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Bullish news From G7 meetings this weekend on New Nuclear Alliance
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-forms-nuclear-fuel-alliance-121748608.html
Remember when U308 was $18/lb. ??? Last was $54/lb.
So popular that Sprott started a new U308 fund.
U308 is so popular in Europe that a build out of new power plants is happening.
If you are interested in Uranium Stocks and want to know about UEX join me on the UEX board. There is lots of good news about this company and plenty of reason to do your DD on this company. Find out what I mean when I say TWO MINTS IN ONE.
some saying radar/ thanx fer reply
Hi Mick....I've been out of Uranium plays past 2 or 3 months....watching and waiting for right setups....I see URA has an RSI of 23, gonna bounce soon looks like.....
any updates fer us'ins ?????
U308 on a tear the past 3 months... URA...
Big week for URRE...
So, anyone else want to opine?
Based on the following, the U308 industry is killing itself:
The following is sickening/frightening... you decide... I already made up my mind...
http://nukeprofessional.blogspot.com/2015/09/61-pages-of-stories-of-death-of-pacific.html
Sprott's Thoughts... Thoughts on Uranium
Monday, March 14, 2016
Gwen Preston
http://www.sprottglobal.com/thoughts/articles/thoughts-on-uranium/
The Changing World Of Uranium Mining
Monday January 25, 2016 17:00
http://www.kitco.com/commentaries/2016-01-25/The-Changing-World-Of-Uranium-Mining.html
Merry Christmas!!!
Salman Partners: Uranium Prices to Rise from Now to 2018
Raymond Goldie of Salman Partners expects uranium spot prices to rise from now until early 2018.
Kristen Moran • November 12, 2015
http://investingnews.com/daily/resource-investing/energy-investing/uranium-investing/uranium-news-uranium-prices-expected-to-increase-as-inventories-shrink/?nameplate_category=Uranium%20Investing
10 Top Uranium Mines
Wednesday July 15, 2015, 12:35pm PDT
By Staff Writer+ - Exclusive to Uranium Investing News
http://uraniuminvestingnews.com/22578/top-uranium-mines-areva-kazakhstan-cameco-mcarthur-river-bhp-billiton.html
I think that the opening of the futures trading in U308 was the mechanismthat destroyed the uranium market.
Warren Buffett to Help Fund International Uranium Fuel Bank
Thursday June 11, 2015, 2:55pm PDT
By Charlotte McLeod
http://uraniuminvestingnews.com/22262/warren-buffett-nuclear-threat-initiative-uranium-fuel-bank-kazakhstan.html
Sector News:
Japan’s Third Nuclear Reactor Restart Coming Closer
Wednesday May 20, 2015, 3:45pm PDT
By Kristen Moran+ - Exclusive to Uranium Investing News
http://uraniuminvestingnews.com/21960/japan-nuclear-regulation-authority-shikoku-electric-power-ikata-3.html
Uranium Mining Companies Listed in All Countries
http://www.miningfeeds.com/uranium-mining-report-all-countries
Trend to continue??? Off the most recent highs... watching closely.
Chart shows a higher low... The trend appears to be up...
U308 prices turning up at the moment...
Japan Okays Two More Nuclear Reactors
Wednesday December 17, 2014, 3:55pm PST
By Nick Wells+ - Exclusive to Uranium Investing News
http://uraniuminvestingnews.com/20333/japan-nuclear-reactors-sendai-kansai.html
Japan has greenlit the opening of two reactors for the Takahama project, which is owned by Kansai Electric Power Company (TSE:9503). That brings the number of approved reactors to four, just after a general election win showed steady support for the pro-nuclear ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The new reactors will join the Sendai reactors, which were approved in early November after a local vote by the city of Satsumasendai supported their restart. The Sendai reactors aren’t expected to open until early 2015.
Cantor Fitzgerald forecasts that 32 reactors will ultimately be restarted, with nine in 2015, 10 in 2016, 12 in 2017 and one in 2018.
In a note to investors, Rob Chang talked of the reactor restarts being viewed “as a key market catalyst as some investors remain sceptical on whether it will actually occur.”
David Talbot, with Dundee Capital Markets, largely echoed those thoughts.
“Dundee’s opinion is that these two reactors are part of the ‘friendly thirteen’ reactors that will likely gain local approval based on local support — of the 19 or so that are currently under application for start-up,” he said in a comment to investors.
The reactors will require a month-long consultation process, with both the local and municipal governments needing to give their approval.
Uranium is currently trading at $37 a pound.
(Uranium, too... ) Mining stocks rally across the board
Frik Els | December 18, 2014
http://www.mining.com/mining-stocks-rally-across-the-board-24534/
URA has jumped significantly off the bottom...
“We have been waiting for this moment for a long time,” David Sadowski, a Vancouver-based analyst at Raymond James Financial Inc., said today in a note to clients. “Restarts in Japan will reduce the threat that Japan’s utilities will dump their uranium inventories into the market.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com//globe-investor/uranium-miners-soar-as-japan-moves-to-restart-nuclear-reactors/article21501943/
Colin Healey: Suppressed Uranium Price Shouldn't Keep Hedged Producers and Promising Explorers Down
Source: Brian Sylvester of The Mining Report (11/4/14)
http://www.theaureport.com/pub/na/colin-healey-suppressed-uranium-price-shouldnt-keep-hedged-producers-and-promising-explorers-down
Uranium market is awakening: H.C.Wainwright
Wed 3:34 pm by Deborah Bacal
http://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/57753/uranium-market-is-awakening-hcwainwright-57753.html
The uranium market is showing signs of life, according to H.C. Wainwright analysts, who wrote a research note on the weakened-yet-reviving industry yesterday.
