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Klarna, nearing IPO, plucks lucrative Walmart fintech partnership from rival Affirm

Business 6 Mins Read

Swedish fintech firm Klarna will be the exclusive provider of buy now, pay later loans for Walmart, taking a coveted partnership away from rival Affirm, CNBC has learned.

Klarna, which just disclosed its intention to go public in the U.S., will provide loans to Walmart customers in stores and online through the retailer’s majority-owned fintech startup OnePay, according to people with knowledge of the situation who declined to be identified speaking about the partnership.

OnePay, which updated its brand name from One this month, will handle the user experience via its app, while Klarna will make underwriting decisions for loans ranging from three months to 36 months in length, and with annual interest rates from 10% to 36%, said the people.

The new product will be launched in the coming weeks and will be scaled to all Walmart channels by the holiday season, likely leaving it the retailer’s only buy now, pay later option by year-end.

The move heightens the rivalry between Affirm and Klarna, two of the world’s biggest BNPL players, just as Klarna is set to go public. Although both companies claim to offer a better alternative for borrowers than credit cards, Affirm is more U.S.-centric and has been public since 2021, while Klarna’s network is more global.

Shares of Affirm fell 13% in morning trading Monday.

The deal comes at an opportune time for Klarna as it readies one of the year’s most highly anticipated initial public offerings. After a dearth of big tech listings in the U.S. since 2021, the Klarna IPO will be a key test for the industry. The firm’s private market valuation has been a roller coaster: It soared to $46 billion in 2021, then crashed by 85% the next year amid the broader decline of high-flying fintech firms.

CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski has worked to improve Klarna’s prospects, including touting its use of generative artificial intelligence to slash expenses and headcount. The company returned to profitability in 2023, and its valuation is now roughly $15 billion, according to analysts, nearly matching the public market value of Affirm.

The OnePay deal is a “game changer” for Klarna, Siemiatkowski said in a release confirming the pact.

“Millions of people in the U.S. shop at Walmart every day — and now they can shop smarter with OnePay installment loans powered by Klarna,” he said. “We look forward to helping redefine checkout at the world’s largest retailer — both online and in stores.”

As part of the deal, OnePay can take a position in Klarna. In its F-1 filing, Klarna said it entered into a “commercial agreement with a global partner” in which it is giving warrants to purchase more than 15 million shares for an average price of $34 each. OnePay is the partner, people with knowledge of the deal confirmed.

For Affirm, the move is likely to be seen as a blow at a time when tech stocks are particularly vulnerable. Run by CEO Max Levchin, a PayPal co-founder, the company’s stock has surged and fallen since its 2021 IPO. The lender’s shares have dipped 18% this year before Monday.

Affirm executives frequently mention their partnerships with big merchants as a key driver of purchase volumes and customer acquisition. In November, Affirm’s chief revenue officer, Wayne Pommen, referred to Walmart and other tie-ups including those with Amazon, Shopify and Target as its “crown jewel partnerships.”

An Affirm spokesman had this statement: “We win business when merchants want superior performance and maximum value, given our underwriting and capital markets advantages. We will continue our long-term strategy of competing on our products and entering into sustainable partnerships.”

The deal is no less consequential to Walmart’s OnePay, which has surged to a $2.5 billion pre-money valuation just two years after rolling out a suite of products to its customers.

The startup now has more than 3 million active customers and is generating revenue at an annual run rate of more than $200 million.

As part of its push to penetrate areas adjacent to its core business, Walmart executives have touted OnePay’s potential to become a one-stop shop for Americans underserved by traditional banks.

Walmart is the world’s largest retailer and says it has 255 million weekly customers, giving the startup — which is a separate company backed by Walmart and Ribbit Capital — a key advantage in acquiring new customers.

Last year, the Walmart-backed fintech began offering BNPL loans in the aisles and on checkout pages of Walmart, CNBC reported at the time. That led to speculation that it would ultimately displace Affirm, which had been the exclusive provider for BNPL loans for Walmart since 2019.

