Brent Cook: Insights on Gold, Silver, and Rare Earth Investments Brent Cook: Sticking to Discovery-Driven Investments in Gold, Silver, and Rare Earths At the recent Rule Symposium, Brent Cook, founder of Exploration Insights, emphasized the importance of focusing on exploration and new discoveries within the resource sector. For investors interested in precious metals, Cook’s perspective highlights a clear trend: the most promising opportunities lie in companies actively uncovering fresh deposits of gold, silver, and rare earth elements. This focus on discovery rather than established mining operations suggests potential for significant economic upside, as early-stage exploration companies often present undervalued entry points before market recognition. Given the strategic value of rare earths driven by global demand in technology and renewable energy, alongside the enduring attraction of gold and silver as safe-haven assets, Cook’s approach signals where invest...
Defense Spending and Critical Minerals Demand Rising Defense Budgets Set to Boost Demand for Critical Minerals As the United States steps back from some NATO commitments, European nations are ramping up their defense capabilities, triggering a notable increase in military spending worldwide. This shift is expected to intensify demand for critical minerals essential to modern defense technologies. According to Paul Wong, market strategist at Sprott Asset Management, global defense expenditure reached approximately $2.7 trillion in 2024 and could surge to $6.38 trillion by 2035, reflecting an 8% annual growth rate. This expansion is driven by the need for advanced military equipment such as fighter jets, stealth technology, and increasingly sophisticated drone systems—all reliant on specialty metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements. Moreover, these critical minerals play a dual role beyond defense, being integral to the clean energy transit...