The sector has been plagued ever since the Fukishima nuclear disaster in 2011, but analyst Jeffrey Wright said that the market appears to have not only bottomed out at around $28.00 per pound in the spot market recently, but has also turned a corner with uranium spot prices consolidating a little above $35.00 a pound since mid-2014.
Uranium prices have been depressed ever since the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011, which led to the shutdown of nearly all the reactors at the Fukushima-Daiichi atomic power plant. Many producers had to cut back on new projects and suspend existing ones until prices recover.
While the Fukushima plight was no doubt a setback for the industry, there are currently 94 percent more nuclear reactors under construction and planned than at the height of the uranium market in 2007, according to H.C. Wainwright. This is attributed to increased demand from markets such as China, Russia and India.
"The long-term future for nuclear power construction is strong in China, India and assorted other locations in emerging markets based on the number of nuclear reactors under construction and in the planning phase over the next twenty years," Wright wrote in his note.
"Chinese nuclear power generation is projected to increase by approximately 200%, or 17 GWh to 50 GWh, over the next five years. In the near term, we think the nuclear power industry and in turn the uranium producers will only overcome a negative market psychology with a successful series of nuclear power plant restarts in Japan."
The analyst noted that while the uranium market has been under pressure, and is only now showing signs of rebounding, US uranium producers have been making what he calls "significant progress" in reaching initial production goals and also exercising prudent balance sheet management.
Wright highlighted four of the US uranium producers it covers, including Uranium Energy (NYSEMKT:UEC), Uranerz Energy(NYSEMKT:URZ), Energy Fuels (NYSEMKT:UUUU) and Ur-Energy Corp (NYSEMKT:URG).
Uranium Energy and Uranerz have certainly made strides towards production, as the former continues to advance both its Burke Hollow project in the permitting phase and its Palangana mine's planned production areas, while the latter has recently joined the ranks of uranium producers by completing its first shipment and continuing to ramp up output.
Meanwhile, Energy Fuels has pursued a conservative strategy to preserve its strong balance sheet and resource portfolio for future uranium production, according to Wright, positioning itself for success should higher price levels return in 2015 and beyond.
The company, which is America's largest conventional uranium producer, has cut down signficantly on costs and sold a host of non-core assets, while also deciding to place its White Mesa mill and all associated mines on standby in Q4, once planned production has been completed.
And Ur-Energy recently confirmed its guidance for this year, detailing an initial plan to build inventory of uranium into 2015.
H.C. analyst Wright concluded: "While we are cognizant of the risks posed by the uranium sector, we do believe the risk-reward at current equity valuations should lead investors to deploy fresh capital in the sector.
"In our opinion, as a whole, the uranium producers have experienced selling pressure not only from weak commodity prices but also a capitulation in the sector. We now can see fresh signs of hope and into 2015 and beyond for patient capital which allows for what we anticipate to be a series of nuclear reactor restarts in Japan which could trigger a recovery in uranium spot prices."
He said the key to buying uranium stocks is to be patient, and take a "much longer" investment horizon, remaining aware of the headline risk associated with nuclear power and the uranium mining sector as a whole.
Are Uranium Stocks Being Unfairly Punished?
Wednesday October 22, 2014, 3:25pm PDT
By Staff Writer+ - Exclusive to Uranium Investing News
http://uraniuminvestingnews.com/19831/are-uranium-stocks-being-unfairly-punished.html
BY HENRY BONNER
Uranium stocks are becoming collateral damage in the sell-off in oil over the last couple of months. Since mid-July, oil is down around 20% from $102 per barrel to $83 as of October 201. This has also become a problem for many uranium stocks. Uranium Energy Corp. is down around 27% in the three months ending October 20 2, Fission Uranium Corp. has lost over 30%,3and big uranium producer Cameco Corp. is off 20% in the same time frame.4
‘I guess the market thinks you can put oil in a nuclear reactor,’ said Steve Todoruk, who joined Sprott Global Resource Investments Ltd. in 2003.
I protested: ‘couldn’t cheap oil reduce demand for nuclear power?’
Steve explains why he doesn’t think that’s the real explanation:
How is Doug Casey Preparing for a Crisis Worse than 2008?
Posted by Ray C. Parrish on September 3, 2014 at 5:28pm
http://www.traddr.com/profiles/blog/how-is-doug-casey-preparing-for-a-crisis-worse-than-2008#.VAkuREtg66h
He and His Fellow Millionaires Are Getting Back to Basics
Trillions of dollars of debt, a bond bubble on the verge of bursting and economic distortions that make it difficult for investors to know what is going on behind the curtain have created what author Doug Casey calls a crisis economy. But he is not one to be beaten down. He is planning to make the most of this coming financial disaster by buying equities with real value—silver, gold, uranium, even coal. And, in this interview with The Mining Report, he shares his formula for determining which of the 1,500 "so called mining stocks" on the TSX actually have value.
