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Alvopetro Energy Ltd. (TSXV: ALV,OTC:ALVOF) (OTCQX: ALVOF) announces February sales volumes of 3,058 boepd (based on field estimates), a 1% decrease from January 2026 and an 8% increase over Q4 2025. In Brazil, February sales averaged 2,879 boepd, including natural gas sales of 16.2 MMcfpd and associated natural gas liquids sales from condensate of 185 bopd. In Canada, February sales averaged 179 bopd.

Natural gas, NGLs and crude oil sales:          

February

2026

     January

2026

Q4  

2025 

Brazil:

      Natural gas (Mcfpd), by field:

      Caburé

11,411

11,605

9,653

      Murucututu

4,752

4,698

5,439

      Total natural gas (Mcfpd)

16,163

16,303

15,092

      NGLs (bopd)

185

175

184

      Oil (bopd) (1)

15

20

Total (boepd) – Brazil

2,879

2,908

2,719

Canada:

      Oil (bopd) – Canada

179

191

148

Total Company – boepd(2)

3,058

3,099

2,867

(1)

Oil sales volumes in Brazil relate to the Bom Lugar and Mãe da lua fields. Alvopetro has entered into an assignment agreement to dispose of the fields, the closing of which is subject to standard regulatory approvals, including approval of the ANP.

(2)

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:
          X – https://x.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

BRL                         

=             

Brazilian real

e3m3/d                   

=             

thousand cubic metre per day

m3/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)

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.

Contracted Natural Gas Volumes

The contracted daily firm volumes under Alvopetro’s long-term gas sales agreement of 400 e3m3/d (before any provisions for take or pay allowances) represent contracted volumes based on contract referenced natural gas heating value. Alvopetro’s reported natural gas sales volumes are prior to any adjustments for heating value of Alvopetro natural gas. Alvopetro’s natural gas is approximately 7.8% higher than the contract reference heating value. Therefore, to satisfy the contractual firm deliveries Alvopetro would be required to deliver approximately 371e3m3/d (13.1MMcfpd).

SOURCE Alvopetro Energy Ltd.

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2026/05/c8049.html

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Chen Lin of Lin Asset Management weighs in on silver and gold, as well as the critical minerals market, which is his favorite sector for 2026.

He also discusses how conflict in the Middle East could impact the resource sector.

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

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(TheNewswire)

Provides Drilling Update at Silver King

Vancouver, British Columbia, March 5th, 2025 TheNewswire – Prismo Metals Inc. (‘Prismo’ or the ‘Company’) (CSE: PRIZ,OTC:PMOMF) (OTCQB: PMOMF) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced transaction with Blade Resources Inc. (‘Blade’) pursuant to which Prismo has assigned all of its rights, interests and obligations in the Hot Breccia copper project, located  in the heart of the Arizona copper belt (the ‘Transaction’), to Blade.

Alain Lambert, CEO of Prismo, commented: ‘In our opinion, Hot Breccia is one of the most compelling copper exploration opportunities in North America. We remain committed to advancing it toward drilling. The principals and financial backers of Blade have a long history and strong track record in raising significant capital for exploration programs of the scale required at Hot Breccia. We expect this will result in Hot Breccia being drilled this year.’

For additional commentary on the Transaction, please watch the interview Alain Lambert gave to Radius Research:

Drilling Update at Silver King

Dr. Craig Gibson, Chief Exploration Officer of Prismo provided an update on the current drill program at the Company’s Silver King project located in Arizona: ‘The first drill hole at Silver King, SK-26-01 was drilled vertically and was successful in traversing the mineralized body as projected from the historic workings and reached a total depth of 477 feet (145 meters). Two small voids that are likely underground workings were intersected near the elevation of the 114′ level and quartz veining extended from this level for about 100 feet down hole. Visible sulfide minerals are present in several intervals and the presence of silver minerals, including native silver, was confirmed through visual identification and with a handheld XRF analyzer. Freibergite (Ag bearing tetrahedrite), stromeyerite (AgCuS) and probably acanthite (AgS) are also present. The second hole, SK-26-02 is currently at a depth of 155 feet.’