OnePay’s move to partner with Klarna rather than going it alone shows the company saw an advantage in going with a seasoned, at-scale provider versus using its own solution.

OnePay’s push into consumer lending is expected to accelerate its conversion of Walmart customers into fintech app users. Cash-strapped consumers are increasingly relying on loans to meet their needs, and the installment loan is seen as a wedge to also offer users the banking, savings and payments features that OnePay has already built.

Americans held a record $1.21 trillion in credit card debt in the fourth quarter of last year, about $441 billion higher than balances in 2021, according to Federal Reserve Bank of New York data.

“It’s never been more important to give consumers simple and convenient ways to access fair credit at the point of sale,” said OnePay CEO Omer Ismail. “That’s especially true for the millions of people who turn to Walmart every week for everything.”

Next up is likely a OnePay-branded credit card offered with the help of a new banking partner after Walmart successfully exited its partnership with Capital One.

“We’re looking forward to going down this new path where not only can they provide installment credit … but also revolving credit,” Walmart CFO John David Rainey told investors in June.

— CNBC’s MacKenzie Sigalos and Melissa Repko contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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AI that can match humans at any task will be here in five to 10 years, Google DeepMind CEO says

Business 5 Mins Read

LONDON — Artificial intelligence that can match humans at any task is still some way off — but it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a reality, according to the CEO of Google DeepMind.

Speaking at a briefing in DeepMind’s London offices on Monday, Demis Hassabis said that he thinks artificial general intelligence (AGI) — which is as smart or smarter than humans — will start to emerge in the next five or 10 years.

“I think today’s systems, they’re very passive, but there’s still a lot of things they can’t do. But I think over the next five to 10 years, a lot of those capabilities will start coming to the fore and we’ll start moving towards what we call artificial general intelligence,” Hassabis said.

Hassabis defined AGI as “a system that’s able to exhibit all the complicated capabilities that humans can.”

“We’re not quite there yet. These systems are very impressive at certain things. But there are other things they can’t do yet, and we’ve still got quite a lot of research work to go before that,” Hassabis said.

Hassabis isn’t alone in suggesting that it’ll take a while for AGI to appear. Last year, the CEO of Chinese tech giant Baidu Robin Li said he sees AGI is “more than 10 years away,” pushing back on excitable predictions from some of his peers about this breakthrough taking place in a much shorter timeframe.

Hassabis’ forecast pushes the timeline to reach AGI some way back compared to what his industry peers have been sketching out.

Dario Amodei, CEO of AI startup Anthropic, told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January that he sees a form of AI that’s “better than almost all humans at almost all tasks” emerging in the “next two or three years.”

Other tech leaders see AGI arriving even sooner. Cisco’s Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel thinks there’s a chance we could see an example of AGI emerge as soon as this year. “There’s three major phases” to AI, Patel told CNBC in an interview at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona earlier this month.

“There’s the basic AI that we’re all experience right now. Then there is artificial general intelligence, where the cognitive capabilities meet those of humans. Then there’s what they call superintelligence,” Patel said.

“I think you will see meaningful evidence of AGI being in play in 2025. We’re not talking about years away,” he added. “I think superintelligence is, at best, a few years out.”

Artificial super intelligence, or ASI, is expected to arrive after AGI and surpass human intelligence. However, “no one really knows” when such a breakthrough will happen, Hassabis said Monday.

Last year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted that AGI would likely be available by 2026, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said such a system could be developed in the “reasonably close-ish future.”

Hassabis said that the main challenge with achieving artificial general intelligence is getting today’s AI systems to a point of understanding context from the real world.

While it’s been possible to develop systems that can break down problems and complete tasks autonomously in the realm of games — such as the complex strategy board game Go — bringing such a technology into the real world is proving harder.

“The question is, how fast can we generalize the planning ideas and agentic kind of behaviors, planning and reasoning, and then generalize that over to working in the real world, on top of things like world models — models that are able to understand the world around us,” Hassabis said.”

“And I think we’ve made good progress with the world models over the last couple of years,” he added. “So now the question is, what’s the best way to combine that with these planning algorithms?”

