record levels last year. But nuclear energy requires uranium as fuel. In a market environment characterized by a long-term supply gap, investors are increasingly seeing opportunities at the beginning of the value chain. While established industry giants like Cameco are operating at full capacity in the Canadian Athabasca Basin, more diversified mining groups such as Rio Tinto are once again placing greater emphasis on the strategic importance of uranium. At the same time, the exploration company Stallion Uranium is positioning itself in a promising mining region, offering investors the chance to participate in the new uranium cycle from the very beginning.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 17th, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
The Antimony Crisis: Antimony Resources at the Heart of Western Supply Security – How Lockheed Martin and Rio Tinto Are Responding
Created and published on behalf of Antimony Resources Corp.
Shiny, silvery antimony has become a central element of the Western security architecture. China's export restrictions, which culminated in a targeted export ban on the US in 2024, forced Western supply chains to realign. Securing domestic supplies has thus become imperative, overshadowing short-term cost considerations. While defense giants like Lockheed Martin are desperately searching for reliable sources to maintain production of modern defense systems and mining companies like Rio Tinto are investing in processing capacity, specialized antimony companies are coming into focus. Antimony Resources is advancing the development of the Bald Hill project in New Brunswick, which is considered one of the most significant future antimony sources in North America. The company offers investors direct access to a market where small companies are becoming indispensable partners to industry, presenting significant opportunities for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 17th, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Tungsten in Focus: Almonty's Strategic Position and the Battle for Western Resource Sovereignty – Implications for SpaceX and Sandvik
Wars and the shifting of power blocs are driving major changes across many industries. Technological breakthroughs and visionary ideas are already beginning to take shape. In this context, the element tungsten is becoming increasingly important. With the highest melting point of any metal at 3,422 °C, a density nearly equal to that of gold, and exceptional hardness, this material is largely irreplaceable in metalworking, the defense industry, semiconductor manufacturing, and, more recently, nuclear fusion. For a long time, the global market for tungsten was dominated by China, which controlled over 80% of mine production and nearly 70% of processing capacity. But this era ended abruptly when the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced strict export controls on 25 strategic metals, including tungsten, in February of last year. At the same time, the so-called REEShore Act came into effect in the US, strictly prohibiting the use of Chinese tungsten in military equipment starting in 2027. In its report "Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025," the International Energy Agency (IEA) rightly emphasizes that it is crucial to closely monitor such concentrated supply chains for the sake of global security and defense capabilities.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 16th, 2026 | 07:10 CEST
The Crisis as a Wake-up Call: dynaCERT, Hapag-Lloyd, and Brookfield at the Forefront of Decarbonization
The state of the global economy, caught between wars and an energy price shock, is forcing industry and the logistics sector to take immediate action. As energy prices rise, stricter climate protection regulations are also demanding a shift away from fossil fuels. In this market environment, major shipping companies like Hapag-Lloyd are seeking solutions that take effect immediately to reduce their fleets' fuel consumption without lengthy retrofits. In the aviation sector, too, discussions are already underway about canceling flights or using only modern aircraft with lower fuel consumption. While the economy struggles with these conditions, well-capitalized financial market players like Brookfield Asset Management are investing heavily in the industry's transformation. As a developer of a bridging technology, dynaCERT offers an immediately available retrofit solution for diesel engines with its innovative HydraGEN approach, which directly reduces fuel consumption and improves the emissions balance. Since this business model is perfectly suited to the current times, it is worth taking a detailed look at the industry and the company.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 15th, 2026 | 08:00 CEST
Innovator Combines the Expertise of DroneShield and Dufour Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace as a Fully Integrated Drone Service Provider
The aviation industry is undergoing what is arguably its most radical transformation since the introduction of jet engines: autonomous flight is gaining importance in both the military and civilian sectors. Yet the market is hungry for comprehensive solutions that seamlessly integrate flight operations, specialized hardware, and robust security systems. Leading this development are three companies: Dufour Aerospace, a pioneer in highly efficient tilt-wing aircraft; DroneShield, the market leader in drone defense; and Volatus Aerospace, which is making a name for itself as a strategic systems integrator. Opportunities are emerging for investors. Volatus Aerospace, in particular, stands out by combining the commercial use of drones with security technology, thereby paving the way for scalable, autonomous aviation. Major corporations such as Rheinmetall have also recently invested heavily in drone technology and are likely exploring potential acquisition targets.
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