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 June 17th, 2026 | 06:40 CEST
The Direct Path to High-Purity Silicon: How HPQ Silicon Boosts Efficiency for Companies Like Wacker Chemie and Panasonic
Low-quality anode materials, high energy prices, and the Chinese monopoly on complex processes—the situation surrounding the supply of high-performance battery cells and their raw materials is forcing the industry to take action. To increase the energy density of next-generation electric vehicle batteries, the automotive industry needs to transition from conventional graphite anodes to high-purity silicon anode materials. Graphite systems are reaching their physical limits, while silicon compounds promise a theoretical charge capacity up to 10 times higher. However, since established multi-step synthesis processes are complex and expensive, the focus is shifting toward low-carbon, energy-efficient alternatives. We explain the background and introduce a solution.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 16th, 2026 | 07:40 CEST
Orphaned Oil Wells Turn into Billion-Dollar Market: Chevron and Clean Harbors Under Pressure; Zefiro Methane in Focus
Methane emissions from decommissioned and abandoned oil and gas wells in North America have been drastically underestimated for decades. Scientific studies by McGill University show that actual emissions in Canada are seven times higher than official figures, while in the US they exceed government estimates by about 20%. Since methane has a greenhouse effect approximately 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period, plugging these leaks is a top priority. Through the bipartisan US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), billions in government subsidies are flowing into the remediation of abandoned and orphaned wells. This situation makes it easier for energy companies to act and creates a stable demand environment for specialized environmental service providers. We present a company that is currently fully focused on growth.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 16th, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
The Steel Industry in Flux: How Strategic Resources Is Solving the Problems Facing Rio Tinto and thyssenkrupp
High energy costs, a lack of pipelines, and a sluggish hydrogen ramp-up are slowing down the steel industry's "green" transformation. To replace traditional coal-fired blast furnaces with modern direct reduction plants, steel giants need iron ore with a minimum iron content of 67%. Since these high-purity, pelletizable deposits are few and far between, cutthroat competition is breaking out over stable supply chains. Western steel companies must optimize their supply sources to remain competitive. Pressure from regulators and the market is ever-present.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 15th, 2026 | 07:45 CEST
Lithium Makes a Comeback: Processing Is a Bottleneck for Mercedes-Benz and Siemens Energy – Rock Tech Lithium Breaks the Monopoly
With scarce raw material reserves in the West, a more restrictive trade policy, and China still holding a monopoly on raw material processing, the situation surrounding battery-grade raw materials calls for action. After the price of lithium hit a preliminary low in June 2025, "white gold" saw a robust recovery of around 180% by February 2026, reaching a high of USD 10.48 per pound. The real bottleneck, however, is not extraction, but the chemical refinement into high-purity lithium hydroxide monohydrate for battery applications. Since a comprehensive investigation by the US Department of Commerce now classifies lithium supply security as a matter of national security, the development of resilient domestic processing infrastructure has moved to the forefront of industry priorities. The German-Canadian company Rock Tech Lithium plays a crucial role.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 12th, 2026 | 06:50 CEST
Geostrategic Raw Materials Alliance: Export Controls Hit SpaceX and Rheinmetall – Wall Street Bets on Almonty
Trade barriers, reduced mining quotas, and a US legal import ban on certain critical metals set to take effect in 2027—the West's traditional raw materials supply chains are under pressure. At the heart of the supply bottleneck is tungsten, which, due to its melting point of 3,422 °C, is irreplaceable for modern kinetic military applications and high-temperature-resistant alloys in the aerospace sector. Since alternative, non-Chinese production capacities have so far accounted for less than 10% of global production volume, Western technology companies face a very real supply crisis. Tungsten heavyweight Almonty Industries is stepping into this supply vacuum and, thanks to new production capacities, is emerging as a key player and de facto monopolist.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 12th, 2026 | 06:40 CEST
Gold Sector in M&A Frenzy: Dwindling Reserves Drive B2Gold and Orezone – Hidden Gem: Desert Gold
Dwindling mineral reserves in low-risk regions, stagnating discovery rates, and increasingly complex permitting processes—the situation in the gold mining sector is forcing leading producers to act. Since developing new large-scale greenfield projects is associated with sharply rising costs, industry giants are increasingly shifting their focus to acquiring projects already at an advanced stage. According to surveys by the industry portal MiningBeacon, the gold sector accounted for over 40% of the total mining transaction volume in the first five months of 2026 alone, amounting to deals worth USD 41 billion. West African shear trends and established mining regions are therefore becoming target areas for resource-hungry corporations that need to utilize their processing capacities to full capacity.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 11th, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
Autonomous Warfare: AeroVironment and Palantir Challenged – Analysts Give Volatus Aerospace the Thumbs-Up
The war on the front lines in Ukraine has changed significantly. Large-scale coordinated drone swarms are becoming increasingly rare, as local jammers block bandwidth and slow down Starlink. The result: drones no longer function or make errors. Ukraine's defence strategy is thus forcing a shift from purely cloud-based systems to decentralized architectures with local computing power directly in the drone. Defence contractors and the military must implement these innovations quickly and remain agile. We explain which companies are perfectly positioned for this.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 11th, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Secure Supply Chains for BASF and Others: Antimony Shortage Threatens Production – Antimony Resources Follows Lynas Rare Earths' Lead
Created and published on behalf of Antimony Resources Corp.
Escalating trade wars, a global supply shortage, and historic price shocks – the market for critical industrial metals is undergoing a profound transformation. Following extensive export restrictions by the People's Republic of China and a complete export ban to the US at the end of 2024, antimony prices outside China skyrocketed to an all-time high of USD 59,750 per ton. The severe imbalance between Western demand and available supply outside China led to significant supply bottlenecks in 2025—Fastmarkets recorded the sharpest price rally in the history of the antimony market that year. Since authoritarian states control around 80% of global mine production, the Western high-tech and defence industries face a potentially existential supply risk for electronic components and industrial fire-retardant applications. We explain the situation and present a potential solution.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 10th, 2026 | 08:25 CEST
Dividend Strategies Put to the Test: Margin Pressure at McDonald's and Johnson & Johnson – RE Royalties Shows Resilience in a Crisis
Global capital markets are undergoing a significant transformation. What generated returns yesterday may already be risky today. For decades, established consumer goods brands and research-intensive pharmaceutical companies were considered the robust cornerstones of dividend strategies. But this paradigm is coming under increasing pressure. Rising operating costs, regulatory interventions, and the relentless cycle of patent expirations are challenging even the most resilient market leaders. In this market environment, alternative financing models with an asset-light approach are gaining importance. Natural energy sources such as wind and solar power offer the opportunity for stable, recurring, and above all inflation-protected revenue streams through innovative royalty structures. That is exactly what investors are looking for right now. We provide an overview.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 10th, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
Raw Materials Are Everything: Thomson Reuters and Glencore Face Rising Pressure – Aspermont Provides Critical Data
Competition for critical metals is intensifying. Many industrial companies now have to familiarize themselves with topics that were taken for granted just a few years ago. This creates an enormous demand for industry information and data. As easily accessible reserves in stable regions dwindle, exploration is increasingly shifting to politically and geologically more complex regions. In this market environment, reliable industry information and precise risk analyses determine investments worth billions. Exclusive access to this valuable data is thus becoming a critical resource in its own right. We examine the market for commodities data and explain why it is a growth sector.
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