Hassabis and Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google’s cloud computing division, said that so-called “multi-agent” AI systems are a technological advancement that’s gaining a lot of traction behind the scenes.

Hassabis said lots of work is being done to get to this stage. One example he referred to is DeepMind’s work getting AI agents to figure out how to play the popular strategy game “Starcraft.”

“We’ve done a lot of work on that with things like Starcraft game in the past, where you have a society of agents, or a league of agents, and they could be competing, they could be cooperating,” DeepMind’s chief said.

“When you think about agent to agent communication, that’s what we’re also doing to allow an agent to express itself … What are your skills? What kind of tools do you use?” Kurian said.

“Those are all elements that you need to be able to ask an agent a question, and then once you have that interface, then other agents can communicate with it,” he added.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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The Best Five Sectors, #11

Stock 3 Mins Read

Big Moves in Sector Ranking

The ranking of US sectors continues to shift. At last week’s close, we saw another big shake-up. All defensive sectors are now in the top five. Technology dropped to last place, while Consumer Discretionary tumbled from #3 last week to #9. Within the top five, Consumer Staples gained one position, Healthcare entered at the #4 spot, and Utilities remained steady at #5.

The New Sector Lineup

  1. (1) Communication Services – (XLC)
  2. (2) Financials – (XLF)
  3. (4) Consumer Staples – (XLP)*
  4. (6) Healthcare – (XLV)*
  5. (5) Utilities – (XLU)
  6. (9) Energy – (XLE)*
  7. (8) Industrials – (XLI)*
  8. (7) Real-Estate – (XLRE)*
  9. (3) Consumer Discretionary – (XLY)*
  10. (11) Materials – (XLB)*
  11. (4) Technology – (XLK)*

Weekly RRG: Defensive Sectors On The Rise

The weekly RRG above shows continued strength for the defensive sectors. All three—Utilities, Healthcare, and Consumer Staples—are still in the improving quadrant but show long tails and strong RRG headings.

Communication Services and Financials remain in the lead(ing quadrant) at positive RRG-Headings. However, the weakness of the Consumer Discretionary sector is starting to take its toll, and the sector dropped out of the top five while still inside the weakening quadrant.

Daily RRG: Small Losses of Relative Momentum

On the daily RRG:

  • Utilities continue at a positive RRG-Heading.
  • Healthcare and Consumer Staples are rolling over but still have high RS-Ratio values. Their long, improving tails on the weekly chart justify their high positions in the ranking.
  • Communication Services and Financials are inside the weakening quadrant but have short tails. The high readings on the weekly RRG keep these two sectors at the top of the list.

Communication Services

XLC bounced off its lows last week and remains above the rising support line.

Relative Strength continues to improve, keeping this sector high in the ranking.

Financials

XLF also bounced off support, but the formation remains one with “toppy” characteristics.

Relative strength, on the other hand, remains strong which keeps this sector at the #2 position in the top five.

Consumer Staples

Last week, XLP completed a nasty outside bar, bearish engulfing in candlestick terms. The week’s low almost touched the support level near 78 and then bounced slightly. XLP should not break this support level to maintain a positive price outlook.

The RS-Line remains in the process of slowly turning the long-term downtrend around. The RRG-Lines are still both pointing upward, putting the tail on a positive RRG-Heading.

Healthcare

XLV entered the top five based on its turnaround in relative strength. The sharp upward move in both RRG lines positions the sector inside the improving quadrant.

From a price perspective, a trading range seems to be emerging between 135 and 150.

Utilities

XLU remains stable in its trading range, in terms of price and relative strength.

Portfolio Performance Update

The Consumer Discretionary position was closed against the open price at the opening this Monday.

Due to the price changes in the other positions, I had to do a bit of rebalancing to get everything back in line to (around) 20% of the portfolio. This meant selling small parts of Utilities, Financials, and Communication services to finance the purchase of the new Healthcare position.

