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Empire Metals Limited Announces Interim Results

Empire Metals Limited (LON:EEE)(OTCQX:EPMLF), the resource exploration and development company, is pleased to announce its interim results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2025.

Highlights:

  • Pitfield confirmed as the world’s most significant new titanium discovery, with unparalled scale, consistency of high-grade and purity.
  • Largest drilling campaign to date launched at the Thomas Prospect delivered outstanding results and identified a large high-grade near-surface core, averaging ~6% TiO₂ over a continuous 3.6km strike.
  • Metallurgical testwork achieved a 99.25% TiO₂ product, demonstrating a highly efficient and potentially lower-cost processing route.
  • Process development work has confirmed that Pitfield’s weathered ore is ideally suited to conventional mineral separation and refining, differentiating it from ilmenite-based projects which typically face lower recoveries, higher costs, and significant environmental challenges.
  • Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (‘MRE’) on track for release in the coming weeks.
  • £4.5m raised in May 2025 to accelerate Pitfield development, with strong institutional support.
  • Further strengthening of board and technicial team with appointment of Phil Brumit as Non-Executive Director, Alan Rubio as Study Manager and Pocholo Aviso as Hydro-metallurgist.
  • Commenced US trading on the OTCQX in the US, broadening international investor access.

Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, commented:‘The first half of 2025 has been a period of remarkable activity and momentum for Empire. Pitfield is no longer just a discovery story – it is fast becoming recognised as a project of global importance, with results that continue to exceed expectations. Our drilling campaigns have delivered some of the highest TiO₂ grades we’ve seen to date, confirming not only the exceptional quality of the deposit but also its scale consistency and simplicity.

‘Metallurgical testwork has shown that we can achieve a product of extraordinary purity using straightforward, conventional processing methods.This rare combination of scale, grade and simplicity underpins our confidence that Pitfield can emerge as one of the world’s leading titanium projects, capable of supplying high-value sectors such as aerospace and defence for decades to come.

‘From an operational standpoint, we are now on the cusp of delivering our maiden MRE, which we believe will firmly establish Pitfield among the world’s leading titanium assets. Beyond that, the pathway is clear: complete our expanded testwork, progress to pilot-scale operations, and begin engaging directly with end-users – particularly in high-value markets such as aerospace and defence, where titanium’s strategic importance is growing rapidly.

‘It is also encouraging to see the strength of market support for what we are building and I am confident that Empire can bring this once-in-a-lifetime discovery to commercial fruition in an expedient manner. With a world-class asset, a strengthened technical team, and strong financial backing, we are exceptionally well positioned for the next phase of growth.’

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, as incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, until the release of this announcement.

For further information please visit www.empiremetals.com or contact:

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

The progress we have made during 2025 at our flagship Pitfield Project in Western Australia has been nothing short of transformational, positioning the Company at the forefront of what we believe is the most significant titanium discovery globally. This represents a generational opportunity rapidly moving from exploration success toward commercial reality.

Over the past six months, our team has demonstrated not only technical excellence but also the ability to deliver results that have redefined the perception of the Company in the market. We have moved from exploration to successfully establishing Pitfield’s potential to support long-term, large-scale, and high-value titanium supply. This achievement is reflected in the strong support we continue to receive from institutional investors, with £4.5 million raised in May 2025, and in the remarkable performance of our share price, which has risen more than 500% since the beginning of the year in response to a series of consequential milestone achievements.

What sets Pitfield apart is not just its extraordinary scale, but the exceptional quality of its titanium mineralisation. Unlike many other titanium projects around the world, Pitfield benefits from high-grade mineralisation from surface which has been proven to be of exceptional purity, being very low in deleterious contaminants but also amenable to simple, conventional mining methods due to its unique geological profile. Equally important, our metallurgical work has confirmed that simple, conventional processing can deliver an exceptionally pure titanium dioxide product, grading 99.25% TiO₂.

This combination of scale, grade, purity, and processing simplicity puts Pitfield in a league of its own. The Project is also located in Western Australia – a Tier One mining jurisdiction with world-class infrastructure, stable governance, a skilled workforce and a deeply rooted mining culture. Together, these advantages create a foundation for Pitfield to become a globally significant source of titanium supply.

During the first half of 2025, we advanced Pitfield across multiple fronts. A major drilling campaign was launched in February that provided not only the bulk metallurgical samples that enabled a significant scale-up of our metallurgical test work programme during the period, but also represented the next step towards defining a Mineral Resource Estimate (‘MRE’) for Pitfield.

A further drill campaign was launched in June 2025, the largest at Pitfield to date. The programme covered more than 11 square kilometres and targeted high-grade titanium mineralisation within the in-situ weathered cap at the Thomas Prospect, with the objective of delivering the MRE. This programme delivered some of the highest titanium dioxide grades recorded to date, with selected intercepts including: 44m @ 7.87% TiO2 from surface (AC25TOM159); 50m @ 7.84% TiO2 from 4m (AC25TOM130); 54m @ 7.41% TiO2 from surface (AC25TOM118); 98m @ 7.05% TiO2 from 2m (RC25TOM062); and 98m @ 7.05% TiO2 from 2m (RC25TOM068). A large, high-grade central core was identified from this drilling which averaged ~6% TiO2 across a continuous 3.6km strike length. In addition, nearly two thirds of all drillholes averaged > 4% TiO2, with over 90% exceeding a 2% TiO2 cut-off grade.

We are now on the cusp of delivering our maiden MRE, which is expected in the coming weeks. Based on the results to date, we expect the MRE to be world-class and to serve as a foundation for the next phase of project development including mine scoping studies.

Following the process development breakthrough announced post period end in August 2025, we are progressing through the bench-scale and large-scale batch metallurgical testwork programme, which we expect to complete by early 2026. This work will feed into the design of a continuous pilot plant, enabling us to refine the commercial flowsheet and to produce bulk samples for evaluation by prospective end-users.

While most of the world’s titanium feedstock is used to produce titanium dioxide for pigments in paints, coatings, and plastics, Pitfield’s unique quality opens doors to higher-value markets. In particular, titanium sponge (for use in titanium metal production) stands out as a strategic growth opportunity. Titanium metal is essential in defence and aerospace applications due to its remarkable strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to extreme conditions. These attributes make it critical for fighter jets, naval vessels, spacecraft, and next-generation technologies.

At a time when the geopolitical landscape is shifting rapidly, the security of titanium supply has never been more important. China has tripled its titanium sponge output since 2018 and now controls nearly 70% of global supply. The United States is 95% reliant on imports of titanium sponge and 86% reliant on imports of mineral concentrates. Similarly, the European Union is exposed to supply risks, with no meaningful domestic production. Pitfield therefore represents a unique opportunity for Empire to establish itself as a secure, Western-aligned generational supplier of titanium. This strategic positioning is already resonating strongly with investors and potential industry partners.

Corporate

As Pitfield advances toward development, we have made strategic additions to our team to ensure we have the right expertise in place. In January 2025, we were delighted to welcome Phil Brumit to the Board as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of our Technical Committee. Phil brings more than 40 years of operational and project management experience across leading global mining companies, including Freeport-McMoRan, Lundin Mining, and Newmont Corporation. His proven track record in overseeing large-scale projects from development through to production will continue to be invaluable as we pursue an expeditious development of Pitfield.

Following the period end, we further strengthened our technical leadership with the appointments of Alan Rubio as Study Manager and Pocholo Aviso as Hydrometallurgist. Alan brings nearly three decades of experience in project evaluation and development, and will play a central role in assessing mining and infrastructure scenarios, as well as overseeing key economic studies. Pocholo, with his background in the TiO₂ pigment industry and metallurgical expertise, will lead the product development programme, optimising process flowsheets and assessing market pathways. Together, these appointments significantly enhance our ability to quickly advance Pitfield toward feasibility study stage with confidence and precision.

