The gold price has seen ups and downs since the US election.

The yellow metal took a hit directly after Donald Trump’s victory, falling to the US$2,550 per ounce level. But then it staged a quick recovery, passing US$2,700. It’s now pulled back again, currently at around US$2,650.

In his view, a fall to US$2,500 wouldn’t be surprising in that scenario.

‘But I would say to anyone — certainly if they’re not invested in gold — don’t wait for that. The key is that the reasons to buy gold have not changed, and we still need gold for a lot of reasons,’ Day said.

‘Gold is not a political metal. Gold to me is the anti-fiat metal, if you want,’ he explained.

‘And obviously a strong dollar — strong against other currencies — is negative for gold. But you can have a strong dollar and still be losing purchasing power. The dollar’s lost 22 percent of its purchasing power in the last four years — that’s by the government’s own numbers. So that in itself tells you … you need it. You need gold,’ Day added.

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

Bitcoin surged past the US$100,000 mark for the first time this week, reaching an all-time high of US$103,713 on Wednesday (December 4) amid growing optimism about positive regulatory changes in the US.

The popular cryptocurrency has been pushing higher since Donald Trump’s US election victory, and the latest rally was ignited when he said he plans to nominate Paul Atkins as chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Atkins, a former SEC commissioner and cryptocurrency advocate, is expected to adopt a more favorable stance on digital assets, contrasting with the strict approach of outgoing SEC Chair Gary Gensler.

Bitcoin climbed swiftly following the news, stabilizing around the US$101,675 level by midday.

Following its record-breaking performance, the total market cap of digital assets now exceeds US$3.8 trillion, nearly double its valuation at the start of the year, according to CoinGecko data. For comparison, this is slightly above the market cap of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), currently one of the world’s most highly valued companies.

The surge reflects Bitcoin’s evolving role within the financial system, moving from a niche asset to a more widely accepted investment class. Aside from Trump, its key drivers include growing institutional adoption, advancements in blockchain-based financial systems and increasing integration of cryptocurrencies into mainstream markets.

For instance, Virgin Voyages, a cruise company, has recently started accepting Bitcoin as payment for its US$120,000 annual cruise pass. This offering marks the first time a cruise operator has embraced a digital currency.

Mike Novogratz, CEO of cryptocurrency firm Galaxy Digital (TSX:GLXY,OTC Pink:BRPHF), told Reuters the milestone is a turning point, highlighting how institutional investors are driving the momentum.

‘Bitcoin and the entire digital asset ecosystem are on the brink of entering the financial mainstream — this momentum is fuelled by institutional adoption, advancements in tokenisation and payments, and a clearer regulatory path,” he said.

As mentioned, Trump’s election victory in early November has also catalyzed Bitcoin, with the price rising by more than 50 percent since the vote. Trump’s current Bitcoin stance marks a shift from his earlier skepticism of cryptocurrencies.

The president-elect’s evolving views on digital assets were reflected in his campaign initiatives, including accepting cryptocurrency donations and proposing a national strategy for managing Bitcoins seized in criminal cases.

Political support from pro-crypto lawmakers alongside Trump has further bolstered investor confidence, as the Republican Party received significant backing from the cryptocurrency industry during the election.

Trump took to Truth Social, his social media platform, after Bitcoin passed US$100,000, saying, ‘CONGRATULATIONS BITCOINERS!!! $100,000!!! YOU’RE WELCOME!!! Together, we will Make America Great Again!’

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

Brightstar Resources (BTR:AU) has announced BTR accelerates Second Fortune high-grade mine development

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Octava Minerals Limited (ASX:OCT) (“Octava” or the “Company”), a Western Australia focused explorer of the new energy metals antimony, REE’s, Lithium and gold, is pleased to report that exploration drilling at its 100% owned Yallalong antimony project in the mid-west of Western Australia is on track and progressing as expected. In addition, the planned two metallurgical core drill holes are now complete, with samples on their way to Perth to undergo testwork in coming months.