The Mining Report: This year's Casey Research Summit is titled "Thriving in a Crisis Economy." What is the most pressing crisis for investors today?
Doug Casey: We are exiting the eye of the giant financial hurricane that we entered in 2007, and we're going into its trailing edge. It's going to be much more severe, different and longer lasting than what we saw in 2008 and 2009. Investors should be preparing for some really stormy weather by the end of this year, certainly in 2015.
TMR: The 2008 stock market embodied a great deal of volatility. Now, the indexes seem to be rising steadily. Why do you think we are headed for something worse again?
DC: The U.S. created trillions of dollars to fight the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. Most of those dollars are still sitting in the banking system and aren't in the economy. Some have found their way into the stock markets and the bond markets, creating a stock bubble and a bond superbubble. The higher stocks and bonds go, the harder they're going to fall.
TMR: When Streetwise President Karen Roche interviewed you last year, you predicted a devastating crash. Are we getting closer to that crash? What are the signs that a bond bubble is about to burst?
DC: One indicator is that so-called junk bonds are yielding on average less than 5% today. That's a big difference from the bottom of the bond market in the early 1980s, when even government paper was yielding 15%.
TMR: Isn't that a function of low interest rates?
DC: Yes, it is. Central banks all around the world have attempted to revive their economies by lowering interest rates to all time lows. It's discouraging people from saving and encouraging people to borrow and consume more. The distortions that is causing in the economy are huge, and they're all going to have to be liquidated at some point, probably in the next six months to a year. The timing of these things is really quite impossible to predict. But it feels like 2007 except much worse, and it's likely to be inflationary in nature this time. The certainty is financial chaos, but the exact character of the chaos is, by its very nature, unpredictable.
TMR: Casey Research precious metals expert Jeff Clark recently wrote in Metals and Mining that he's investing in silver to protect himself from an advance of what he calls "government financial heroin addicts having to go cold turkey and shifting to precious metals." Do you agree or are you more of a buy-gold-for-financial-protection kind of guy?
DC: I certainly agree with him. Gold and silver are two totally different elements. Silver has more industrial uses. It is also quite cheap in real terms; the problem is storing a considerable quantity—the stuff is bulky. It's a poor man's gold. We mine about 800 million ounces (800 Moz)/year of silver as opposed to about 80 Moz/year of gold. Unlike gold, most of silver is consumed rather than stored. That is positive.
On the other hand, the fact that silver is mainly an industrial metal, rather than a monetary metal, is a big negative in this environment. Still, as a speculation, silver has more upside just because it's a much smaller market. If a billion dollars panics into silver and a billion dollars panics into gold, silver is going to move much more rapidly and much higher.
TMR: Are you are saying that because silver is more volatile generally, that is good news when the trend is to the upside?
DC: That's exactly correct. All the volatility from this point is going to be on the upside. It's not the giveaway it was back in 2001. In real terms, silver is trading at about the same levels that it was in the mid-1960s. So it's an excellent value again.
TMR: In another recent interview, you called shorting Japanese bonds a sure thing for speculators and said most of the mining companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) weren't worth the paper their stocks were written on, but that some have been priced so low, they could increase 100 times. What are some examples of some sure things in the mining sector?
DC: Of the roughly 1,500 so-called mining stocks traded in Vancouver, most of them don't have any economic mineral deposits. Many that do don't have any money in the bank with which to extract them. The companies that I think are worth buying now are well-funded, underpriced—some selling for just the cash they have in the bank—and sitting on economic deposits with proven management teams. There aren't many of them; I would guess perhaps 50 worth buying. In the next year, many of them are likely to move radically.
TMR: Are there some specific geographic areas that you like to focus on?
DC: The problem is that the whole world has become harder to do business in. Governments around the world are bankrupt so they are looking for a bigger carried interest, bigger royalties and more taxes. At the same time, they have more regulations and more requirements. So the costs of mining have risen hugely. Political risks have risen hugely. There really is no ideal location to mine in the world today. It's not like 100 years ago when almost every place was quick, easy and profitable. Now, every project is a decade long maneuver. Mining has never been an easy business, but now it's a horrible business, worse than it's ever been. It's all a question of risk/reward and what you pay for the stocks. That said, right now, they're very cheap.
TMR: Let's talk about the U.S. Are we in better or worse shape as a country politically and economically than we were last year? At the Casey Research Summit last year, I interviewed you the morning after former Congressman Ron Paul's keynote, and you said that you hoped that the IRS would be shut down instead of the national parks. There's no such shutdown going on today, so does that mean the country is more functional than it was a year ago?
DC: It's in worse shape now. The direction the country is going in is more decisively negative. Perhaps what's happening in Ferguson, Missouri, with the militarized police is a shade of things to come. So, no, things are not better. They've actually deteriorated. We're that much closer to a really millennial crisis.
TMR: Your conferences are always thought provoking. I always enjoy meeting the other attendees—it's always great to talk to people from all over the world who are interested in these topics. But you also bring in interesting speakers. In addition to your Casey Research team, the speakers at the conference this year include radio personality Alex Jones and author and self-described conservative paleo-libertarian Justin Raimondo. What do you hope attendees will take away from the conference?