Due to the big decline in XLY, and XLK the week before that, the performance of the portfolio is now 0.7% behind SPY since inception. RRG portfolio is at -4%, while SPY is at -3.3%.

#StayAlert, -Julius

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DP Trading Room: Upside Initiation Climax?

Stock 3 Mins Read

On Friday DP indicators logged an Upside Initiation Climax. This exhaustion events often mark the beginning of new rallies and could indicate that the market is indeed ready to rebound. However, we do question its veracity given lukewarm trading to begin Monday’s trading.

Carl started us off by looking at the DP Signal Tables which are clearly reading bearish after the big correction on stocks. But as Carl said, things get as bad as they’re going to get before it tends to start doing better.

He also walked us through the market in general, giving us a read on not only the SPY, but he covered Bitcoin, Gold, Dollar, Crude Oil, Gold Miners, Yields and Bonds.

As always Carl walked us through the short-term and intermediate-term picture for the Magnificent Seven.

Erin took over and gave us a complete overview of sector rotation, noting that defensive sectors are still looking the most bullish while aggressive sectors are struggling to reverse right now.

To end the program Erin took symbol requests from the audience to include BABA, WMT and AKAM among others.

01:11 DP Signal Tables

03:25 Market Overview

18:35 Magnificent Seven

27:03 Questions

29:43 Sector Rotation

37:36 Symbol Requests

Don’t forget! We have two week trials available for all of our subscriptions. Just use coupon code: DPTRIAL2 at checkout! Subscribe here: https://www.decisionpoint.com/products.html

Join us LIVE in the trading room on Mondays at Noon ET by registering once: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D6iAp-C1S6SebVpQIYcC6g#/registration

The DP Alert: Your First Stop to a Great Trade!

Before you trade any stock or ETF, you need to know the trend and condition of the market. The DP Alert gives you all you need to know with an executive summary of the market’s current trend and condition. It not only covers the market! We look at Bitcoin, Yields, Bonds, Gold, the Dollar, Gold Miners and Crude Oil! Only $50/month! Or, use our free trial to try it out for two weeks using coupon code: DPTRIAL2. Click HERE to subscribe NOW!

Learn more about DecisionPoint.com:

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Technical Analysis is a windsock, not a crystal ball. –Carl Swenlin

(c) Copyright 2025 DecisionPoint.com

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

DecisionPoint is not a registered investment advisor. Investment and trading decisions are solely your responsibility. DecisionPoint newsletters, blogs or website materials should NOT be interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security or to take any specific action.

Helpful DecisionPoint Links:

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Swenlin Trading Oscillators (STO-B and STO-V)

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4 Scenarios for Nasdaq 100: Bullish Surge or Bearish Collapse?

Stock 1 Min Read

Can the Nasdaq 100 rally to all-time highs or break down below key support? In this video, Dave uses probabilistic analysis to explore 4 possible scenarios for the QQQ over the next 6 weeks — from a super bullish surge to a bearish breakdown below the August 2024 low. Discover the key levels, potential market outcomes, and new trading perspectives to stay ahead of the market. Which scenario do you think is most likely?

This video originally premiered on March 17, 2025. Watch on StockCharts’ dedicated David Keller page!

Previously recorded videos from Dave are available at this link.

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Investing

Investing in Graphene Companies

Investing 9 Mins Read

Graphene is often heralded as the “wonder material” of the 21st century, and investing in graphene companies offers investors exposure to a growing number of graphene applications across a diverse set of industries.

In terms of size, Grand View Research is forecasting that the global graphene market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 35.1 percent between 2024 and 2030 to reach US$1.61 billion. The firm says that revenue for electronics industry applications will be a major contributor to the growth in demand for graphene.

Demand for graphene coatings and composites will come from the energy storage, aerospace and automotive industries industries, among others. Graphene coatings are used in batteries, conductors and generators to improve energy efficiency and performance, while lightweight graphene composites are being used in aircraft and automobiles.

According to Fortune Business Insights, the graphene market is mainly being driven by demand from the Asia-Pacific region, due in large part to favorable government policies, academic researching and increasing graphene investment. Rising demand from the automotive, marine, aerospace and defense industries in this region are also important factors.