Alongside our operational and corporate progress, we have also been proactive in broadening awareness of the Empire investment proposition to a wider international audience. A key part of this strategy was our decision to commence trading of our shares on the OTCQB Market in the United States in March 2025. We were particularly pleased to be upgraded to the OTCQX Market only a few months later, which is a significant step forward in providing US investors with greater visibility of, and access to, Empire.

Trading on OTCQX opens the Company to a deep and diverse pool of new shareholders, many of whom are actively seeking exposure to strategic metals. Titanium is formally recognised as a critical mineral in numerous jurisdictions, including the United States, and our marketing initiatives across North America have confirmed the strong appetite for high-quality investment opportunities in this sector. Empire is therefore exceptionally well positioned to capture growing international investor interest as Pitfield advances toward commercialisation.

Financial

As an exploration and development group which has no revenue, we are reporting a loss for the six months ended 30 June 2025 of £1,704,821 (30 June 2024: loss of £1,389,318).

In May 2025, the Company announced that it had raised £4.5 million before expenses by way of a placing of 47,368,423 new ordinary shares of no par value to new and existing investors at 9.5p per share.

The Group’s cash position as at 30 June 2025 was £6.3 million.

Outlook

The months ahead will be a busy and exciting time for Empire Metals. The maiden MRE will provide a foundation for detailed project evaluation, while ongoing metallurgical testwork will further optimise our flowsheet and advance our understanding of Pitfield’s product potential. As we transition into the pilot testing phase, we will be engaging more closely with potential customers, including those in the titanium metal supply chain, to position Pitfield as a long-term, strategic source of secure supply.

At the same time, we will continue to strengthen our team and capabilities to match the scale of the opportunity before us. With a world-class asset, a highly experienced team, strong financial backing, and a supportive market, we are exceptionally well placed to deliver on the unprecendented opportunity Pitfield presents.

I would like to thank our shareholders for their continued support and confidence in Empire. The progress we have made in such a short time has been extraordinary, and I firmly believe we are only at the beginning of a highly rewarding journey that will see Pitfield become established as one of the most important titanium projects globally.

With Pitfield, we are building the foundations of a secure, generational-scale titanium supply business that has the potential to reshape the global titanium industry. The coming months promise to be both exciting and defining, and I look forward to updating you on our continued progress.

Neil O’Brien

Non-Executive Chairman

3 September 2025

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME


NOTES TO THE INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. General Information

The principal activity of Empire Metals Limited (‘the Company’) and its subsidiaries (together ‘the Group’) is the exploration and development of precious and base metals. The Company’s shares are quoted on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange. The Company is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The Company was incorporated on 10 February 2010 under the name Gold Mining Company Limited. On 10 October 2016 the Company changed its name from Noricum Gold Limited to Georgian Mining Corporation and subsequently on 10 February 2020 changed its name from Georgian Mining Corporation to Empire Metals Limited.

The address of the Company’s registered office is Craigmuir Chambers, PO Box 71, Road Town, Tortola BVI.

2. Basis of Preparation

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the AIM Rules for Companies. As permitted, the Company has chosen not to adopt IAS 34 ‘Interim Financial Statements’ in preparing this interim financial information. The condensed interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union.

The interim financial information set out above does not constitute statutory accounts. They have been prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union. Statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 were approved by the Board of Directors on 5 June 2025. The report of the auditors on those financial statements was unqualified.

Going concern

The Directors, having made appropriate enquiries, consider that adequate resources exist for the Group to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and that, therefore, it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the condensed interim financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2025.

The factors that were extant in the 31 December 2024 Annual Report are still relevant to this report and as such reference should be made to the going concern note and disclosures in the 2024 Annual Report.

Risks and uncertainties

The Board continuously assesses and monitors the key risks of the business. The key risks that could affect the Group’s medium-term performance and the factors that mitigate those risks have not substantially changed from those set out in the Group’s 31 December 2024 Annual Report and Financial Statements, a copy of which is available on the Group’s website: https://www.empiremetals.co.uk. The key financial risks are liquidity risk, foreign exchange risk, credit risk, price risk and interest rate risk.

Critical accounting estimates

The preparation of condensed interim financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the end of the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates are set out in note 4 of the Group’s 31 December 2024 Annual Report and Financial Statements. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates. The nature and amounts of such estimates have not changed significantly during the interim period.

3. Accounting Policies

The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation have been followed in these condensed interim financial statements as were applied in the preparation of the Group’s annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

3.1 Changes in accounting policy and disclosures

(a) New and amended standards mandatory for the first time for the financial periods beginning on or after 1 January 2025.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued various amendments and revisions to International Financial Reporting Standards and IFRIC interpretations. The amendments and revisions were applicable for the period ended 30 June 2025 but did not result in any material changes to the Financial Statements of the Group.

b) New standards, amendments and interpretations in issue but not yet effective or not yet endorsed and not early adopted.

There are a number of standards, amendments to standards, and interpretations which have been issued by the IASB that are effective in future accounting periods and which have not been adopted early.

4. Administrative expenses

5. Dividends

No dividend has been declared or paid by the Company during the six months ended 30 June 2025 (2024: nil).

6. Intangible Assets

The Exploration & Evaluation additions in the current period primarily relates to work performed at the Company’s Pitfield project.

The Directors do not consider the asset to be impaired.

7. Held for Sale Asset


The Company continue to work on a potential divestment of the Eclipse project and are actively engaged with a number of Australian companies operating in the gold mining sector to find a buyer. Management are committed to the sale of the Eclipse licence.

8. Trade and Other Payables

9. Share capital and share premium

10. Earnings per share

The calculation of the total basic loss per share of 0.260 pence (30 June 2024: 0.230 pence) is based on the loss attributable to equity owners of the parent company of £1,704,821 (30 June 2024: £1,389,318 ) and on the weighted average number of ordinary shares of 651,359,884 (30 June 2024: 595,703,671) in issue during the period.

Details of share options that could potentially dilute earnings per share in future periods are disclosed in the notes to the Group’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

2,000,000 options were granted during the period. The total number of options outstanding at 30 June 2025 is 67,200,000.

11. Commitments

Commitments stated in the Group’s Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 remain.

12. Events after the balance sheet date

There have been no events after the reporting date of a material nature.

13. Approval of interim financial statements

The condensed interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 3 September 2025.

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, as incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, until the release of this announcement.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

Source

Click here to connect with Empire Metals Limited (LON:EEE)(OTCQX:EPMLF) to receive an Investor Presentation

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Alvopetro Announces August 2025 Sales Volumes

Alvopetro Energy Ltd. (TSXV: ALV,OTC:ALVOF) (OTCQX: ALVOF) announces August sales volumes of 2,375 boepd, based on field estimates. In Brazil August sales volumes averaged 2,257 boepd, including natural gas sales of 12.7 MMcfpd, associated natural gas liquids sales from condensate of 132 bopd and oil sales of 9 bopd. The large relative contribution of production from our 100% Murucututu field in August relates to the start of production from our 183-D4 well which commenced production later in August. From August 20 through September 3 the 183-D4 well produced at an average rate of 162 e 3 m 3 d (5.7 MMcfpd, 954 boepd) and we recovered 5,482 barrels of completions fluid and 1,033 barrels of natural gas liquids from condensate. Over the past 24 hours the well is producing through a constant 3664’choke at an average rate of 179 e 3 m 3 d (6.3 MMcfpd, 1,052 boepd) with a 1,015 psi flowing wellhead pressure and recovered 151 barrels of condensate (total well production 1,203 boepd) and 117 barrels of completions fluid. There are 10,322 barrels of 15,806 barrels of completions fluid left to recover. Given these extremely strong production results we are currently producing the Murucututu field from this single well as we are limited by our current facility capacity at Murucututu. As we continue to monitor these initial flow results, we will be evaluating options to improve production capacity of the system to allow for more production from the Murucututu field.