Phase 1 Drill Program Highlights:

  • 1,000 meters of diamond drilling to test the upper portion of the steeply plunging, pipe-like Silver King mineralized body 

  • Fully funded program 

  • Additional drilling to test lower down in the mineralized structure and mineralized areas adjacent to the historic mine may also be completed 


Click Image To View Full Size

Fig. 1.  Permitted drill sites planned for initial Phase I drilling at the Silver King mine shown by white dots.  The orange line indicates the approximate location of the cross section in Fig. 2.  View looking south-easterly.

Drilling is currently focused on testing the upper portion of the steeply west-dipping pipelike stockwork and breccia zone that historically produced high-grade silver and base metals (Fig. 2), as well as targets adjacent to and beneath historic workings. Initial drilling is estimated at 1,000 meters in nine holes. A second phase of drilling will be dedicated to testing at deeper levels and areas adjacent to the historic mine.  The silver mineralization at Silver King is similar to that of portions of the nearby Magma Mine, and exploration for nearby copper mineralization is warranted.

The Magma Mine and Silver King Mine share a common regional geological framework in the Superior Mining District, characterized by a Precambrian to Paleozoic stratigraphic sequence including Pinal Schist basement, diabase sills, the Apache Group sediments, and Paleozoic limestones like the Martin Formation, all tilted eastward and intruded by Laramide-age igneous bodies such as quartz diorite stocks and andesite sills. While both exhibit fault-controlled mineralization—east-trending faults and veins with hydrothermal alteration like silicification and potassic zoning—Silver King features epithermal-mesothermal silver-dominant veins in porphyry with minerals like stromeyerite, tetrahedrite, and acanthite, contrasting Magma’s mesothermal copper-focused veins and limestone replacement ores (mantos) rich in chalcopyrite and bornite. This vertical zoning suggests Silver King’s shallower silver-enriched system may transition into deeper copper styles like Magma’s, with overlapping sulfides indicating potential for untapped polymetallic extensions, especially given Magma’s link to the underlying Resolution Copper porphyry deposit.

 

Fig. 2.  Cross section through Silver King mine showing workings and first four planned drill holes.

 


Click Image To View Full Size

Chief Exploration Officer Dr. Craig Gibson supervising drilling at Silver King


Click Image To View Full Size

Core logging at Silver King, hole SK-26-01

Additional Information on the Transaction

In consideration for the Transaction, Prismo was issued 6,755,000 common shares of Blade and received a cash payment of $185,000. Following completion of the Transaction, Prismo owns approximately 24% of Blade’s issued and outstanding shares and is Blade’s largest single shareholder (see additional early warning disclosure below).

Strategic Rationale of the Transaction

The Transaction provides several strategic benefits:

  • Value Creation: Prismo is leveraging its investments in Hot Breccia into a significant stake in a company dedicated to advancing the Hot Breccia project. 

  • Access to Capital with Limited Dilution: The structure provides enhanced access to capital for the Hot Breccia drill program through Blade, without direct dilution to Prismo shareholders. 

  • Strategic Focus: Prismo will focus on advancing its remaining Arizona projects — Silver King and Ripsey Gold — while Blade dedicates its efforts to advancing Hot Breccia. 

  • Enhanced Attractiveness to Strategic Partners: With the potential for 100% ownership of Hot Breccia, Blade will be in a better position to possibly attract majors or strategic buyers. 

Additional Prismo Rights under the Transaction

Under the terms of the Transaction:

  • Prismo has the right to nominate one representative to Blade’s board of directors. The Company has not yet determined its initial nominee. 

  • Blade has granted Prismo participation rights in future equity offerings, allowing Prismo to subscribe for shares on substantially the same terms as other investors in order to maintain its undiluted ownership percentage in Blade. 