For those interested in how to invest in graphene, here’s a look at seven publicly traded graphene companies making moves in the market today, based on research gleaned from intelligence firms Grand View Research and Fortune Business Insights.

These top graphene stocks are listed in alphabetical order, and all data was accurate as of March 12, 2025.

1. Black Swan Graphene (TSXV:SWAN)

Press ReleasesCompany Profile

Market cap: C$33.19 million

Black Swan Graphene describes itself as an emerging powerhouse in the bulk graphene business. UK-based global chemicals manufacturer Thomas Swan & Co. holds a 15 percent interest in Black Swan and brings a portfolio of patents and intellectual property related to graphene production. Through this partnership, Black Swan is building out a fully integrated supply chain from mine to graphene products.

Black Swan launched a number of new graphene products in 2024, such as its GraphCore 01 family of graphene nanoplatelets products, which includes powders and polymer-ready masterbatches designed for the polymer industry.

In June 2024, the company announced a commercial partnership with advanced materials engineering company Graphene Composites that will see Black Swan’s graphene used in the fabrication of GC Shield, a patented ballistic protection technology.

The following month, the company secured a distribution and sales agreement with UK-based manufacturer of plastic materials Broadway Colours. Under the agreement, Broadway will incorporate Black Swan’s graphene nanoplatelets in the manufacture of graphene enhanced masterbatches for plastic manufacturing.

Black Swan closed on a C$6 million equity financing in February 2025 which will help to fund its capacity expansion and global commercialization plans for 2025.

2. CVD Equipment (NASDAQ:CVV)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$20.65 million

CVD Equipment produces chemical vapor deposition, gas control and other types of equipment and process solutions for developing and creating materials and coatings for a range of industrial applications, including aerospace engine components, medical implants, semiconductors, battery nanomaterials and solar cells.

CVD’s processing can be used to produce graphene and nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and silicon nanowires. Its PVT200 system is designed to grow silicon carbide crystals for the manufacture of 200 millimeter wafers. The company’s first nine months of 2024 saw orders worth US$21 million, up from US$19.9 million in the same period in 2023.

In November 2024, CVD reported a US$3.5 million follow on order for a production chemical vapor infiltration system to produce advanced, energy efficient materials for use within gas turbine engines.

3. Directa Plus (LSE:DCTA)

Company Profile

Market cap:GBP 6.9 million

Leading graphene nanoplatelet producer Directa Plus makes products designed for commercial applications such as textiles and composites. The Italy-based firm has developed a patented graphene material named G+ Graphene Plus, which is both portable and scalable. Directa Plus casts a wide net, even using its graphene for golf balls with the aim of improving users’ control and swings using elasticity.

Directa Plus inked in December 2023 what it called a ‘landmark agreement’ to acquire a proprietary system for preparing graphene compounds for market-ready battery and polymer applications, opening up two more potential markets for Directa Plus products.

In April 2024, the company announced the installation of its GiPave high-tech asphalt at the Imola Circuit for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix held in May 2024 as part of the Formula 1 World Championship. GiPave uses graphene and recycled plastics to create a cleaner, more sustainable asphalt product.

4. First Graphene (ASX:FGR,OTCQB:FGPHF)

Company Profile

Market cap: AU$27.44 million

First Graphene is an advanced materials company that has developed an environmentally sound method of converting ultra-high-grade graphite into the competitively priced, high-quality graphene in bulk quantities.

The firm is working with three Australian universities on developing graphene products and associated intellectual properties, including PureGRAPH, its graphene powder. First Graphene is vertically integrated, and applications for its products extend to fire retardancy, energy storage and concrete, among others.

In May 2024, the company secured a distribution agreement for the Australia and New Zealand markets, with the potential for additional markets. The five-year contract represents a significant milestone for the commercialization of First Graphene’s PureGRAPH material, according to the press release.

