The recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which has affected shipping lanes and possibly oil prices, coupled with a spike in US inflation, has shifted investor sentiment from a greedy and ‘risk-on’ attitude to a more neutral and ‘risk-off’ stance.
In the Weekly Market Digest, gold should continue to benefit from safe-haven demand, at least in the short term, while any pullback in resource equities may present an opportunity. Base metals are supported by a ban on Russian metals on metal exchanges (LME, COMEX).
The Exploration Insights Portfolio eked out a small gain last week, led by a high-grade gold explorer in Australia. I have shuffled the Top Picks, given my positive disposition toward copper and precious metals.
In Stock Talk, I examine an upgraded Brazil-focused copper producer/developer and review exploration results from grassroots copper explorers in Australia and Peru.