House Mountain Partners

Are the Metals Decoupling from China?

Chris Berry

By Chris Berry

  • With the commodity super cycle changing its complexion and looking for direction, we continue to believe that the metals markets don't have the "wind at their backs" anymore.
  •  It has been surprising to see many metals prices either bottom or shoot higher in the face of a slowing China and a sluggish global economy haunted by the specter of deflation.
  • Can this upward bias in select metals prices continue given this backdrop?
  • We continue to argue for SELECTIVITY amongst metals and companies as a crucial component of your investment selection until the next leg up of the cycle begins.

 

We're Still at a Bottom…But for How Long?

After enduring two terrible years in the metals markets, it has been a welcome respite to see several....

What to Watch for With Energy Metals During this Earnings Cycle

Shelley Chen
  • With evaluation of junior resource companies challenging using discounted cash flow models, an alternative approach to understanding the various market sectors is a must.
  • I have written a great deal in the past about the benefits to be gained from listening to earnings calls from commodity and materials producers.
  • You must "read between the lines" of what is said and written, but statements made by CEOs and CFOs of large cap companies can offer insights into the strengths and weaknesses of various markets. This can only help with your analysis.
  • Today, I offer some of the insights I'll be listening for during calls this week and next. I also offer a list of companies whose calls I will be dialing into.

Emerging Markets Come Back

Chris Berry

 

  •  Despite the Fed continuing to taper the pace of asset purchases, it appears that Emerging Markets (EMs) have rebounded from their initial sell off.
  •  Has the crisis “vanished” as Bloomberg recently claimed or is this a lull in a secular downtrend?
  •  There are a number of indicators we can look at, but none are more telling than the direction of currencies and interest rates – higher rates will hurt growth prospects.
  •  Regardless of the “crisis talk”, EMs will continue to lead global growth, albeit at a slower pace than many would like.
  •  Does this, coupled with slow and presumably steady growth in the West augur for higher interest rates going forward? This is anathema to Central Bankers.

 

Are We Out of the Woods Yet?

In May of 2013 when then-Chairman Ben Bernanke announced his intention to eventually start tapering asset purchases in the United States, Emerging Market equities and currencies were the first, unwitting victims. 

The thinking goes as follows:

 

Q1 2014 Economic and Energy Metals Review

Chris Berry

In accordance with the roll out of our new journal offering next week, and our goal of increasing your “value added,” we will begin publishing a quarterly review of the Discovery space.  Specifically, today we will analyze the overall macroeconomic picture and how it has affected select Energy Metals.  We'll highlight the key themes which have driven many of the companies involved in exploration, development, and production to double digit returns YTD.

 

As the West Sputters Along…..

In mid 2013, it appeared as if the US and Euro Zone economies were picking up steam based on accelerating PMI readings and falling unemployment.

Profit Taking in Uranium

Chris Berry

There's no denying it - uranium companies are off to a solid start in 2014. An equally weighted basket of uranium names I am tracking is up over 22% YTD easily outpacing the TSX and TSXV indices which are up 4.82% and 9.36% respectively. Consolidation continues apace with the most recent example being the proposed Denison Mines (DNN:NYSE, DML:TSX) take out of International Enexco (IEC:TSXV, IEXCF:OTCBB) for its share of the Mann Lake Deposit in the Athabasca Basin. Exploration success is also evident with Fission Uranium's (FCU:TSXV, FCUUF:OTCBB) continued impressive off scale results at its Patterson Lake South property.

For all the positives, the spot price of U3O8 still hasn't "turned". In fact, the price seems relatively directionless. I have written before that the reasons for the stalled uranium renaissance include the delay of the Japanese reactor re-starts as well as other lesser-known factors like the U.S. Department of Energy slowly releasing its stockpile of uranium into the US domestic market, keeping a lid on prices.

This lack of a turn has only been reinforced when you consider that the recent spot price of U3O8 has now fallen to $34.63 per pound well below the price necessary to incentivize further exploration or project expansion.

What Tesla's Gigafactory Means for the Juniors

Chris Berry
  • Tesla Motors (TSLA:NYSE) recent announcement to build its own vertically integrated lithium ion battery factory (dubbed the Gigafactory) sent the share prices of many junior mining companies into the stratosphere

  • There are a number of questions to consider behind TSLA’s strategy, but with respect to the junior mining sector, one wonders if this is a lifeline or a false dawn

  • Though lithium and graphite plays have benefited the most from the TSLA announcement, there are a host of metals which will be required to manufacture the specific battery chemistry

  •  It was interesting to note that cobalt or nickel plays didn’t react in the same way lithium plays did after the announcement

  •  It is dangerous for a junior mining company (or an investor) to assume that a major manufacturer like TSLA will rely on a junior not yet in production to feed the eventual Gigafactory supply chain

  • The success or failure of the Gigafactory rests less with a secure supply of raw materials and more with the long term price of a gallon of gas

Did the Uranium Market Just Get Shocked Back to Life?

Chris Berry
  •  No sooner had I penned a note on the state of the uranium market than news out of Japan has helped to shift sentiment in a positive direction

  • In its first draft energy policy since 2011, the government of Japan has committed to maintain nuclear energy as a key source of base load power

  • Uranium producers, development plays, and explorers all rocketed higher on the news, but…..

  • The key metric - the price of U3O8, hasn't moved off its lows

  • With U3O8 prices still in the dumps, my investment strategy with respect to uranium hasn't changed - specifically, take profits on any company specific or industry specific good news