First Graphene joined a nine-member consortium in July 2024 to develop and commercialize lightweight impermeable cryogenic all-composite tanks for the safe storage and transport of liquid hydrogen. The next month, the company secured funding for a collaborative research project aimed at commercializing its Kainos technology for the production of ‘high-quality, battery-grade synthetic graphite and pristine graphene from petroleum feedstock using a scalable hydrodynamic cavitation manufacturing process.’

First Graphene kicked off the new year in 2025 with the announcement that its Kainos technology had secured patents from the Australian and South Korean governments. The following month, the company completed a AU$2.4 million private placement to help fund the acceleration of its global commercial pipeline.

5. Haydale Graphene Industries (LSE:HAYD,OTC Pink:HDGHF)

Company Profile

Market cap: GBP 4.13 million

Through its subsidiaries, Haydale Graphene Industries designs, develops and commercializes advanced materials. The company is focused on commercializing its proprietary heating ink-based technology and integrating graphene and other nanomaterials into next-generation industrial applications.

Haydale has a partnership with the University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), through which it is researching and developing graphene-based innovations such as conductive ink heating applications for the automotive and future homes sectors.

In July 2024, Haydale announced that a feasibility study has shown initial indications that Haydale’s plasma-functionalized graphene can capture carbon dioxide.

In March 2025, the company announced it had secured new commercial contracts for its new heating systems from Affordable Warmth Solutions to develop a further graphene heater ink product, and with the national gas grid, National Gas Transmission, for the use of its technology in upgrading the gas network.

6. NanoXplore (TSXV:GRA,OTCQX:NNXPF)

Company Profile

Market cap: C$411.17 million

Established in 2011, NanoXplore is able to produce high volumes of graphene at affordable prices due to its unique and environmentally friendly production process. The company’s GrapheneBlack graphene powder can be used in plastic products to greatly increase their reusability and recyclability.

NanoXplore is also targeting lithium-ion batteries with its patented SiliconGraphene battery anode material solution, which employs GrapheneBlack as a coating agent around silicon to make a safer, more reliable cell. NanoXplore’s graphene products are also being used in internal combustion engine vehicles.

In early 2024, as part of its five year strategic plan, NanoXplore increased the production capacity at its plant in Québec, Canada. The capacity expansion will enable the company to meet increased demand from an existing customer for its graphene-enhanced composite products. The customer assumed a significant portion of the expansion costs.

In its fiscal Q2 2025 financials for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, the company reported Q2 total revenues of C$33.12 million, up 14 percent from the same quarter in the previous year.

7. Talga Group (ASX:TLG,OTC Pink:TLGRF)

Company Profile

Market cap: AU$180.377 million

Talga Group is a vertically integrated battery anode and materials company, mining its own graphite and producing anodes. It has operations in Sweden, Japan, Australia, Germany and the UK. The company also produces graphene additives for use by materials manufacturers in applications such as concrete, coatings, plastics and energy storage.

Talga has the Talphite and Talphene lines of graphene products, which include conductive additives for battery cathode and anode products, solid-state anodes and graphite recycling.

In January 2025, the company announced that the Swedish government gave the greenlight to its detailed plan for the Nunasvaara South natural graphite mine in Northern Sweden. The Kiruna municipality had previously halted planning work, and the federal government instructed it to adopt the plan by May 16 of this year.

Private graphene companies

The graphene stocks listed above are by no means the only graphene-focused companies. Investors interested in graphene would also do well to learn more about the private companies focused on graphene technology, including ACS Material, Advanced Graphene Products, Graphene Platform, Graphenea, Grafoid and Universal Matter.

FAQs for graphene

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. First produced in 2004, when professors at England’s University of Manchester used Scotch tape to peel flakes of graphene off of graphite, the material is 200 times stronger than steel and thinner than a single sheet of paper. Graphene has many possible applications in various fields, such as batteries, sensors, solar panels, electronics, medical equipment and sports gear.

What are some good properties of graphene?

Graphene’s outstanding properties include high thermal and electrical conductivity, high elasticity and flexibility, high hardness and resistance, transparency and the ability to generate electricity via exposure to sunlight.