In Canada , August sales volumes averaged 118 bopd from our two initial wells. We have recently added production from our most recently drilled two multi-lateral wells (1.0 net) at Big Gully that were drilled with an aggregate of over 19 kilometers of open hole reservoir contact and expect oil sales from these wells to commence in September.

Natural gas, NGLs and crude oil sales:

August

2025

July

2025

Q2

2025

Brazil:

Natural gas (Mcfpd), by field:

Caburé

9,513

11,120

11,811

Murucututu

3,185

1,753

1,191

Total natural gas (Mcfpd)

12,698

12,873

13,002

NGLs (bopd)

132

130

128

Oil (bopd)

9

9

3

Total (boepd) – Brazil

2,257

2,284

2,298

Canada:

Oil (bopd) – Canada

118

134

138

Total Company – boepd (1)

2,375

2,418

2,436

(1) Alvopetro reported volumes are based on sales volumes which, due to the timing of sales deliveries, may differ from production volumes.

Corporate Presentation

Alvopetro’s updated corporate presentation is available on our website at: http://www.alvopetro.com/corporate-presentation .

Social Media

Follow Alvopetro on our social media channels at the following links:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AlvopetroEnergy
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/alvopetro/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/alvopetro-energy-ltd

Alvopetro Energy Ltd. is deploying a balanced capital allocation model where we seek to reinvest roughly half our cash flows into organic growth opportunities and return the other half to stakeholders. Alvopetro’s organic growth strategy is to focus on the best combinations of geologic prospectivity and fiscal regime. Alvopetro is balancing capital investment opportunities in Canada and Brazil where we are building off the strength of our Caburé and Murucututu natural gas fields and the related strategic midstream infrastructure.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Abbreviations:

boepd                    =

barrels of oil equivalent (‘boe’) per day

bopd                      =

barrels of oil and/or natural gas liquids (condensate) per day

e 3 m 3 /d                   =

thousand cubic metre per day

m 3 =

cubic metre

m 3 /d                       =

cubic metre per day

Mcf                         =

thousand cubic feet

Mcfpd                     =

thousand cubic feet per day

MMcf                      =

million cubic feet

MMcfpd                  =

million cubic feet per day

NGLs                     =

natural gas liquids (condensate)

psi                          =

pounds per square inch

BOE Disclosure

The term barrels of oil equivalent (‘boe’) may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet per barrel (6 Mcf/bbl) of natural gas to barrels of oil equivalence is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. All boe conversions in this news release are derived from converting gas to oil in the ratio mix of six thousand cubic feet of gas to one barrel of oil.

Well Results

Initial production results from the 183-D4 well should be considered preliminary. There is no representation by Alvopetro that the initial production results relating to the 183-D4 well contained in this press release are necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. The reader is cautioned not to unduly rely on such data as such data may not be indicative of future performance of the well or of expected production or operational results for Alvopetro in the future.

Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Language

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words ‘will’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘may’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘forecast’, ‘anticipate’, ‘should’ and other similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward‐looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to vary significantly from the expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect current assumptions and expectations regarding future events. Accordingly, when relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, Alvopetro cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning future production and sales volumes, the expected timing of production and sales commencement from certain wells, and plans relating to the Company’s operational activities, proposed development activities and the timing for such activities. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon assumptions and judgments with respect to the future including, but not limited to the success of future drilling, completion, testing, recompletion and development activities and the timing of such activities, the performance of producing wells and reservoirs, well development and operating performance, expectations and assumptions concerning the timing of regulatory licenses and approvals, equipment availability, environmental regulation, including regulations relating to hydraulic fracturing and stimulation, the ability to monetize hydrocarbons discovered, the outlook for commodity markets and ability to access capital markets, foreign exchange rates, the outcome of any disputes, the outcome of  redeterminations, general economic and business conditions, forecasted demand for oil and natural gas, the impact of global pandemics, weather and access to drilling locations, the availability and cost of labour and services, and the regulatory and legal environment and other risks associated with oil and gas operations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Actual results achieved during the forecast period will vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. Current and forecasted natural gas nominations are subject to change on a daily basis and such changes may be material. In addition, the declaration, timing, amount and payment of future dividends remain at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Although we believe that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because we can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, reliance on industry partners, availability of equipment and personnel, uncertainty surrounding timing for drilling and completion activities resulting from weather and other factors, changes in applicable regulatory regimes and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, market uncertainty associated with trade or tariff disputes, and general economic conditions. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Although Alvopetro believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Alvopetro can give no assurance that it will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on factors that could affect the operations or financial results of Alvopetro are included in our AIF which may be accessed on Alvopetro’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca . The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and Alvopetro undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

www.alvopetro.com
TSX-V: ALV, OTCQX: ALVOF

SOURCE Alvopetro Energy Ltd.

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2025/04/c6415.html

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10 Generative AI Stocks to Watch as ChatGPT Soars

The launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT created a major buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) stocks.

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot software application that uses machine learning techniques to emulate human-written conversations. A hitherto niche subsector in the AI industry, this technology is called generative AI, and it’s been making an impact on myriad industries, including marketing, security, healthcare, gaming, communication, customer service and software development.

The potential behind generative AI has been the primary driver behind a major stock rally that has helped the S&P and Nasdaq indices reach multiple new highs since 2023.

According to Fortune Business Insights, the generative AI market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 39.6 percent between 2024 and 2032 to reach an impressive US$967.65 billion.

Although investors can’t directly take a position in privately owned OpenAI, several technology stocks offer exposure to the expected growth in generative AI technology.

Data was gathered using TradingView’s stock screener. All market cap and share price data was current as of September 2, 2025.

Biggest generative AI stocks to watch

These 10 tech giants offer investors exposure to generative AI by offering their own chatbots and generative AI products, developing the hardware and software necessary for AI and integrating AI into their product.

1. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Market cap: US$4.15 trillion
Current share price: US$170.74

Nvidia is a pioneer and global leader in graphics processing unit (GPU) technology. The company designs the specialized chips used to train AI and machine learning models.

While it has been well known in computer and gaming spaces for decades, Nvidia’s progress in the AI sector has been the biggest growth driver in recent years. The company currently holds the title of the world’s most valuable company, coming in ahead of rivals Microsoft, Apple and Alphabet.

Nvidia’s new Blackwell GPU architecture, now in full production, delivers a significant performance leap for AI workloads compared to its predecessor. A new Blackwell Ultra system is set to be released later in 2025.

Generative AI’s explosive growth is driving the market for chips designed by companies like Nvidia and Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL), as well as for memory chips from companies like Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU), which are another important component to training generative AI systems.

2. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Market cap: US$3.75 trillion
Current share price: US$505.12

The technology behemoth Microsoft has invested US$13 billion in OpenAI throughout the years, and the company’s current AI solutions, Bing AI and Copilot, are based on OpenAI’s technology. Microsoft has also partnered with Palantir to provide AI tools to US defense and intelligence agencies.

More recently, Microsoft’s AI branch, dubbed MAI, has branched out. In August 2025, Microsoft officially launched its first proprietary foundation model, MAI-1-preview, for its Copilot assistance, as well as a new speech model, MAI-Voice-1, designed for efficient, real-time audio processing.

3. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Market cap: US$3.41 trillion
Current share price: US$220.72

Apple has been incorporating its version of AI, Apple Intelligence, into its iPhones, MacBooks and Apple Watches. Its next major product reveal is scheduled for September 9, 2025.