Early Warning Disclosure

This news release is issued in accordance with National Instrument 62-103 – The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. Prior to the Transaction, Prismo did not own any common shares of Blade. The common shares of Blade were acquired by Prismo for a total consideration of $2,364,250 and were acquired for investment purposes with a view to Blade’s potential listing on a Canadian stock exchange.

Except as described in this news release, Prismo has no present plans or intentions that relate to or would result in any of the matters enumerated in paragraphs (a) through (k) of Item 5 of Form 62-103F1.

Prismo will file an early warning report in accordance with applicable securities laws, which will be available under Blade’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . A copy of the early warning report may be obtained by contacting Gordon Aldcorn at the contact details below.

Qualified Person

Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations and Chief Exploration Officer and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release.  

About Prismo Metals Inc.

Prismo (CSE: PRIZ,OTC:PMOMF, OTCQB: PMOMF) is a mining exploration company focused on advancing its Silver King, Ripsey and Hot Breccia projects in Arizona and its Palos Verdes silver project in Mexico.

About Blade Resources Inc.

Blade Resources is a private mining exploration company focused on development of North American copper and precious metals projects.

Please follow @PrismoMetals on , , , Instagram, and

Prismo Metals Inc.

1100 – 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6  Phone: (416) 361-0737

Contact:

Alain Lambert, Chief Executive Officer alain.lambert@prismometals.com

Gordon Aldcorn, President gordon.aldcorn@prismometals.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information relates to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends’ or anticipates‘, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may’, could’, should’, would’ or occur’. This information and these statements, referred to herein as ‘forward‐looking statements’, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management’s expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the anticipated closing and closing date of the Transaction; the strategic rationale and potential upside of the transaction with Blade,  the future development of the Hot Breccia project and Blade’s ability of Blade to successfully implement its strategic and business objectives, including potentially attracting majors or strategic buyers; and the ability of Prismo to fund its exploration activities on its other projects.

These forward‐looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: that the Transaction may not close as anticipated, or at all; delays incurred by Blade in obtaining or failure to obtain appropriate funding to finance the exploration program at Hot Breccia; the inability of Blade to successfully acquire a 100% interest on the Hot Breccia project; delays incurred by the Company in obtaining or failure to obtain appropriate funding to finance exploration programs for its other projects; the risk that mineralization will not be as anticipated at the Hot Breccia project or at the Company’s other projects; metal prices; market uncertainty; and other risks and uncertainties application to exploration activities and the Company’s business as set forth in the Company’s disclosure documents available for viewing under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that: the ability to raise capital to fund exploration programs at Hot Breccia or on the Company’s other projects, and the timing of such exploration programs; the ability of Blade to complete the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Hot Breccia project and to successfully carry out its business and strategic objectives following completion of the transaction; and that the Hot Breccia project and the Company’s other projects will have the anticipated mineralization and other qualities.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

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Lobo Tiggre of IndependentSpeculator.com shares his thoughts on how gold, silver and oil could be impacted by the developing situation in the Middle East.

He cautioned investors not to chase these commodities if prices run.

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

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Investor Insight

Oreterra Metals is focused on the discovery of large-scale porphyry copper-gold systems in Canada and the US, led by a management team with a proven track record delivering multi-million dollar exits in the same world-class mining jurisdictions.

Overview

Oreterra Metals (TSXV:OTMC) is a focused mineral exploration company dedicated to delivering for its shareholders large-scale discoveries and the capital gains opportunities that typically come with such discoveries. The company’s strategy centers on copper-gold porphyry systems in North America, chosen for their scale, relatively low finding and resource proving costs in relation to high grade vein systems, and their high attractiveness to major mining operators as potential long-life mines. Oreterra emerged early in February 2026 following the comprehensive restructuring and rebranding of its predecessor company, a restructuring warranted by the exceptional prospectivity of the Trek South prospect.