DC: This is a chance for me and the attendees to sit down and have a drink with people like Justin Raimondo and author Paul Rosenberg. I'm looking forward to it because it is always an education.
Another highlight is that instead of staging hundreds of booths of desperate companies that ought to be put out of their misery, we limit the presenting mining companies in the map room to the best in the business with the most upside potential. That makes this a rare opportunity to talk to these selected companies about their projects.
TMR: We recently interviewed Marin Katusa, who was also excited about the companies that are going to be at the conference. He was bullish on European oil and gas and U.S. uranium. What's your favorite way to play energy right now?
DC: Uranium is about as cheap now in real terms as it was back in 2000, when a huge boom started in uranium and billions of speculative dollars were made. So, once again, cyclically, the clock on the wall says buy uranium with both hands. I think you can make the same argument for coal at this point.
TMR: You recently released a series of videos called the "Upturn Millionaires." It featured you, Rick Rule, Frank Giustra and others talking about how you're playing the turning tides of a precious metals market. What are some common moves you are all making right now?
DC: All of us are moving into precious metals stocks and precious metals themselves because in the years to come, gold and silver are money in its most basic form and the only financial assets that aren't simultaneously somebody else's liability.
TMR: Thanks for your time and insights.
Probably the bottom is in for U308 prices.
Cameco issues lockout at its McArthur River mine and Key Lake mill operations
Michael Allan McCrae | August 31, 2014
http://www.mining.com/cameco-issues-lockout-at-its-mcarthur-river-mine-and-key-lake-mill-operations-69343/
This sector is running now... U308
I bought shares of Cameco that I plan on holding long term. Strong company to invest in and perfect for a uranium turnaround. I think that Denison Mines and UEX corp are possible buyout targets, Just My opinion see these as speculation plays for now. With China, Russia and India going forward with their nuclear programs things should get interesting in the Uranium sector
Uranerz: The Newest Uranium Producer
Wednesday April 16, 2014, 2:48pm PDT
By Vivien Diniz - Exclusive to Uranium Investing News
http://uraniuminvestingnews.com/18148/uranerz-uranium-producer-wyoming.html
In the last several years, transitioning from a uranium development company to a producer has been a feat that few have been able to accomplish. With current uranium prices below global marginal production costs, very few companies have been able to maintain operations, let alone contemplate starting operations. For Uranerz Energy (TSX:URZ, NYSEMKT:URZ) that was not the case.
The Wyoming-focused company started its mining operations this week at Nichols Ranch, after having been issued clearance from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In a note to clients, Cantor Fitzgerald’s Rob Chang called the news a “transformational event” as Uranerz has now joined a select group of companies actively mining uranium.
What makes Nichols Ranch able to produce in this weak price environment is the in situ recovery (ISR) mining method being used. When compared to hard rock mining, ISR generally comes out on the lower end of the cost curve due to lower capital costs and intial inlay costs.
As Uranerz’ Chairman Dennis Higgs explained to Uranium Investing News, Uranerz “was able to get into production within the $40-50 million dollar range capital expenditure,” which is significant when compared to the steeper costs associated with hard rock mining.
Beyond that, however, Higgs pointed to sales contracts that the company entered into in 2009, when uranium prices were thriving. Uranerz has several signed off-take agreements with two major U.S. utilities, including Exelon, that operates the largest nuclear fleet in the U.S.. The company also has a toll processing agreement in place with Cameco (TSX:CCO, NYSE:CCJ), who is also an operator in the Powder River Basin.
Higgs said that Uranerz is looking to produce somewhere in the area of 300,000 to 400,000 pounds in 2014. Followed hopefully by a ramp up to 500,000 to 600,000 in the coming year. However, Higgs does warn that production ramp up does, to some extent, rely on uranium prices.
“If the uranium price next year were to double,” he said, “we’d be looking to significantly increase production.” But, unfortunately, there is a trade off between rapid development and growth and weak pricing environments.
Now that Uranerz has joined the ranks as the newest uranium producer in the United States, investors might what to make note of the overwhelming concern of security of uranium supply. The U.S. currently consumes somewhere in the area of 50 million pounds of uranium per year, however, it’s domestic production only contributed about 4-5 million pounds. With only 5 companies currently producing uranium in the United States, domestic supply is still going to be a concern, so much so, that Chang speculates that uranium produced in the U.S. could command a premium in the future. Which would be a good thing for companies like Uranerz who are in production.
Thorium: An Alternative for Nuclear Energy?
Tuesday January 21, 2014, 4:00am PST
By Staff Writer - Exclusive to Uranium Investing News
http://uraniuminvestingnews.com/17236/thorium-an-alternative-for-nuclear-energy.html
Thorium, a slightly radioactive metal that occurs in rocks and soils, may hold significant promise as a replacement for uranium in the nuclear energy sector.
As global energy consumption increases, thorium is being looked into as a possible alternative to uranium to provide safe and abundant nuclear power at a reasonable cost. For example, India has been interested in thorium-based nuclear energy for decades, according to the US Geological Survey.
Thorium in the works
The question of whether thorium works for energy production was answered in 2013, when a private Norwegian compan, Thor Energy, began to produce power at its Halden test reactor in Norway using thorium.
“It is the fundamental first step in the thorium evolution,” Thor Energy’s CEO, Oystein Asphjell, told Reuters.