The company’s main goal is to deliver AI capabilities while maintaining user privacy by prioritizing on-device processing. For more complex tasks, it uses Private Cloud Compute, a secure system that runs on Apple’s custom silicon chips and is designed to ensure data is not stored or made accessible to Apple.

Apple has partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its ecosystem. The upcoming iPhone 17 series is rumored to feature new AI-driven capabilities and enhanced integration of Apple Intelligence.

4. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

Market cap: US$2.56 trillion
Current share price: US$211.35

Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has played an important role in advancing generative AI technology. Its flagship AI model, Gemini, powers a wide range of services, with new versions continuously being rolled out. The company designs its own custom AI accelerator chips, like the TPU v5p, which are used to train large-scale language models and power its AI services.

Alphabet’s subsidiary, DeepMind, focuses on AI research and development. Its AI system AlphaFold won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024 for its ability to predict the structure of proteins based on a protein’s unique amino acid sequence.

AI continues to be embedded across Google’s services as well. For example, AI Overviews displayed in Google Search results reach over two billion users per month as of mid-2025.

5. Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Market cap: US$2.40 trillion
Current share price: US$225.34

Amazon subsidiary and cloud-computing platform Amazon Web Services (AWS) evolved out of Amazon’s transition from an online retailer to one of the world’s largest technology companies. AWS’s wide range of services includes computing, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and AI.

AWS has many AI business tools on offer across four verticals: AI services, AI platforms, AI frameworks and AI infrastructure. Generative AI is nothing new to Amazon, as the technology forms the basis of conversational experiences with Amazon’s all-too-familiar Alexa.

Since its launch in 2023, Bedrock, a service that enhances software with generative AI capabilities, has expanded its catalog of foundation models to include OpenAI’s open-weight models and Anthropic’s Claude 4. At its AWS Summit in New York, the company announced Amazon Bedrock AgentCore, an innovation to help businesses rapidly deploy and scale AI agents with enterprise-grade security and tool integration.

6. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

Market cap: US$1.85 trillion
Current share price: US$735.11

Meta has expressed its commitment to continued research within the generative AI sphere with an open-source approach to its software developments. The giant behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp is one of the most influential companies in tech, sharing ranks with the likes of Microsoft and Alphabet.

Meta AI, which is built with Meta Llama 3, is integrated into Meta’s apps and also exists as a standalone website. The company’s products use machine learning to streamline Facebook ad campaign generation and help businesses reach the right consumers. This strategy has led to Meta’s ad business being a primary driver of revenue.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has maintained that increased spending on AI infrastructure is necessary to maintain its competitive position. The company has made massive infrastructure investments over the last year and has been aggressively hiring top-tier AI talent.

7. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL)

Market cap: US$632.83 billion
Current share price: US$225.30

Oracle is a tech company that’s been around since the 1970s. In the early 2000s, it began buying up other software companies, and today it is one of the leading providers of cloud-based database management software. Its primary AI service, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Generative AI, was released on January 23, 2024.

Oracle has positioned itself as a neutral platform, offering its customers a choice of top-tier models from various providers. It has recently expanded its offerings to include Google’s Gemini models and has also deployed OpenAI’s GPT-5 across its cloud applications and database portfolio.

Oracle maintains a long-standing partnership with Nvidia, leveraging its hardware for large-scale AI workloads. This collaboration has culminated in the company building a zettascale supercomputer using as many as 131,072 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs to tackle complex generative AI challenges.

8. Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR)

Market cap: US$372.67 billion
Current share price: US$157.29

Palantir’s generative AI strategy is centered on its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), a core product designed to help governments and commercial enterprises integrate AI into their operations with a focus on security and human-in-the-loop control.

Rather than building models for general use, Palantir’s approach is to provide a platform that enables customers to leverage large language models from various providers, like OpenAI and Google, within their own private, secure networks.

9. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM)

Market cap: US$252.86 billion
Current share price: US$241.73

Salesforce is a global leader in cloud-based customer relationship management software. In 2023, the company announced a strategy to embed generative AI across its entire product portfolio to transform how businesses interact with their customers.

In early 2025, Salesforce announced the retirement of its Einstein Copilot brand in favor of a new name, Agentforce, a fully autonomous AI agent that can handle complex, multi-step tasks across a company’s sales, service and marketing operations. The company has reported that AI agents are handling up to 50 percent of customer support conversations, which has led to a significant workforce restructuring.

10. Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO)

Market cap: US$268.49 billion
Current share price: US$67.80

Multinational digital communications firm Cisco Systems is a leader in IT and communications networks. Its strategy focuses on providing the hardware, software and security solutions enterprises need to build and deploy their own AI applications. The company has a large portfolio of multi-cloud products and applications, alongside strong relationships with Azure, AWS, Nvidia and Google Cloud.

Cisco’s AI and machine learning offerings encompass a wide range of computing solutions for enterprises, including a focus on cybersecurity. Cisco has also brought to market new generative AI tools for IT professionals, including its own AI Assistant.

In January, the company introduced Cisco AI Defense, an end-to-end solution that protects against the misuse of AI tools, data leakage and sophisticated threats beyond the capabilities of older security systems.

Generative AI stocks to watch

The following companies have not yet reached the market capitalization of our top 10, but are each worth billions of dollars and have made some amazing achievements in generative AI technology in their own right, making them interesting prospects for investors.

In alphabetical order, they are:

  • C3.ai, a company providing software as a service products to the financial and oil and gas industries. Its partnership with Alphabet allows C3.ai generative AI applications to be available on Google Cloud.
  • DynaTrace, a data-analysis company that provides real-time feedback on IT infrastructure for various companies using its generative AI assistant, Davis.

FAQs for generative AI

What is generative AI?

Generative AI is an emerging AI technology based on deep learning models and algorithms that can generate text, images or sounds in response to prompts given by users.

What are generative AI examples?

Some of the most notable examples of generative AI are ChatGPT, DALL-E 2, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Gemini, Copilot and DeepSeek.

OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 is an AI system that can create realistic images and art from a description in natural language. Similar to DALL-E 2, Midjourney generates images from prompts. Stable Diffusion is a latent text-to-image diffusion model capable of generating photo-realistic images given any text input. Microsoft’s Copilot is a feature of the Bing search engine that leverages the same technology as ChatGPT.

What are the hottest generative AI startups?

According to technology and business magazine e-Week, in addition to ChatGPT creator OpenAI, some of the other leading generative AI startups include Hugging Face, Synthesis AI, Jasper and Cohere.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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How to Invest in Lithium Stocks and the Lithium Market

Despite the current low price environment, the long-term demand for battery metals is robust and offers opportunity for those interested in lithium stocks.

Seasoned metals investors who want to look beyond gold and silver are getting involved, while new investors are being drawn into the space by expanding battery market and lithium supply deals between auto makers and lithium producers.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to get familiar with the lithium market before investing in lithium stocks. Here’s a brief overview of some of the basics, including supply and demand, prices and companies.

In this article

    Where is lithium mined?

    Lithium is found globally in hard-rock deposits, evaporated brines and clay deposits. There’s some contention as to which type of deposit is superior, but generally there are challenges and upsides for both.

    The world’s largest hard-rock mine is the Greenbushes mine in Australia, and the bulk of the world’s lithium brine production comes from salars in Chile and Argentina. Most large lithium reserves are in Chile, and the prolific “Lithium Triangle” spans Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. Australia was once again the world’s largest lithium producer in 2024, followed by Chile and China.

    Canada and the United States, ranked as the seventh and ninth largest lithium producing countries, are increasingly becoming hotspots for lithium development and production as North American auto makers seek to secure domestic supply sources.

    What’s the difference between battery-grade and technical-grade lithium?