Oreterra’s flagship asset is the wholly owned Trek South porphyry copper-gold prospect, located on the 6,379-hectare Trek property situated in the heart of British Columbia’s Golden Triangle. Effectively new to modern geological science, the prospect has emerged due to rapid glacial ice retreat. First identified in 2019, all of the work required to reveal it as a highly prospective porphyry copper-gold prospect and to bring it to drill-ready status has occurred only in the period since 2021.

The company is led by a veteran management team with over 100 combined years of experience in mineral exploration, finance, and corporate governance. With a lean share structure and strong institutional support following its recent $9.7 million financing, Oreterra is fully funded and ideally positioned to test its high-conviction targets, starting with the first-ever drill of Trek South commencing in the approaching 2026 field season.

Company Highlights

  • Fully Funded for 2026 Exploration: Recently completed a massively oversubscribed $9.7 million financing to support the first-ever drilling this summer of the wholly owned, large-scale Trek South prospect, only recently revealed by glacial ice melt.
  • Drill‑Ready Flagship: The Trek South target has everything one seeks in a new porphyry copper-gold discovery prospect: i.e. large scale, terrific rock exposure, intense porphyry-style changes and metal values on surface in those rocks, and stacked (coincident), strongly positive, magnetic and geophysical anomalies directly below.
  • Infrastructure Advantage: The Trek South prospect is just 3 kilometres up-slope from the nearest work camp, bridges and road presently under construction by the Teck/Newmont GCMC joint venture, and 12 kilometers from their proposed mill site.
  • Proven Management: Led by CEO Kevin Keough, founding CEO of GT Gold Corp. which delivered the Saddle North porphyry copper-gold discovery (Dec. 13, 2017), later sold to Newmont for $523 million cash in current dollars following just $16.7 million of exploration outlays (Saddle North only).
  • Asset Portfolio: Beyond the flagship, Oreterra holds high-grade gold and porphyry copper-gold assets in Nevada and Ontario.

Key Projects

Trek Project – Golden Triangle, British Columbia

Potential for a Major Discovery in the First Few Drill Holes

A large-scale porphyry copper-gold prospect ready for its first-ever drilling, in 2026

The wholly owned Trek property spans 6,379 hectares in the heart of BC’s Golden Triangle, one of North America’s geologically most fertile copper‑gold-silver belts. Within the property, the Trek South target represents a very large, entirely new, porphyry system identified in the period since 2021 by mapping, sampling and geophysical programs.

Strategically positioned approximately 10 km from Teck–Newmont’s rich Galore Creek porphyry copper-gold project and just 3 km up slope from partially completed road access, Trek South is poised for its maiden drilling program in 2026. The project is supported by a National Instrument 43‑101 technical report delivered on January 20, 2026.

The property also hosts additional exploration targets that provide district‑scale upside under a single land package.

Kinkaid Project – Nevada

An Emerging Porphyry Copper-Gold Project on a Proven Nevada Mining Trend

Kinkaid comprises 131 claims covering 1,101 hectares in Mineral County, Nevada, an attractive mining jurisdiction with established infrastructure. The project is subject to a 2% net smelter returns royalty. Exploration has identified two distinct mineralization styles: epithermal to mesothermal veins, and garnet skarns, with evidence for buried porphyry centres.

Oreterra is planning further exploration at Kinkaid, including both airborne and ground geophysical surveys. These programs are intended to refine drill targets ahead of planned diamond drilling on the most prospective areas of the property.

Lundmark Project – Ontario

Emerging copper-gold in northwestern Ontario and an extensive drilling-defined mineral system

The 5,386‑hectare Lundmark property adjoins the Musselwhite gold mine in northwestern Ontario and is subject to a 3 percent NSR royalty. Drilling since 2019 has outlined a significant volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) system characterized by multiple mineralizing events.