Highlights

• Exploration drilling at the Yallalong antimony project in the mid-west of WA is on track and progressing as planned.
• Drilling at the Discovery antimony prospect, where historic drilling recorded significant high-grade intercepts including 7m @ 3.27% antimony (Sb) is almost complete.
• The rig will shortly relocate 2km north along strike to the second antimony target, Central, and commence drilling.
• Field observations have confirmed the presence of antimony mineralisation in drill holes as expected.
• Completion of two metallurgical core test holes at the Byro REE/Li project with samples to be submitted for chemical analysis followed by minerals extraction studies by CSIRO.

Octava’s Managing Director Bevan Wakelam stated; ”Drilling is going well at our Discovery antimony prospect and progressing as planned. The team onsite have observed antimony mineralisation in drill holes at the Discovery target, which we will get to the laboratory for determination of antimony grades. The results are expected to be available early in the new year. We are also looking forward to testing the second antimony target at the Central target, which has not been drilled tested before. In addition, core hole drilling is now complete at our Byro project, we are looking forward to getting the metallurgical recovery test work on these samples underway at the CSIRO.”

Discovery Antimony Target

Drilling is progressing well at the Discovery antimony target with around 75% of the planned drill holes now completed. In the next few days, the drill rig will relocate to the Central antimony target, 2km north and commence drilling 9 maiden drill holes, down to a depth of approximately 120m, the prospect at Central has not been drill tested before.

Results from the drill program are expected to be available early in the new year.

Byro REE Project

Drilling of two metallurgical core holes at the Byro Project has been completed on time and on budget and the core samples are on their way to Perth. Over the next couple of months, these samples will undergo chemical and mineralogical analysis and beneficiation tests, followed by metals extraction testwork with the CSIRO.

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GreenTech Metals Ltd (ASX: GRE) (GreenTech or the Company) is pleased to announce a second stage drill program at the Whundo Cu-Zn project in the West Pilbara region, which is anticipated to commence in the coming weeks.

Highlights

• GreenTech has finalised plans for the second stage drill program comprising up to 4,000m of diamond core drilling at its 100% owned Whundo Cu-Zn project in the West Pilbara
• The stage 2 program aims to confirm potential for significant resource expansion at the Whundo cluster of VMS style Cu-Zn deposits
• Drilling will focus on extending the under-explored mineralised shoots at Austin, Shelby, Yannery and Ayshia
• Drilling to be followed by downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys aimed at identifying further extensions to the Cu-Zn mineralised shoots
• Identified DHEM conductor targets associated with the known mineralised shoots present potential to significantly increase existing Cu-Zn resources
• Drilling contractor Topdrill has been engaged to commence in the coming weeks
• Drilling is funded by recently completed $2.3M placement, $1M drill for equity agreement with Topdrill and an EIS grant of up to $140,000 from the WA Government¹

GreenTech’s Executive Director, Tom Reddicliffe, commented: “Following hot on the heels of a successful first stage of drilling, this next campaign will get underway this year to further test potential extensions to the mineralised shoots comprising the Whundo VMS cluster. In particular, we eagerly await the outcome of testing the exceptional Shelby conductor which eclipses other targets in the field with respect to its scale. This target is a clear standout and will be a priority to be drilled. Given the nature of VMS clusters, and the multiple opportunities for resource growth we believe a project with around 10-15Mt would make a significant difference to the economics of the Whundo Copper project and represents a potentially achievable target for exploration going forward.” 

The program aims to confirm potential for significant resource expansion at the Whundo cluster of VMS style Cu-Zn deposits and is a follow-up to the successful first program of 1,710m completed in July 2024.

This second drill campaign will comprise up to 4,000m of diamond core drilling, with follow- up downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys planned for selected holes. The results of the DHEM surveys will assist in the planning of follow-up drill holes which may be drilled as part of this program.

Whundo VMS Field

The Whundo Project comprises six known mineralised Cu-Zn shoots, typically plunging to the north at 30 – 40 degrees. These mineralised shoots, known as Whundo East, Whundo West, Austin, Shelby, Yannery and Ayshia, occur within a defined generally northeast trending zone over a strike of 2km. A further combined 2km of this prospective zone remains open to both the west and the east of the known mineralisation within the tenement. The close spatial relationship between the known mineralised shoots with respect to plunge and thickness of mineralisation suggest these are potentially part of a large VMS type mineralising event which remains open along strike and at depth.

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