    Technical-grade lithium is used in ceramics, glass and other industrial applications, while battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide are used to make lithium-ion batteries. These lithium products can also be used for technical applications in a pinch, although battery-grade lithium fetches premium market prices over technical-grade. Those aren’t the only classifications, though. Pharmaceutical grade lithium carbonate is used in medicine.

    How is lithium priced?

    Getting a look at lithium prices isn’t easy, and that can make it difficult for investors who are looking to assess the viability of a given project. Pricing in the lithium industry has always been opaque due to the dominance of a few major producers, with investors having very little pricing information they can trust.

    Simon Moores of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence has emphasized that pricing can be a difficult concept for investors to grasp.

    “The biggest myth surrounding pricing is, ‘What is the price of lithium?’ Because there is no one price,” he said. “The newcomers want one lithium price, but the existing market has a wide range of lithium chemicals and then grades within a specification.’

    There are also distinct prices for lithium on markets in different regions, meaning lithium hydroxide in China will be priced slightly different than in Europe.

    For those looking to invest in lithium who want to learn about lithium prices, it’s best to read reports on lithium price trends from experts to help you understand what is happening in the market.

    What factors drive the lithium market?

    A major driver for the lithium market is its use in the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, energy-storage systems, smart phones and laptops.

    Global EV sales reached 17 million units in 2024, up 25 percent from the previous year, according to International Energy Agency (IEA) data. The figure represents more than 20 percent of all new cars sold worldwide. Looking forward, EV sales are expected to increase by another 25 percent to surpass 20 million in 2025, amounting to about one-quarter of total new car sales for the year.

    Tesla with its Nevada-based gigafactory was the first carmaker to stoke excitement in the lithium space. However, advancements in Chinese battery technologies, strategic pricing and government support led to Chinese EV maker BYD Company (HKEX:1211) overthrowing Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) as the global EV market leader in sales for 2024. That trend has continued into 2025, as Elon Musk’s involvement in US politics has also damaged Tesla’s brand for both sides of the political spectrum.

    The ascension of a Chinese automaker on the global EV stage doesn’t come as a surprise to most market insiders. The IEA is forecasting that China will see more than 14 million new EVs will be sold in 2025, representing 60 percent of all new cars sold in the country. Even more impressive, this figure is more than all EVs sold worldwide in 2023.

    When it comes to the lithium batteries that power electric vehicles, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows that in 2023, “China controlled nearly 85% of the world’s battery cell production capacity by monetary value.”

    In the US, the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president has cast a shadow over the North American EV market. On September 30, 2025, the Trump Administration is set to scrap the US$7,500 consumer tax credit for EVs offered under the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act. Government incentives to purchase EVs has also evaporated in Canada, despite the mandate that by 2035, 100 percent of new vehicle sales must be zero-emission vehicles.

    “North America, and in particular Canada, is experiencing a slowdown of EV sales in 2025. With Trump’s latest cuts in his ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ the USA could struggle to see any growth in the EV market overall in 2025,” said Rho Motion Data Manager Charles Lester.

    Data centers and artificial intelligence technologies represent another key demand trend for lithium as they require significant investments in battery energy storage systems.

    “Batteries are now essential — not just for EVs, but to balance power systems across sectors,” said Paul Lusty, head of battery raw materials at Fastmarkets, at Fastmarkets’ Lithium Supply & Battery Raw Materials conference in June.

    On the supply side, China has made a major push in recent years to expand its lithium mine production, leading to an oversupplied market. The resulting lithium price slump forced Australian lithium miners to stall development plans, curtail production and even place some operations on care and maintenance.

    Fastmarkets has reported that China is set to surpass Australia as the world’s largest lithium producing country by 2026.

    Lithium mine supply disruptions out of China are already having an oversized impact. In mid-August 2025, Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) (SZSE:300750,HKEX:3750) confirmed it had suspended operations at Jianxiawo, one of the world’s largest lithium mines, after the mine’s permit expired on August 9 and the company failed to obtain an extension.

    The news sent lithium spot prices higher as well as the stock values of ex-China lithium miners such as Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC), Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) and Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN).

    How to invest in lithium stocks

    So what’s the best way to invest in lithium? How should investors interested in lithium stocks begin? To start, it helps to understand the lithium production landscape.

    For a long time, most lithium was produced by an oligopoly of lithium producers often referred to as the “Big 3”: Albemarle (NYSE:ALB), Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) (NYSE:SQM) and FMC. Rockwood Holdings was on that list too before it was acquired by Albemarle several years ago.

    However, the list of the world’s top lithium-mining companies has changed in recent years. The companies mentioned above still produce the majority of the world’s lithium, but China accounts for a large chunk of output as well. As already discussed, the Asian nation is on track to become the largest lithium-producing country by 2026.

    For now, the biggest producer continues to be Australia, which is home to many lithium mines, including up-and-comer Liontown Resources’ (ASX:LTR,OTC:LINRF) Kathleen Valley operations. The mine entered open-pit production during H2 2024, and the plant hit commercial production in January 2025. The company is currently transitioning Kathleen Valley from an open-pit to underground mining operation, making it the state of Western Australia’s first underground lithium mine.

    In other words, lithium investors need to be keeping an eye on lithium-mining companies in Australia and other jurisdictions in addition to the New York-listed chemical companies that produce the material.

    Of course, smaller lithium stocks are worth watching too — to find out which ones are currently thriving, check out our top global lithium stocks article. You can also check out our articles on the biggest lithium stocks globally, top performing Australian lithium stocks and top Canadian lithium stocks.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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    Alvopetro Energy

    Investor Insight

    Brazil’s expanding natural gas market, supported by an attractive and stable regulatory framework and fiscal regime, presents a unique opportunity for Alvopetro Energy to leverage its high-potential upstream and midstream assets. In early 2025, Alvopetro also announced a strategic entry into Western Canada focused on the prolific Mannville stack play fairway in Saskatchewan. With capital investment opportunities in Canada and Brazil, Alvopetro is on the pathway for long-term growth.

    Overview

    Alvopetro Energy (TSXV:ALV;OTCQX:ALVOF) is an independent energy company focused on unlocking onshore natural gas in Brazil while expanding its footprint into Canada. The company is recognized as Brazil’s first integrated onshore natural gas producer, having established a unique model that combines upstream production, midstream infrastructure and long-term sales agreements with stable pricing linked to Brent and Henry Hub benchmarks.

    Since commencing production in 2020, Alvopetro has delivered strong operating results, sector-leading netbacks and consistent dividends. With a disciplined capital allocation strategy, approximately half of the cash flow from operations has been reinvested in organic growth, while the remainder has been returned to shareholders through dividends, debt reduction and share repurchases. This balance has underpinned exceptional shareholder returns, including a cumulative 1,495 percent total shareholder return since 2018.

    Alvopetro’s growth is anchored by two pillars: its high-margin natural gas business in the Recôncavo Basin of Bahia, Brazil, and its newly established Western Canadian heavy oil platform. Together, these assets provide a diversified base of production and reserves, supporting near-term growth and long-term value creation.

    Headquartered in Calgary, Canada, and operating in Salvador, Brazil, Alvopetro is led by a proven management team with extensive international oil and gas experience. The company is committed not only to profitable growth but also to sustainable development, investing in local communities through education, entrepreneurship, cultural programs and biodiversity initiatives.

    Company Highlights

    • Alvopetro is a leading independent upstream and midstream gas operator in the state of Bahia, Brazil.
    • The company’s growth strategy targets opportunities with the best combinations of geological prospectivity and fiscal regime. In Brazil, Alvopetro is focused on unlocking Brazil’s on-shore natural gas potential, building off the development of its Caburé and Murucututu natural gas fields strategic midstream infrastructure. In Canada, four wells have been drilled and are on production and Alvopetro has expanded its land base with potential for over 100 drilling locations.
    • Over 95 percent of Alvopetro’s Brazil production is from natural gas and the company has a 2P reserve base of 9.1 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) with a before-tax NPV10 of $327.8 million.
    • The company generates highly attractive operating netbacks and profitability per unit of production, setting it apart from its Latin American and North American peers. The state of Bahia boasts a favorable fiscal regime with low royalties and Alvopetro’s projects are eligible for a 15 percent income tax rate.