These include individual high-grade gold-bearing quartz–pyrrhotite veins, broad zones of stockwork-style copper–gold vein mineralization, and three VMS-style gold–silver–enriched base metal zones. In total, the alteration and mineralization system identified to date now extends for approximately 11 kilometres along strike.

Scossa Project – Nevada

Scossa, a 541‑hectare property, encompasses the historic high‑grade Scossa gold mine, active in the 1930s and 1940s. The epithermal gold system features five known veins, with historical mining limited to the 400‑foot level. Exceptional grades from historical records and previous drilling by the company in the 2003 timeframe, indicates meaningful potential remains.

Management Team

Kevin M. Keough — Chief Executive Officer & Director

A geologist by training, Mr. Keough brings 45 years global exploration, corporate leadership, and capital markets experience, and has founded and led exploration companies that delivered major discoveries of the type Oreterra seeks, later sold for considerable profit.

Stephen Burega — President & Director

With 25+ years in mining and resources, Mr. Burega specializes in corporate development, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement and played an instrumental role in Oreterra’s strategic repositioning.

Brian Crawford — Chief Financial Officer

A chartered professional accountant with deep public company finance and governance experience, Mr. Crawford has co‑founded several TSXV and CSE‑listed companies and continues to support growth‑stage exploration entities.

John Biczok — Vice‑President, Exploration

A professional geologist with over 45 years of field and discovery experience, Mr. Biczok has been involved in significant discoveries globally and brings robust technical leadership to Oreterra’s exploration programs.

Ashley Nadon — Corporate Secretary

Ashley Nadon, a Chartered Professional Accountant, supports governance and financial reporting with a depth of expertise in public company compliance.

Get access to more exclusive Gold Investing Stock profiles here

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Oreterra Metals (TSXV:OTMC) is a mineral exploration company focused on delivering large-scale discoveries and the shareholder value that typically follows. Its strategy targets copper-gold porphyry systems in North America, selected for their scale, comparatively lower discovery costs versus high-grade vein systems, and strong appeal to major mining companies as potential long-life operations. The company emerged in February 2026 following the restructuring and rebranding of its predecessor, driven by the exceptional potential of the Trek South prospect.

Oreterra’s flagship asset is the wholly owned Trek South copper-gold porphyry prospect on the 6,379-hectare Trek property in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle. The prospect has only recently become accessible due to glacial retreat and remains effectively new to modern geological exploration. First identified in 2019, work conducted since 2021 has advanced the project to drill-ready status.

A large-scale porphyry copper-gold prospect ready for its first-ever drilling, in 2026

The company is led by a veteran management team with more than 100 years of combined experience in exploration, finance, and governance. Following a recent $9.7 million financing and supported by a lean share structure, Oreterra is fully funded to test its high-conviction targets, with the first-ever drill program at Trek South planned for the 2026 field season.

Company Highlights

  • Fully Funded for 2026 Exploration: Recently completed a massively oversubscribed $9.7 million financing to support the first-ever drilling this summer of the wholly owned, large-scale Trek South prospect, only recently revealed by glacial ice melt.
  • Drill‑Ready Flagship: The Trek South target has everything one seeks in a new porphyry copper-gold discovery prospect: i.e. large scale, terrific rock exposure, intense porphyry-style changes and metal values on surface in those rocks, and stacked (coincident), strongly positive, magnetic and geophysical anomalies directly below.
  • Infrastructure Advantage: The Trek South prospect is just 3 kilometres up-slope from the nearest work camp, bridges and road presently under construction by the Teck/Newmont GCMC joint venture, and 12 kilometers from their proposed mill site.
  • Proven Management: Led by CEO Kevin Keough, founding CEO of GT Gold Corp. which delivered the Saddle North porphyry copper-gold discovery (Dec. 13, 2017), later sold to Newmont for $523 million cash in current dollars following just $16.7 million of exploration outlays (Saddle North only).
  • Asset Portfolio: Beyond the flagship, Oreterra holds high-grade gold and porphyry copper-gold assets in Nevada and Ontario.