Nuclear giant Westinghouse, a unit of Toshiba, is part of an international consortium that Thor Energy established to fund and manage the experiments.
As part of its ongoing research into thorium as a nuclear fuel, Thor Energy created an international consortium that is charged with funding and managing thorium experiments. One of the consortium’s members is none other than Westinghouse, an established player in nuclear energy; the company provides viewpoints on the research.
But Thor Energy is not the only company engaged in researching whether or not thorium is a viable alternative to uranium in nuclear energy. Firms from the US, Australia and the Czech Republic are also working on thorium reactor designs and other elements of fuel technology using the metal. However, Thor Energy was the first off the block to begin energy production with thorium.
How thorium energy works
Unlike uranium, thorium can’t split to make a nuclear chain reaction — in scientific terms, it isn’t fissile. However, if it is bombarded by neutrons from a fuel that is fissile, like uranium-235 or plutonium-239, it’s converted to uranium-233, itself an excellent nuclear fuel. After the process begins, it’s self-sustaining — fission of uranium-233 turns more thorium nearby into the same nuclear fuel. There are complexities beyond the scope of this article, including the mechanics of molten-salt versus pressurized-water reactors in burning thorium, but the reaction described above is the main appeal of thorium, and its principal promise.
Thorium vs. uranium
Thorium is an appealing alternative to uranium to many countries. It is both more cheap and more abundant than uranium, whose price is expected to rise yet more as backlash from the Fukushima disaster dies down, according to Energy and Capital. There are other benefits of thorium as well. During a thorium-powered nuclear reaction, most of the thorium itself is consumed, which leads to less waste, most of which is rendered non-hazardous in 30 years. The most dangerous nuclear waste material currently in use must be stored for 10,000 years, by way of contrast. Furthermore, 1 metric ton of thorium is equal to 250 metric tons in terms of efficiency in a water reactor.
Extraction of thorium would be less expensive per unit of energy than extraction of uranium as well, because it is present in higher concentrations by weight than the other metal, according to Dauvergne. The source also mentions another peculiar trait of thorium: it is nearly impossible to weaponize, as it contains no fissile isotope. This in itself has slowed uranium research, according to a 1997 international scientific symposium on nuclear fuel cycles.
The dangers of uranium – widely publicized in the wake of the Fukushima disaster – often lead analysts and others to consider thorium more seriously. As thorium is not fissile on its own, reactions could be stopped in case of emergency, according to Forbes. The publication suggests thorium could allow countries like Iran and North Korea to benefit from nuclear power without causing concern that they are secretly developing nuclear weapons, as well.
Thorium can also be used together with conventional uranium-based nuclear power generation, meaning a thriving thorium industry would not necessarily make uranium obsolete.
Where thorium is found
Thorium is present in small quantities in soils and rocks everywhere, and it’s estimated to be about four times more plentiful than uranium. Large reserves, rather than the trace amounts of the metal in the average backyard, exist in China, Australia, the US, Turkey, India and Norway, according to Reuters.
The US Geological Survey compiled a document listing its domestic thorium resources. The metal is found in epigenetic vein deposits, low-grade deposits and black sand placer deposits. In its many locations, thorium can be found in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, the Carolinas, Florida and Georgia. This is a huge range of locations for possible thorium exploration, development and production.
Of course, the US is not the only country with sizable thorium reserves. The others listed above also have plenty of options should energy and resource companies decide to develop the thorium reserves within their borders.
Uranium Stocks To Watch in 2014: Raymond James Top Picks
http://uraniuminvestingnews.com/17055/uranium-stocks-to-watch-in-2014-raymond-james-top-picks.html?pmc=E-1&MyID=lakotaeagle@gmail.com&utm_source=Resource+Investing+News&utm_campaign=45ed06dfd7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f83d87db0f-45ed06dfd7-248737485
Thursday December 26, 2013, 4:30am PST
By Vivien Diniz - Exclusive to Uranium Investing News
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Tops StocksUranium has been 2013's hot ticket. And it looks like 2014 is shaping up to be even better.
In light of all the activity in the market, Uranium Investing News spoke with Raymond James’ David Sadowski to see which stocks we should keep an eye on in 2014.
Cameco (TSX:CCO, NYSE:CCJ):
With jet-boring now underway at Cigar Lake, Cameco looks like it is on track to bring the project into production in 2014.
“Cameco has been a long favorite for ours.” Sadowski told UIN, ” It has an unrivaled asset base of a low cost high grade operations in low risk jurisdictions, a robust contract book, diversified business model, and they also pay dividends. So the company has always been the blue chip go to of the industry.”
For the coming year, Sadowski believes that Cameco “has got the potential to break out beyond its $23 dollars share price resistance leve, as Japan resumes operations at its reactors, which we think will de-risk the space and put up a pressure on uranium prices.”
Ur-Energy (TSX:URE)
Ur-Energy is the world’s newest uranium producer, with its flagship low cost Lost Creek ISR operation in Wyoming. On December 23, the company announced the completion of its first sale of yellowcake. Ur-Energy sold a total of 90,000 pounds of U3O8 at an average price of $62.92 per pound to two U.S. based utilities. Total gross revenue of the sale is $5.7 million.