    Key Projects

    Caburé

    The company’s flagship Caburé asset has historically delivered the majority of the company’s production. The project is a joint development of a conventional natural gas discovery across four blocks, two held by Alvopetro and two by its partner.

    Following the first redetermination in 2024, Alvopetro’s working interest in Cabure increased to 56.2 percent, entitling the company to a larger share of production. The unitized area includes eight producing wells and all necessary production facilities. Gross unit production capacity has increased by 33 percent to 21.2 million cubic feet per day (MMcfpd), and an ongoing development program includes five additional wells, four of which have already been drilled.

    Murucututu Gas

    Immediately north of Caburé, Murucututu is a 100 percent owned Alvopetro asset with significant growth potential. Independent reserves evaluators have assigned 2P reserves of 4.6 MMboe, with an additional 4.5 MMboe of risked best estimate contingent resources and 10.2 MMboe of risked best estimate prospective resources.

    The company successfully completed the 183-A3 well in 2024 and drilled the 183-D4 well updip of the 183-A3 well in 2025, bringing the 183-D4 well online in August 2025, which achieved initial production of 953 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). With field production facilities already in place, Alvopetro plans a multi-year development program targeting both the Gomo and Caruaçu formations, including at least six more development wells.

    Midstream – Infrastructure and marketing

    Alvopetro owns and operates all of the key infrastructure needed to process and deliver its natural gas. Production from Caburé and Murucututu is transported via Alvopetro’s 11-kilometre transfer pipeline to its UPGN gas processing facility, which has a capacity of more than 18 MMcfpd.

    At the UPGN, condensate and water are removed, with condensate sold at a premium to Brent. Processed natural gas is delivered to the Bahiagás city gate, with onward transportation through a 15-kilometre distribution pipeline into Bahia’s Camacari industrial complex. Under the long-term gas sales agreement with Bahiagás, pricing is set quarterly based on Brent and Henry Hub benchmarks. An updated agreement, effective January 1, 2025, increased firm sales volumes by 33 percent, further securing Alvopetro’s cash flow stability.

    Western Canadian Growth Platform

    Beyond Brazil, Alvopetro has expanded its global footprint into North America with the establishment of a new heavy oil growth platform in Western Canada. The company holds a 50 percent working interest in 27.5 sections (8,890 net acres) of Mannville conventional heavy oil lands in Alberta and Saskatchewan, in partnership with an experienced operator, where we are deploying leading edge open hole multilateral drilling technology:

    The diagram above depicts the evolution of drilling technology to develop a ¼ section of land. On the far left, traditional development would have required 32 vertical wells. Technology then advanced to horizontal wells, as depicted in the middle of the diagram with 4 separate wells. Today, multilateral drilling technology (as depicted on the far right) allows for just a single well with 6+ open-hole lateral legs developing the ¼ section of land. Alvopetro’s first 2 wells drilled in Saskatchewan each included 6 lateral legs. A total of 15 km of open-hole horizontal legs were drilled.

    The Mannville stack is a multi-zone fairway with shallow depths, lower geological risk and attractive drilling economics. The first two earning wells were drilled with more than 15 km of open hole and brought into production in April 2025. Two additional wells were drilled in Big Gully in July 2025, with more than 19 km of open hole, with oil sales from the new wells are expected to commence in September 2025.

    With the potential for more than 100 drilling locations, the Canadian platform provides Alvopetro with a complementary source of long-term production growth.

    Management Team

    Corey C. Ruttan – President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

    Corey C. Ruttan is the president, chief executive officer and director of Alvopetro. He was the president and CEO of Petrominerales, from May 2010 until it was acquired by Pacific Rubiales Energy in November 2013. Prior to that, he was the vice-president of finance and chief financial officer of Petrominerales. From March 2000 to May 2010, Ruttan was the senior vice-president and chief financial officer of Petrobank Energy and Resources, and held increasingly senior positions with Petrobank since its inception in 2000. He also served as executive vice-president and chief financial officer of Lightstream Resources from October 2009 to May 2010; served as vice-president of Caribou Capital from June 1999 to March 2000; and manager financial reporting of Pacalta Resources from May 1997 to June 1999. He began his career at KPMG where he worked from September 1994 to May 1997. Ruttan obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in accounting from the University of Calgary in 1994 and his chartered accountant designation in 1997.

    Alison Howard – Chief Financial Officer

    Alison Howard is a chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience in Canadian and international taxation, accounting and finance. Howard joined Petrominerales in July 2011 as a tax manager and was subsequently promoted to tax director. From May 2008 to July 2011, Howard was the tax manager at Petrobank Energy and Resources. Prior to that, Howard spent a number of years at Deloitte LLP in Calgary. She obtained her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1999.

    Adrian Audet – VP, Asset Management

    Adrian Audet joined Petrominerales in 2013 and has held increasingly senior roles with Alvopetro since its inception. Audet has spent extensive time in Bahia overseeing the operations, realizing extensive cost savings and improvements in efficiency. Previously, Audet held engineering roles with increasing responsibility in the oil and gas industry. Audet began his career in 2006 and completed his masters and undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta. Audet is a professional engineer registered with APEGA and is a CFA charterholder.

    Nanna Eliuk – Exploration Manager

    Nanna Eliuk is a professional geophysicist (M.Sc.) with over 23 years of diversified petroleum exploration and development experience. She has expertise in conventional and unconventional plays in both carbonate and clastic reservoirs in different depositional and structural settings (including pre-salt) in various basins around the world. Prior to joining Alvopetro, Eliuk was the senior explorationist of Condor Petroleum (Kazakhstan) for two years, and prior thereto, she was the vice-president of geophysics and land for Waldron Energy. Eliuk started her career in 1997, holding progressively senior roles at Husky Energy for five years, and at Compton Petroleum for over six years. Her extensive experience includes geophysical evaluation and analysis for business development opportunities and new ventures in various international basins, along with regional mapping, play fairway analysis, petroleum system evaluation, prospect definition, and seismic attribute analysis. Eliuk holds a masters degree in geology and geophysics, and a BSc. in geology.

    Darcy Reynolds – Western Canadian Business Unit Lead

    Darcy Reynolds, P.Geo is the Western Canadian Business Unit Lead with over 20 years of subsurface and asset evaluation experience across Western Canada. For the past 12 years, Reynolds has focused on heavy oil development, including horizontal multilateral wells, enhanced oil recovery (waterflood, polymer, CO₂), and thermal SAGD projects. He has held senior leadership and technical roles at Rubellite Energy (senior geologist), Cenovus Energy (geoscience director), Husky Energy (geoscience director), and Talisman Energy (geology manager). Reynolds holds a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta and is a registered professional geoscientist with APEGA

    Frederico Oliveira – Country Manager

    Frederico Oliveira has held increasingly senior roles since 2008 and has expertise in regulations, contracts, partnerships, management and cost efficiency. He has held management roles in large private companies in Brazil, performing strategic planning, project implementation, process restructuring, efficiency and productivity improvements, and cost control. Oliveira obtained an MBA from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in 2004 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Minas Gerais.

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    Altech Batteries LtdBearer Bond Funds Received

    Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) (OTCMKTS:ALTHF) is pleased to announce that it has received EUR1M in funds from the remaining Bearer Bond facility in place with major shareholder Deutsche Balaton. The original facility was for EUR2.5M and this has now been adjusted by mutual agreement to EUR2M. The full EUR2M has now been drawn down.