This Oreterra Metals profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Oreterra Metals (TSXV:OTMC) to receive an Investor Presentation

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The global platinum market is expected to remain in deficit for a fourth consecutive year in 2026, even as supply begins to stabilize and demand moderates following a sharp rally in the metal’s price.

New projections from the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) show a deficit of about 240,000 ounces for 2026 following a significantly larger shortfall of 1.082 million ounces in 2025.

That’s the deepest deficit recorded in the group’s Platinum Quarterly data series since it began in 2014. According to data, the cumulative deficit since 2023 will approach 3 million ounces by the end of 2026.

As a result, aboveground platinum stocks are expected to remain historically low, falling to about 2.613 million ounces, which is equivalent to just over four months of global demand for the precious metal.

WPIC CEO Trevor Raymond said the factors that fueled platinum’s strong performance last year are expected to remain.

“The key drivers of platinum’s price rally in 2025, namely strong supply/demand fundamentals, a depletion of above ground stocks, and macropolitical uncertainty-driven precious metals demand, are expected to persist in 2026,” he said.

“Consequently, market tightness is likely to continue, maintaining investor interest in platinum, and further supporting bar and coin and ETF demand throughout the year.”

Platinum investment strength offsets softer overall demand

The forecast marks a shift from earlier expectations that the platinum market would return to balance in 2026.

Instead, strong investment sentiment and resilient exchange-traded fund holdings have pushed the market back into deficit territory. Even so, total demand for platinum is expected to decline moderately this year.

The WPIC projects overall demand will fall about 8 percent year-on-year to roughly 7.619 million ounces.

Much of that drop reflects a normalization in investment demand after a surge in 2025, when inflows into platinum exchange-traded funds and physical investment products climbed sharply.

However, demand for physical platinum bars and coins is expected to continue growing.

The WPIC forecasts that bar and coin investment will jump 35 percent in 2026 to 725,000 ounces, reaching the highest level recorded in the Platinum Quarterly dataset.

Investment purchases of platinum are increasing as the metal gains attention as a lower-priced alternative to gold, and as retail investment products become more widely available.

Supply growth lags as platinum deficit persists

While demand patterns shift across sectors, platinum supply growth remains limited.

Total platinum supply is expected to rise just 2 percent in 2026 to about 7.379 million ounces.

Mine output is forecast to remain essentially flat at roughly 5.553 million ounces, with production gains in South Africa and Zimbabwe offset by declines in North America and Russia.

The modest increase in supply will largely come from recycling. Higher platinum prices have encouraged the recovery of spent autocatalysts and recycled jewelry, pushing recycling supply up about 10 percent in 2025. That trend is expected to continue this year, with recycled metal rising another 10 percent to approximately 1.827 million ounces.

Still, the additional recycled material is unlikely to fully offset the underlying market tightness. As Raymond noted, another factor that could further deepen the deficit has yet to be fully reflected in current forecasts.

“One item not yet captured in the supply/demand balance is any exchange stocks warehoused with the Guangzhou Futures Exchange, which could potentially deepen the deficit versus current projections once these are made publicly available,” he said. For platinum investors, the persistence of deficits suggests that the market’s underlying fundamentals remain supportive even as demand moderates from last year’s highs.

“The price rally we’ve seen this year has not solved the deficit,” he said.

“Normally, in a deficit market, you would expect the price to increase. Clearly, the elevated prices we’ve experienced is still insufficient to attract more supply into the market or drag more metal out of aboveground stocks.”

With supply growth limited and inventories shrinking, the platinum market is likely to remain structurally tight, sustaining investor interest through 2026.

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

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt would not rule out the possibility of the U.S. sending ground troops to Iran, though she said Wednesday it is not being considered at the moment.

During the first White House press briefing since Operation Epic Fury was launched, a reporter asked whether ground troops would be sent into Iran.