“Ur-energy is run by a veteran team who designed and built a pretty cutting edge facility that’s already running above the expected rate,” Sadowski said, adding “on a corporate level production out of Lost Creek is slated to be delivered into some pretty attractively priced contracts, and they have also just secured $34 million dollars in state bonds for the Wyoming government.”
“We think that one is going to go higher in 2014. We have a strong buy rating and a $1.80 target” on Ur-Energy, Sadowski said.
Fission Uranium (TSXV:FCU)
It should be no surprise that among Raymond James’ uranium stocks to watch, we find Fission Uranium, quite possibly one of the most talked about uranium discoveries of 2013.
“Patterson south project of the world’s last known high grade open pitiable uranium deposit. It has immense exploration up side, but at current trading levels it’s getting little to no value for additional pounds beyond what we think they already delineated,” explained Sadowski.
In 2014, the company is planning a winter drill program, which Sadowski says is “one to watch,” along with the subsequent summer program the company is planning to release its resource estimate
Sadowski does caution that “investors shouldn’t be shocked if it comes early ’15 rather than late ’14, but there’s room for a positive surprise there for sure. I think that resource should be significant, especially if exploration momentum continues.”
Kivalliq Energy (TSXV:KIV)
Nunavut-focused Kivalliq Energy started off 2013 with a 60% increase in its resource, expanding its estimate to 43.3 million pounds of uranium within 100 to 200 meters of surface.
Kivalliq, according to Sadowski is one of the world’s premiere uranium explorers and have done “great job identifying targets and being very successful drilling those targets and finding uranium.” Furthremore, he believes that there is quite possibly over 100 million pounds of uranium all in that property.
With the impressive news that Kivalliq put out in early 2013, it is quite possibly that the company could have a strong year advancing the project. Currently, Kivalliq has been focusing more on engineering work, and desktop studies as they progress towards a PEA. however, the company is also gearing up for its next drilling program when the markets are a little more favorable.
Uranium Participation Corp
Also on Sadowski’s list of stocks to watch is Uranium Participation Corp (TSX:U), the world’s only physically backed uranium fund. The fund is managed by Denison Mines
For Sadowski, UPC is “a great one for exposure to the uranium price, or uranium price and rebound without the typical exploration development or mining risks associated with some of the other equity.”
Denison Mines (TSX:DML, NYSEMKT:DNN)
Denison Mines is quite possibly one of the most dominant land holding junior in the Athabasca Basin. The Wheeler River is one of the world’s highest grade uranium projects with Wheeler River that has a total great average rate there is 16.6 percent U308 for a 16 million pound deposit.
Denison is “definitely a company that we will see do well,” Sadowski said, adding ”[t]hey are probably my top recommended names in the space for sure.”
Who are you watching?
At Uranium Investing News we are always interested in companies that are on your radar. Let us know which stocks you think will make big moves in 2014.
Securities Disclosure: I, Vivien Diniz, hold no investment interest in any of the companies mentioned.
Uranium Miners Outperforming In 2013 May Be Just The Beginning
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1913791-uranium-miners-outperforming-in-2013-may-be-just-the-beginning?source=email_rt_article_readmore
Dec. 23, 2013 4:17 PM ET | 1 comment | About: URA, Includes: ARVCF, BWC, CCJ, FCUUF, FLR, RIO
Disclosure: I am long DNN. (More...)
At the end of 2012, the investment community laughed at my prediction that 2013 will produce phenomenal gains in the uranium miners (URA). Read my interview with The Energy Report at the end of 2012 which may have signaled the bottom in the uranium miners.
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In 2013, our uranium bellwethers Areva (OTCPK:ARVCF) and Cameco (CCJ) have significantly outperformed the S&P 500 (SPY) by a significant margin. The uranium price has been making a very bullish turnaround since early November. Cameco is on the verge of a breakout at $22 and we may soon witness a golden crossover of the 50 and 200 day moving average.
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Now those who ridiculed me claiming uranium was dead are now coming to the realization that the uranium sector which was reviled by investors a year ago is now coming back in favor. Areva and Cameco are significant outperformers in 2013 as well as the small nuclear modular reactor manufacturers such as Babcock and Wilcox (BWC) and Fluor (FLR) which I have highlighted over this past year. This may already be benefiting the junior uranium explorers in the uranium rich Athabasca Basin.
For years I have predicted that the recent low price in uranium which hit 8 year lows in 2013 may actually be the catalyst to look for higher grade and more economic uranium deposits particularly in the Athabasca Basin in mining friendly Saskatchewan and in low cost in situ uranium operators in the United States as the Russian Megatons to Megawatts expired in 2013.
This low uranium spot price may actually be causing a uranium rush for these lower cost production capabilities. Higher cost uranium mines are being shut down or delayed all over the world. This could cause a major shortfall as demand picks up in emerging economies.
However new uranium discoveries are receiving a lot of attention especially in the Athabasca Basin which is the highest grade uranium mining district in the world. Some of the older mines such as Rio Tinto's (RIO) low grade Rossing and Ranger Mine have been facing technical challenges.
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This low price in uranium is possibly the reason why Cameco, Rio Tinto and Denison (DNN) have been buying junior uranium explorers in the Athabasca Basin trading at bargains due to the weak resource sector. These assets are high grade meaning potentially lower production costs in a stable jurisdiction. Smart money knows nuclear power is here to stay as there are more reactors operating and under construction now post-Fukushima than from before the once in a millennium natural disaster.