    As announced to the ASX on 25 March 2025, the Company advised that it is in the process of selling its Malaysian land to help fund the ongoing development of the CERENERGY(R) battery project and the Silumina Anodes(TM) battery materials project, as well as to support general working capital requirements.

    The Company also announced that it had entered into a binding Bond Note Subscription Deed with its major shareholder Deutsche Balaton AG, under which Altech could drawdown up to EUR2.5M in cash in the form of interest-bearing Bearer Bonds.

    As the Bond Note Subscription Deed involved the Company granting a security interest over the Company’s Malaysian land, shareholder approval was required. The Company convened a General Meeting on 13 May 2025 and shareholders approved all Resolutions put to the General Meeting. The Company then applied to have the Malaysian land security registered with the relevant land authority, being Johor Corp. Although there were no laws or regulations precluding Johor Corp from registering the land security, it considered Deutsche Balaton AG a ‘non-lending foreign entity’ and advised that accordingly it was not comfortable in registering the land security.

    The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Altech Chemicals Sdn. Bhd. is the holder of the lease agreement over the Malaysian land. The only asset of value within Altech Chemicals Sdn. Bhd. is the lease agreement over the Malaysian land. In order to provide the security to Deutsche Balaton AG so as to drawdown the Bearer Bonds, the Company enforced security over the shares of Altech Chemicals Sdn. Bhd. in favour of Deutsche Balaton AG in lieu of the land security.

    On 20 August 2025, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Altech Chemicals Australia Pty Ltd (shareholder of Altech Chemicals Sdn. Bhd.) executed a Share Charge with Deutsche Balaton AG in connection with the Bond Note Subscription Deed. Pursuant to the Share Charge, Altech Chemicals Australia Pty Ltd has offered as a continuing Security for the due and punctual payment of all the requirements of the Bond Note Subscription Deed, charged all its rights, title and interest to all of the shares held in Altech Chemicals Sdn. Bhd. in favour of Deutsche Balaton AG. The Security is a continuing security and will extend to the ultimate balance of the due and punctual payment of all the requirements of the Bond Note Subscription Deed.

    On 20 August 2025, the Company executed an Amendment Deed to the Bond Note Subscription Deed. Under the terms of the Amendment Deed, the agreed amount of bonds available to be drawdown was reduced from EUR2.5M to EUR2.0M. Additionally, the Company’s Meckering land was offered as additional security for the due and punctual payment of all the requirements of the Bond Note Subscription Deed.

    Altech Meckering Pty Ltd, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary and holder of the Meckering land, has entered into a mortgage over the Meckering Land in favour of Deutsche Balaton AG as a continuing Security for the due and punctual payment of all the requirements of the Bond Note Subscription Deed.

    About Altech Batteries Ltd:

    Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS (‘Fraunhofer’) to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY(R) Sodium Alumina Solid State (SAS) Battery. CERENERGY(R) batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY(R) batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.

    The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY(R) battery, with plans to construct a 100MWh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce CERENERGY(R) battery modules to provide grid storage solutions to the market.

    Source:
    Altech Batteries Ltd

    Contact:
    Corporate
    Iggy Tan
    Managing Director
    Altech Batteries Limited
    Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
    Email: info@altechgroup.com

    Martin Stein
    Chief Financial Officer
    Altech Batteries Limited
    Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
    Email: info@altechgroup.com

    News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

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    Trump family’s American Bitcoin makes stock market debut

    Shares in the Trump family’s latest cryptocurrency made its stock market debut Wednesday, triggering more ethical concerns as the Trumps look to cash in on crypto as the president’s administration weakens regulations for the nascent industry.

    American Bitcoin, a firm co-founded this spring by Eric Trump, the president’s son, saw its share price climb as much as 39% by early afternoon to about $9.60.

    It ended the day at $8.04, lower than its opening price of $9.22.

    According to a release, the company is set up to accumulate bitcoin through computer “mining” of the cryptocurrency, as well as “opportunistic bitcoin purchases.” By owning a share of American Bitcoin, investors are betting that the company will be able to grow its bitcoin holdings faster than competitors. It also assumes bitcoin’s price will keep going up.

    American Bitcoin’s stock debut is renewing ethics concerns about the Trump family’s ability to benefit from the president’s influence on the crypto industry, where it is increasingly seeing windfalls.

    On Monday, the first public sales of a digital token minted by World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm co-founded by the Trump family, created as much as $5 billion in paper wealth for them and other insiders based on existing holdings. Last week, Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform, announced it had struck a deal with Crypto.com to accumulate Crypto.com’s native token Cronos, or CRO. Since the announcement, the value of CRO has climbed about 69%.

    Shortly before 1 p.m, the value of Eric Trump’s American Bitcoin stake had climbed to as much as $600 million, according to calculations by Bloomberg News. Donald Trump Jr. also owns a stake, though its extent was not immediately clear. A representative for Trump Jr. did not respond to a request for comment.

    “There’s no question there’s a conflict of interest here,” said Virginia Canter, chief counsel for ethics and anticorruption with the Democracy Defenders Action group, a bipartisan advocacy group that seeks to oppose authoritarianism. Canter served as a legal adviser in four different presidential administrations. Beyond having the ability to appoint regulators charged with overseeing the crypto industry, Trump can also create an uneven playing field for other crypto market participants who might believe they may pay a price for competing with his entities — or failing to engage with them, Canter said.

    In a post on X last night, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said of the start of American Bitcoin’s stock trading: “it’s corruption, plain and simple.”

    A representative for the Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment about the ethics concerns.

    Estimates about how much President Trump and his family have earned from their crypto ventures vary. Reuters calculated that they made as much $500 million from the World Liberty decentralized finance platform, which debuted last year.

    The figure is a moving target. In May, Zach Witkoff, a World Liberty co-founder and the son of White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, announced that an Abu Dhabi-based firm had purchased $2 billion-worth of World Liberty’s stablecoin as part of an investment in the Binance crypto exchange. In July, Trump Media announced it had accumulated roughly $2 billion in bitcoin and related assets, accounting for about two-thirds of Trump Media’s total liquid assets. The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, a financial instrument Trump created in advance of returning to the Oval Office, owns 52% of Trump Media.

    The group that created Trump’s memecoin, $TRUMP, earned $350 million from initial sales, the Financial Times reported in March, though its ownership structure and Trump family members’ direct stakes are unclear.

    The White House has maintained that the president is not involved in the day-to-day affairs of Trump family businesses. Some ethics experts have argued that presidents are exempt from conflict-of-interest laws because they oversee too many areas to make enforcement practical.

    In a statement, the White House blasted any insinuation of a conflict of interest.

    “The media’s continued attempts to fabricate conflicts of interest are irresponsible and reinforce the public’s distrust in what they read,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “Neither the President nor his family have ever engaged, or will ever engage, in conflicts of interest.” She said the administration “is fulfilling the President’s promise to make the United States the crypto capital of the world by driving innovation and economic opportunity for all Americans.”

    At a conference last week, Eric Trump said the bitcoin community had embraced his father “unlike anything I had ever seen before.” Since then, the crypto industry has become one of the most influential players in politics: Its super PAC, Fairshake, was the largest-single donor group during the 2024 election and has already accumulated $140 million in advance of next year’s midterms, Politico reported.

    The Trump brothers have announced a flurry of business moves since their father took office that parallel the president’s policies and agenda. Last month, they announced they would serve as advisers to New America, a firm that aims to buy businesses that “play a meaningful role in revitalizing domestic manufacturing, expanding innovation ecosystems, and strengthening critical supply chains.”

