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Three Points a Jurisdiction Must Meet Before You Invest: Charlie Brookes

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The Gold Report: What approach has Praetorian Resources Ltd. (PRAE:LSE) taken toward resource equities at this point?

Charlie Brooks: Praetorian Resources is focusing its attention on scalable and quality assets run by experienced management teams and wherever possible is trying to reduce its exposure to high levels of financing risk.

TGR: Can you explain what Praetorian is?

CB: Praetorian Resources operates exactly like a fund but is actually structured as an investment holding company. We hold 15 investments at the moment, a variety of junior resource companies. Polar Star Mining Corp. (PSR:TSX.V) and Maya Gold Silver Inc. (MYA:TSX.V) are significant investments for us. We also like A-Cap Resources Ltd. (ACB:ASX), which is a Botswana coal and uranium company.

TGR: Why does Praetorian have two tickers on the website? Continue reading "Three Points a Jurisdiction Must Meet Before You Invest: Charlie Brookes" →

Oil and Gas Volatility Creates Winners and Losers: Robert Cooper

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The Energy Report: It's been about one year since we last spoke, Robert. What do you think have been the most significant developments in the North American oil and gas industry since then?

Robert Cooper: It's a dynamic business, and a number of changes have occurred. First, the macroeconomic backdrop remains murky, resulting in persistent volatility in equity and commodity markets. Investors remain wary of putting on riskier trades because the visibility simply isn't there. The fear that some Monday morning we'll wake up with a negative surprise is inhibiting risk taking and impacting small-cap growth equities, particularly.

"The winners tend to be experienced managers with proven track records."

Second, the rapid increase in U.S. oil production has negatively impacted Canadian producer net-backs. The spread between Canadian light oil prices and the U.S. equivalent has been much more volatile than historical rates. The lack of pipeline capacity has exacerbated this trend and given rise to alternative methods of transportation, such as oil-by-rail. But overall, the "differential risk" has been added to the list of risk factors investors assume when investing in the oil and gas sector.

Finally, the natural gas market, after a period of massive oversupply, has, in our view, self-corrected and appears to have returned to balance. Continue reading "Oil and Gas Volatility Creates Winners and Losers: Robert Cooper" →

Why Copper Is a Critical Metal: Mickey Fulp

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The Critical Metals Report: In the past, there has been some confusion about the term "critical metals." What do you consider to be critical metals and why?

Mickey Fulp: Critical metals are the major metals that are used globally in industrial applications and are essential for world economic health. They include iron, aluminum, copper, the various iron alloys, zinc, lead, tin and uranium. These are the real "critical metals," the ones that enable the world's economy to function.

TCMR: So your classification of a critical metal is based on the need and the supply and demand, is that correct?

"Critical metals are the major metals that are used globally in industrial applications and are essential for world economic health."

MF: It's based on the fact that they have major tonnages mined and processed and are essential to industry and world economic health. Critical metals either trade on worldwide markets through spot, futures and options or they trade as bulk dry commodities, as iron ore does. Continue reading "Why Copper Is a Critical Metal: Mickey Fulp" →

Christopher Welch: Searching for a Perfect 10

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The Gold Report: Chris, the lifeblood of your business is financing. What's your read on the appetite for junior financings compared to earlier this year?

Christopher Welch: The appetite for high-quality projects in the mining space is basically the same as it was in early 2012. However, in the current environment, where share prices are a bit depressed, it's getting harder to match investors with companies at share prices that are acceptable to both parties.

Aureus Mining Inc. (AUE:TSX; AUE:LSE) is conducting a big fundraising for its New Liberty mine in Liberia, which is positive news demonstrating there are green shoots in the equity space for West African gold, which is encouraging. We're optimistic that there will be more deals done in the near term.

TGR: There's been some instability in Mali, which stemmed from instability in Libya in part, and now there's growing religious tension in Nigeria. Does West Africa remain as stable as you once believed it was? Continue reading "Christopher Welch: Searching for a Perfect 10" →

Perched on the Knife's Edge with Jay Taylor

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The Gold Report: Jay, what investment themes are you focusing on in your newsletter?

Jay Taylor: I focus a lot on the huge credit deflation that the markets are demanding. Debt has become so large that it cannot be serviced with the amount of income available. The so-called solution requires the creation of more debt money. In a fiat currency system, money is debt.

At some point, total debt levels have to be wound down to levels akin to the normal levels of the past when total debt to GDP in the U.S. ranged between 175% and 225%. Following Lehman Brothers it grew to over 360%! These debt levels simply cannot be repaid from current income steams even with zero interest rates. Those debt levels are leading to tension in the banking system that bodes very well for gold because people are starting to lose confidence in the banking system and in the fiat monetary system itself. As long as credit deflation remains intact, it will be a very bullish environment for gold and gold mining stocks. Continue reading "Perched on the Knife's Edge with Jay Taylor" →