Even after Fukushima, the Athabasca Basin has been the one bright light in a resource sector covered with darkness. Right after Fukushima, Cameco and Rio Tinto, both with billions of dollars of market cap went into a bidding war over Hathor. Rio won with a bid of $642 million. Eventually, Denison bought out Fission for its J-Zone asset next door to Roughrider making itself a target for either Cameco or Rio.
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Now, Fission's (OTCQX:FCUUF) new spin out is buying Alpha for $180 million for the new Patterson Lake South Discovery. What does all this M&A activity in Athabasca uranium miners mean in a bear market in the resource sector?
Smart money is telling us that the Athabasca Basin represents one of the great areas to make exponential wealth in the discovery of uranium. Companies can go from a $3 million market cap to $180 million if a new discovery is made. Look at the Athabasca Basin bellwethers such as Cameco, Rio and Areva whose share price has moved significantly higher to pay top dollar for the best discoveries in the Basin. The Athabasca Basin is attracting capital that is looking for 10-20 fold increases.
Uranium Outlook: 2014 Will Be The Year of Uranium
http://uraniuminvestingnews.com/16985/uranium-outlook-2014-will-be-the-year-of-uranium.html?pmc=E-1&MyID=lakotaeagle@gmail.com&utm_source=Resource+Investing+News&utm_campaign=02bb48c43f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f83d87db0f-02bb48c43f-248737485
Thursday December 19, 2013, 4:30am PST
By Vivien Diniz - Exclusive to Uranium Investing News
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Uranium Outlook: 2014 Will Be The Year of UraniumMove over, 2013. You’ve taunted us enough with promises of a resurgence in uranium. And while you’ve given us some good news this year, we want more — it looks like 2014 will deliver.
In the last few weeks of of 2013, the uranium market has seen a flurry of activity. From acquisitions to financings, and from supply disruptions to impending start ups, it looks like the uranium market is ready to shift into high gear.
What kept prices down in 2013?
One of the main catalysts for price movement in 2013 was the start up of reactors in Japan. Unfortunately, Japan didn’t restart its reactors on the timeline many were hoping for. Because of the delay in setting up a new independent nuclear regulatory body in Japan, several uranium delivery contracts were deferred and continue to be deferred. That has led to more supply getting introduced into other markets.
Raymond James analyst David Sadowski told Uranium Investing News that “simply put, the market was flushed with excess material, and most utilities are fairly well covered. That has led to limited non-discretionary buying and softer prices,” which he believes could persist until Japan restarts its reactors.
Also playing a role in keeping prices from making their bull run in 2013 was more under feeding by enrichers than was hoped, as well as the US Department of Energy amping up its uranium disposition into the market.
When can we expect the reactors to come online?
Japan currently has 14 reactors waiting to be restarted. Once that catalyst has been reached, the consensus is that it is only a matter of time before the uranium market takes off. The question is when will Japan fire up its first reactor?
According to Sadowski, six to eight of the 14 reactors should be back online by the end of 2014, with the first ones starting up mid-year.
What can we expect for prices?
When the ball finally starts rolling for uranium, Rob Chang, an analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald, expects a significant and dramatic move in prices.
Based on the firm’s current supply and demand model, “[w]e see that by 2019 there’s going to be a unavoidable supply deficit that won’t be covered by that point,” Chang said, adding, “[y]ou’re going to have deficits during that period no matter how you start.”
Chang does not expect there to be enough uranium on the market to satisfy impending demand, which could result in several reactors having no uranium with which to operate.
“I think that what’s going to happen is when someone starts buying it’s going to be the inflection point, and you’re going to see a big pile of utilities buying,” Chang told Uranium Investing News.
On the other side of that, Sadowski said that utilities need to take a more “risk-based” approach to inventory management, explaining that “[t]hey hold a certain amount of material in advance of their needs, and when they feel they have a security of supplies in waiting, like in a looming global shortfall situation, they can quickly pile into the market.”
For the current market, however, Sadowski believes that there is “potential for a dramatic rise in long-term prices, but probably much more gradual than that meteoric run six years ago.” And as for spot prices, Sadowski said that they have the “potential to move much more quickly” because it’s mostly financial entities trading materials that can influence prices at a quicker pace.
As far as spot prices are concerned, Cantor Fitzgerald forecasts that uranium spot prices will average $43.25 for 2014. That, however, means that spot prices will need to enjoy an extended stay above $43.25 in order to reach that average. But Chang believes that a likely outcome is a price that could be closer to $49 or $50 by then end of 2014. Getting a head start for 2015, Cantor Fitzgerald is forecasting a stop price of $62.50, showing their belief in the uranium market moving forward. As for long-term prices, Chang says the firm is being conservative at $70 per pound.
Raymond James is slightly more bullish with its 2014 uranium spot prices, with a forecast of $45. For 2015 however, Raymond James is expecting spot prices to slip in around $56.
Uranium market barometer?
For investors looking to stay ahead of the uranium market, one company to keep an eye on is Uranium Participation (TSX:U), the reason being that it tends to accurately reflect market sentiment. UPC is the only physically backed uranium fund and can provide investors with exposure to the uranium price without the exposure to exploration, development or mining risks as seen with other equities.