What is the difference between graphene and graphite?

Graphene and graphite are both allotropes of carbon, meaning they are structurally different forms of the same element. A key difference between them is that graphene is a single layer of graphite.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Blue Lagoon Completes Second Tranche of Private Placement – Crescat Capital, Phoenix Gold Fund and Nicola Mining Increase Their Positions.

Investing 5 Mins Read

(TheNewswire)

March 17, 2025 Vancouver, British Columbia TheNewswire – Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the ‘Company’) (CSE: BLLG; FSE: 7BL; OTCQB: BLAGF) is pleased to announce that it has closed a second tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the ‘Offering’), bringing the total funds raised across both tranches to $1,297,500 .

In this second tranche, the Company issued 2,800,000 units (the ‘Units’) at a price of $0.25 per Unit, raising gross proceeds of $700,000 .

The financing saw continued participation from key institutional investors and stakeholders, including Crescat Capital LLC, Phoenix Gold Fund, and the Company’s toll milling partner, Nicola Mining , all of whom have previously invested in Blue Lagoon. This marks Crescat’s fifth investment in the Company over the past three years, further validating its confidence in Dome Mountain’s potential , while Phoenix Gold Fund and Nicola Mining’s increased participation underscores their ongoing belief and support for the Company’s management and growth strategy.

‘We are excited to see strong backing from sophisticated investors llike Crescat Capital, Phoenix Gold Fund, and Nicola Mining , all of whom recognize the value of Dome Mountain’s advancement towards production ,’ said Rana Vig, President & CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources . ‘These investments come at a transformative time, following the recent granting of a mining permit for Dome Mountain – one of only nine such permits issued in British Columbia since 2015. With this key milestone achieved, we are now laser focused on last preparatory activities and tasks related to the safe and secure opening of Dome Mountain, including finishing the installation of our water treatment facility which is on track to be completed before the end of May. With these final steps underway, we are targeting early Q3 2025 as the start of production .,’ he added.

Each Unit in the Offering consists of one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of one transferrable common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant (a ‘Warrant’) entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.35 per share until March 14, 2027. The proceeds raised from the Offering are expected to be used to finish the installation of the water treatment facility at the mine site, other preparatory work and for general corporate purposes. The securities issued under the Offering are subject to a four month hold period expiring on July 15, 2025, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

Any production decision in advance of obtaining a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability of the project is associated with increased uncertainty and risk of failure.

About Blue Lagoon Resources Inc.

Blue Lagoon Resources is a Canadian based publicly listed mining company (CSE: BLLG; FSE: 7BL; OTCQB: BLAGF) focused on building shareholder value through the aggressive development of its 100% owned Dome Mountain Gold project. The Company is run by professionals with significant finance and mining experience and operates within a prime mining jurisdiction in British Columbia, Canada. With the granting of a full mining permit, a key milestone achieved in February 2025 – one of only nine such permits issued in British Columbia since 2015 – Blue Lagoon is now focused on last preparatory activities and tasks related to the safe and secure opening of the Dome Mountain Gold Mine, targeting Q3 2025 as the start of gold production . The Company’s primary objective has always been to become a cash-flowing mining company, to ultimately deliver tangible monetary value to shareholders, state, and local communities.

For further information, please contact:

Rana Vig

President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone:  604-218-4766

Email: ranavig@bluelagoonresources.com

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the ‘Company’) expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘targets’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’, ‘mine’, ‘production’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration activities may not show quality and quantity necessary for further exploration or future exploitation of minerals deposits, volatility of gold and silver prices, delays in mine development activities, future cash flow expectations and continued availability of capital and financing, permitting and other approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions.  Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management, contractors and consultants on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s, contractor’s and consultants’ beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

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BPH Energy LimitedPEP11 Offshore Petroleum Joint Venture Update

Investing 4 Mins Read

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – On 20 January 2025, BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) and Bounty Oil & Gas NL (ASX:BUY) as the PEP 11 Joint Venture announced that they had been given notice by the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) that the Joint Authority had refused the Joint Venture Applications made on 23 January 2020 (First Application) and 17 March 2021 (Second Application) (the Decision).