‘Well, they’re not part of the plan for this operation at this time, but I certainly will never take away military options on behalf of the president of the United States or the commander in chief, and he wisely does not do the same for himself,’ Leavitt said.

‘I know there’s many leaders in the past who like to take options off of the table without having a full understanding of how things could develop. So, again, it’s not part of the current plan, but I’m not going to remove an option for the president that is on the table.’

Since Saturday, the U.S. and Israel have carried out attacks on Iran using airstrikes and naval attacks, but neither country has put boots on the ground. The attacks that have been carried out thus far have targeted the regime’s security and military infrastructure, including the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials.

Leavitt said the U.S. has four main objectives with Operation Epic Fury: eliminate Iran’s ballistic missile threat, destroy its naval capability, disrupt its missile and drone production infrastructure and cut off Iran’s pathway to a nuclear weapon.

The press secretary was asked multiple times if the U.S. wished to see regime change in Iran. She repeated the objectives she previously detailed and reiterated the administration’s stance on the regime.

‘Obviously, as the president has said numerous times, do we want to see Iran being led by a rogue terrorist regime? No, of course not,’ Leavitt said.

So far, the U.S. has hit nearly 2,000 targets in Iran, and more than 17,500 Americans have returned to U.S. soil from the Middle East since the operation began.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth gave an operational update earlier on Wednesday, saying he U.S. was ‘decisively’ winning, and later adding that Iran was ‘toast’ and if it didn’t already realize it, it would ‘soon enough.’

‘I stand before you today with one unmistakable message about Operation Epic Fury. America is winning — decisively, devastatingly and without mercy,’ Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon.

‘The two most powerful air forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies. Uncontested airspace.’

Related Article

74 retired US generals, admirals back Iran strikes, warn Tehran seeks to ‘spill American blood’
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House Republicans are signaling that they’re largely OK giving President Donald Trump the reins as the U.S. and Israel continue their joint operation against Iran.

But one red line looms on the horizon for most GOP lawmakers, one that would put dozens of them in a difficult position between supporting their party leader and keeping in line with Congress’ constitutional authorities.

‘I would like to see congressional approval for boots on the ground,’ Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., told Fox News Digital. He added, however, that ‘right now, it’s just an intervention, which is very similar to what Obama and Clinton and other presidents throughout my lifetime have done.’

The ongoing strikes, which killed Iran’s supreme leader and other high-ranking members of Tehran’s repressive regime, have so far been comprised of coordinated missile launches on military targets.

But the Trump administration has not ruled out having a U.S. presence on the ground there despite assurances that the mission will be finite and only lasting a matter of weeks rather than months or years.

‘The president is doing what he should be doing. … I agree with the policy,’ Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital. ‘If at some point this extends beyond … in terms of boots on the ground and budgetary need and scope, that starts to then demand our involvement, then we’ll look at it.’

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said she too backed the operation, but added, ‘If ground troops get involved, I think that’s a very different conversation. That’s not where we are today.’

‘We’re taking it day by day at this point to see how things progress, but that would certainly be something that we as Congress would like to be involved in the discussion,’ Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., told Fox News Digital.

But he also argued that forcing the operation to end too early could do more harm than good.

‘Once the president has taken that action, that first action, if we were to pull back, it would actually leave us more vulnerable and less safe by leaving all of their capabilities in place but having started a conflict like this,’ Mackenzie said. 

‘So, we do need to follow through on the objectives, but we also need to be very much on guard to make sure that it doesn’t expand beyond what we are able to achieve.’

Others, like Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., were skeptical it would get to that point.

‘I don’t think we’re going to get to that point. This is much different than Iraq or Afghanistan. The capabilities that we’ve developed, the intelligence that we developed, working with the IDF — we had the capabilities now that we did not have,’ Alford told Fox News Digital.