    The brothers are receiving a combined 5 million shares in the company, which seeks to raise $300 million from investors in advance of going public.

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    Apple has survived Trump’s tariffs so far. It might raise iPhone prices anyway.

    When Tim Cook gifted President Donald Trump a gold and glass plaque last month, the Apple CEO was hailed by Wall Street for his job managing the iPhone-maker’s relationship with the White House.

    Cook, Wall Street commentators said, had largely navigated the threat of tariffs on Apple’s business successfully by offering Trump an additional $100 billion U.S. investment, a win the president could tout on American manufacturing. But despite the 24-carat trophy Cook handed Trump, the true costs of those tariffs may finally show up for Apple customers later this month.

    “Thank you all, and thank you President Trump for putting American innovation and American jobs front and center,” Cook said at the event, which brought Apple’s total planned spend to $600 billion in the U.S. over the next five years. Trump, at the event, said that Apple would be exempt from forthcoming tariffs on chips that could double their price.

    But as Apple prepares to announce new iPhones on Tuesday, some analysts are forecasting the company to raise prices on its devices even after all Cook has done to avoid the worst of the tariffs.

    “A lot of the chatter is: Will the iPhone go up in price?” said CounterPoint research director Jeff Fieldhack.

    Although smartphones haven’t seen significant price increases yet, other consumer products are seeing price increases driven by tariffs costs, including apparel, footwear, and coffee. And the tariffs have hit some electronics, notably video games — Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, have raised console prices this year in the U.S.

    Some Wall Street analysts are counting on Apple to follow. Jeffries analyst Edison Lee baked in a $50 price increase into his iPhone 17 average selling price projections in a note in July. He’s got a hold rating on Apple stock.

    Goldman Sachs analysts say that the potential for price increases could increase the average selling price of Apple’s devices over time, and the company’s mix of phones have been skewing toward more expensive prices.

    Analysts expect Apple to release four new iPhone models this month, which will likely be named the “iPhone 17” series. Last year, Apple released four iPhone 16 models: the base iPhone 16 for $829, the iPhone 16 Plus at $899, the iPhone 16 Pro at $999 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1,199.

    This year, many supply chain watchers expect Apple to replace the Plus model, which has lagged the rest of the lineup, with a new, slimmer device that trades extra cameras and features for a thinner, lighter body.

    The “thinner, lighter form factor may drive some demand interest,” wrote Goldman analysts, but tradeoffs like battery life may make it hard to compete with Apple’s entry-level models.

    Analysts have said they expect the slim device to cost about $899, similar to how much the iPhone 16 Plus costs, but they haven’t ruled out a price bump. That would still undercut Samsung’s thin Galaxy Edge, which debuted earlier this year at $1,099.

    Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

    When Trump announced sweeping tariffs on China and the rest of the world in February, it seemed like Apple was in the crosshairs.

    Apple famously makes the majority of its iPhones and other products in China, and Trump was threatening to place tariffs that could double Apple’s costs or more. Some of Trump’s so-called “reciprocal” tariffs would hit countries like Vietnam and India where Apple had hedged its production bets.

    But seven months later, Apple has weathered the tariffs better than many had imagined.

    The U.S. government has paused the most draconian Chinese tariffs several times, smartphones got an exemption from tariffs and Cook in May told investors that the company was able to rearrange its supply chain to import iPhones to the U.S. from India, where tariffs are lower.

    Cook also successfully leaned on his relationship with Trump, visiting him in White House and taking his side in August, when Cook presented the shiny keepsake to Trump. That commitment bolstered Trump’s push to bring more high-tech manufacturing to the U.S. In exchange, Trump said he would exempt Apple from a forthcoming semiconductor tariff, too. And Trump’s IEEPA tariffs were ruled illegal in late August, although they are still in effect.

    Apple hasn’t completely missed the tariff consequences. Cook said the company spent $800 million on tariff costs in the June quarter, mainly due to the IEEPA-based tariffs on China. That was less than 4% of the company’s profit, but Apple warned it could spend $1.1 billion in the current quarter on tariff expenses.

    After months of eating the tariff costs itself, Apple may finally pass those costs to consumers with this month’s launch of the iPhone 17 models.

    Apple has been judicious about hardware price increases in the U.S. The smaller Pro phone, for example, hasn’t gotten a price increase since its debut in 2017, holding at $999. But Apple has made some price changes.

    The company raised the price of its entry level phones from $699 to $829 in 2020. And in 2022 when Apple eliminated the smaller iPhone Mini that started at $699, the company replaced it with the bigger-screen Plus that costs $899. The Pro Max also got a hike in 2023 when Apple bumped it from $1,099 to its current price of $1,199.

    If Apple does increase prices on its phones this year, don’t expect management to blame tariffs.

    The average selling price of smartphones around the world is rising, according to IDC. The price of smartphone components, such as the camera module and chips, have been increasing in recent years.

    Apple is much more likely to focus on highlighting its phones’ new features and quietly note the new price. Analysts expect the new iPhones to have larger screens, increased memory and new, faster chips for AI.

    “No one’s going to come out and say it’s related to tariffs,” said IDC analyst Nabila Popal.

    One way that Apple could subtly raise prices is by eliminating the entry-level version of its phones, forcing users to upgrade to get more storage at a higher starting price. Apple typically charges $100 to double the amount of the iPhone’s storage from 128GB to 256GB.

    That’s what JPMorgan analysts expect Apple to announce next week.

    They forecast that Apple will leave the prices of the entry level and high-end Pro Max models alone, but they wrote that they expect the company to eliminate the entry-level version of the Pro, meaning that users will have to pay $1,099 for an iPhone 17 Pro that has more starting-level storage than its predecessor. That’s how Apple raised the price of the entry-level Pro Max in 2023.

    “However, with Apple’s recent announcements relative to investments in US, the assumption is that the company will largely be shielded from tariffs, driving expectations for limited pricing changes except for those associated with changes in the base storage configuration for the Pro model,” wrote JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee.

    When Cook was asked about potential Apple price increases on an earnings call in May, he said there was “nothing to announce.”

    “I’ll just say that the operational team has done an incredible job around optimizing the supply chain and the inventory,” Cook said.

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    Paramount mandates 5-day-a-week return to office ahead of major cost cuts

    David Ellison continues to put his stamp on Paramount after its acquisition by Skydance.

    The CEO and chairman told employees Thursday that they will be expected to work in the office five days a week starting Jan. 5, 2026, according to a memo obtained by CNBC. Employees who do not wish to make the transition can seek a buyout starting Thursday and until Sept. 15.

    “To achieve what we’ve set out to do — and to truly unlock Paramount’s full potential — we must make meaningful changes that position us for long-term success,” Ellison wrote to staffers. “These changes are about building a stronger, more connected, and agile organization that can deliver on our goals and compete at the highest level. We have a lot to accomplish and we’re moving fast. We need to all be rowing in the same direction. And especially when you’re dealing with a creative business like ours, that begins with being together in person.”

    The move could help Paramount thin the herd ahead of looming staffing cuts.

    Variety reported last month that the company is expected to lay off between 2,000 and 3,000 employees as part of its postmerger cost-cutting measures. These cuts are slated for early November, Variety reported.

    Paramount is looking to take $2 billion in costs out of the conglomerate amid advertising losses and industrywide struggles with traditional cable networks.

    Phase one of Ellison’s back-to-work plan will see employees in Los Angeles and New York returning to a full five-day workweek in the new year.

    Phase two will focus on offices outside LA and New York, including international locations. A similar buyout program will be offered in 2026 for those who operate in these locations.

    “We recognize this represents a significant change for many, and we’re committed to supporting you throughout this transition,” Ellison wrote. “We will work closely with managers to ensure you have the time and flexibility to make the necessary adjustments.”

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