Chang explained that since its inception, UPC has had a historically flat average, and since Fukushima that average was somewhere around negative 9 percent. However, over the last few weeks it has been trading at a 9 to ten percent premium above net asset value (NAV) range, which is pretty high.
According to Chang, of late, the positive view on uranium has been translating to a higher price for UPC, which has been trading ahead of its NAV.
The importance of uranium exploration
As for uranium exploration, it is important, as investors, to be aware of the importance and value of exploration. With what appears to be shortage of primary uranium supply in the future, finding new deposits and bringing them into production will have inevitably have an impact on the global markets.
Helping us understand the importance of uranium exploration was Jim Paterson, CEO of Kivalliq Energy (TSXV:KIV) who explained that when it comes to utilities, diversification is key.
“There’s plenty of uranium in the Athabasca Basin but utilities around the world aren’t going to just buy from one region,” Paterson explained, adding “There’s a risk. It’s imperative that if you’re a big enough utility, that you have enough inventory and diversity in supply” so that come what may, they will always have what they need.
How does this relate to exploration? Well, it’s simple.
“When there are bubbles in markets and mines are taken offline, the entire system is strained.” Paterson said, who says that this applies to not only uranium mining, but other commodities as well as transportation networks.
“These are the types of things that these buyers are looking at, risks they are looking to avoid. It’s critical for them that they just don’t have one supplier. It’s also critical for them that have a healthy supplier so there has to be a profit margin. Good buyers are look to work with suppliers with a mine company that will actually make a profit so that they can have sustainable production.
That being said, exploration is critical because it creates more supply options, and more supply options are critical to the long term success of the market.
Seven Reasons The Uranium Price Is Making A Powerful Move Higher
Nov 22 2013, 14:09 | http://seekingalpha.com/article/1858251-seven-reasons-the-uranium-price-is-making-a-powerful-move-higher?source=email_rt_article_readmore
Disclosure: I am long DNN, OTC:EFRFF. (More...)
Similar to Peyton Manning and Joe Montana, uranium is making a great fourth quarter comeback after many fans have already left the stadium.
I highlighted in this article at the end of October that the high volume coming into the uranium miners may have forecasted a turning point. Since that time the uranium spot price has had consecutive weeks of positive price performance and may beginning to make a major move. I urge you to pay attention to the uranium spot price as evidenced by Uranium Participation Corp (OTC:OTC:URPTF) as it begins to creep above the 200 day moving average. Uranium Participation is outperforming the S&P500 in November up over 13% while the S&P500 makes a 2.5% move.
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The uranium miners should begin outperforming to the upside as well. In addition to the article above, I recently discussed in an audio interview with Palisade Capital at least seven reasons why the uranium sector could soar mirroring the 2007 melt up where uranium hit $135/lb. In addition, I wrote an article, "Will The Uranium Price Make a Fourth Quarter Comeback?" in early October outlining at least seven reasons why the uranium price should see positive price momentum.
1)The toxic air pollution in China and India is killing people and it's driving demand for clean nuclear energy and rare earths.
2) Oil rich countries like United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are making a huge statement investing in nuclear to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
3)Countries have recently lifted bans on uranium mining and building reactors after decades of moratoriums.
4)Cameco (Bellwether large uranium miner) shocked markets recently by posting a profit, even with uranium at 8 year lows. Imagine how Cameco could perform with uranium at higher prices.
5)M&A in the uranium sector has been exceptional over the past two years. Fission, Denison, Energy Fuels (OTC:EFRFF), Uranium One (OTC:SXRZF)…
6)The ending of the Russian HEU megatons to megawatts program. This provided the U.S. with cheap uranium from Russian nuclear warheads for 20 years.
7)There are more nuclear power plants under construction now, than there were before Fukushima. The world is realizing that we need nuclear power for clean energy.
In conclusion, watch the uranium mining stocks etf (URA) as we end 2013. We may be watching a great fourth quarter comeback in some of these high quality uranium mining shares. The ending of the Russian HEU Megatons to Megawatts program could be the catalyst for new demand which will require new U.S. uranium mines to cover the 24 million pound shortfall. The U.S. junior uranium miners producing, constructing and building mines should be followed. These juniors should start seeing revenue and sales as they have contracts with some of the largest U.S. nuclear utilities at higher prices.
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The Athabasca Basin is attracting major capital as it is one of the only areas in the resource space where junior explorers are raising capital after recent richly priced takeovers. These speculative funds are looking for 10-20 fold increases. The key to invest in early stage exploration is to find the right people and geologists. Look for the best explorers who have proven track records of success in the Athabasca Basin. Companies like Denison (DNN) and Fission (OTCQX:FCUUF) could be takeover targets for Cameco (CCJ) and Rio Tinto (RIO).
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This is the year all those agreements end with Russia... soooooo... Uranium should become quite hot. Junior uranium mining companies will also be hot.
A few have already had tremendous success but the Japanese meltdown following an earthquake and subsequent tsunami took the sector down.
There is a certain healing period and when combined with the expiration of the Russian agreements, this sector should be ripe for an explosion.
....BUT WHO WILL BE THE NEXT ONE....
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