‘Now, should it come to boots on the ground, which I don’t think it will, that’s an entirely different story. … We’re only five days into this, and I think what you’ve seen so far is having tremendous effect.’

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New York’s Medicaid program is being thoroughly examined by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, who claims there is evidence of widespread fraud. 

In a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Tuesday, Oz asked state officials 50 questions about the program and gave Hochul and her team 30 days to get the requested information to the Trump administration.

Oz asked that she and her team give CMS detailed information on ‘program integrity and provider screening and enrollment oversight within New York’s Medicaid program.’

‘Recent data reporting, federal prosecutions, and analyses raise serious concerns about New York’s oversight of personal care, home health, adult day care programming, non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), and behavioral health services,’ Oz’s letter addressed to Hochul and several state health officials read. ‘This evidence, combined with New York’s elevated per capita Medicaid spending and workforce utilization patterns that significantly exceed national norms, underscore the need for immediate investigation, corrective action, and enhanced transparency.’

‘The data is clear: New York far outspends other states on its Medicaid program on a statewide and per beneficiary basis,’ he added.

In a video message, Oz said New York spends more than $100 billion a year on Medicaid, the second highest in the nation. He said New York’s average spending on each beneficiary is more than $12,500, 36% higher than the national average. 

‘As a result, New York’s average Medicaid spending per resident was the highest in the country, nearly 80% higher than the national average,’ Oz said in the video.

‘That alone demands scrutiny. But it gets worse. Personal care services, these help Medicaid patients do something that our families would normally do for us, like carrying groceries. New York State made the screening even more lenient by allowing problems like being ‘easily distracted’ to qualify for a personal care assistant. And that’s led to 45 billion in spending in just over two years,’ Oz added.

Last year, Oz said, 5 million beneficiaries — nearly three out of four enrollees — received those personal care services. He argued that that level of utilization is ‘unheard of’ and has made personal care services ‘the number one occupation in New York state.’ He argued New York has turned a program intended to help the most vulnerable into ‘a massive jobs program reimbursed by federal taxpayers.’

Oz also argued that home health aide payments jumped by 65% year over year twice in a row, even though the number of patients did not increase ‘at that crazy high rate.’

He said adult daycare spending spiked by more than 100% in the last three months while federal prosecutors found a $68 million alleged fraud scheme involving kickbacks at the adult care centers.

 ‘This isn’t about politics,’ Oz said. ‘It’s about protecting patients and protecting taxpayers. We owe New Yorkers transparency. We owe beneficiaries integrity. And we owe the American people accountability.’

 ‘When the numbers don’t make sense, we ask hard questions, and we expect an honest answer,’ he said. ‘Governor Hochul has a month to share a reasonable corrective action plan to fix the fraud, waste and abuse in New York state or CMS will start deferring payments to protect Medicaid.’

A spokesperson for Hochul told Fox News Digital that she was leading efforts to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid before President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The spokesperson also said that Hochul’s office would work with the administration to ‘identify bad actors.’ However, the spokesperson also classified CMS’s probe as politically motivated.

‘Well before the Trump administration even took office, Governor Hochul was leading efforts to root out waste, fraud and abuse — including sweeping CDPAP reforms that shut down hundreds of wasteful Medicaid middlemen and saved over $2 billion for state and federal taxpayers while protecting home care for those who need it,’ a spokesperson for Hochul told Fox News Digital.

‘But let’s be clear about the real goal for Donald Trump and Washington Republicans: eliminating programs that support our most vulnerable and ripping away healthcare from everyday New Yorkers,’ the spokesperson added.

The probe into the state’s handling of Medicaid comes amid recent positive interactions between Trump and Democratic socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The two have exchanged niceties and met at the White House last week.

On Tuesday, Trump posted a photo of Mamdani in front of the Declaration of Independence in the Oval Office and said, ‘Zohran has come a long way embracing, of course, the Declaration of Independence while at the Oval Office — Big progress!’

Fox News Digital also reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment.

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