On 12 February 2025 BPH advised that investee Advent Energy Limited’s (BPH 36.1% direct interest) 100% subsidiary Asset Energy Pty Ltd had applied to the Federal Court for an Originating Application for judicial review pursuant to s 5 of the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) and s 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) to review a Decision of the Commonwealth-New South Wales Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, constituted under section 56 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (Cth).

The Originating Application seeks:

1. An order quashing or setting aside the Decision;

2. A declaration that the Decision is void and of no effect; and

3. An order remitting the First Application and Second Application to the Joint Authority for reconsideration according to law.

The Federal Court of Australia made orders today by consent including the following:

– By Wednesday 30 April 2025, the first respondent must file and serve one copy of a bundle of documents that was before the Hon Ed Husic MP as the Responsible Commonwealth Minister of the Commonwealth-New South Wales Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority in making the decision that is the subject of this application, subject to any claim to privilege.

– Other than the bundle of material, all evidence relied upon by the parties must be presented by way of affidavit.

– By Wednesday 21 May 2025, the applicant must file and serve any further affidavits upon which it intends to rely at the hearing of the matter.

– By 25 June 2025, the first respondent must file and serve any affidavits upon which it intends to rely at the hearing of the matter.

– By 16 July 2025, the applicant must file and serve any affidavits upon which it intends to rely at the hearing of the matter by way of reply.

– The application be listed for a 2-day hearing at 10.15 am AWST on 16 September 2025 and 17 September 2025.

– The applicant must file and serve an outline of submissions in chief and a list of authorities by 4.00 pm AWST not less than 42 days before the hearing.

– The first respondent must file and serve an outline of submissions in response and a list of authorities by 4.00 pm AWST not less than 14 days before the hearing.

– The applicant must file and serve an outline of submissions in reply and a list of authorities by 4.00 pm AWST not less than 7 days before the hearing.

– The first case management hearing listed for 10.00 am AWST on 19 March 2025 is adjourned to 9.30 am AWST on 23 July 2025.

– Liberty to apply on 3 days’ notice to the other party.

– Pursuant to subsection 15(1)(a) of the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth), the operation of the decision of the Commonwealth-New South Wales Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority comprised of the first respondent and the second respondent made on 16 January 2025 is suspended with effect from 16 January 2025, until further order of this Court.

Asset Energy Pty Ltd is a 100% owned subsidiary of Advent Energy Ltd and lodged the Originating Application as Operator for and on behalf of the PEP11 Joint Venture Partners, Bounty Oil and Gas NL (ASX:BUY) and Asset Energy Pty Ltd.

About BPH Energy Limited:  

BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) is an Australian Securities Exchange listed company developing biomedical research and technologies within Australian Universities and Hospital Institutes.

The company provides early stage funding, project management and commercialisation strategies for a direct collaboration, a spin out company or to secure a license.

BPH provides funding for commercial strategies for proof of concept, research and product development, whilst the institutional partner provides infrastructure and the core scientific expertise.

BPH currently partners with several academic institutions including The Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT).

Source:
BPH Energy Limited

Contact:
David Breeze
admin@bphenergy.com.au
www.bphenergy.com.au
T: +61 8 9328 8366

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How to Invest in Natural Gas: Stocks, ETFs and Futures

Investing 12 Mins Read

Natural gas is a vital source of energy for the global economy, representing about one quarter of electricity generation worldwide.

Natural gas is the largest source of electricity generation in the US, beating out coal as the top power fuel. One of the advantages of investing in natural gas is the important role it plays in the energy transition. For example, natural-gas-fired electricity plants can be quickly turned on and off to serve as a back-up energy supply for intermittent wind and solar power. Even so, global demand can be volatile as it is very much dependent on the weather.

For some investors, natural gas investment remains an exciting frontier and a potentially lucrative portfolio addition. Read on for a more in-depth look at why natural gas investing can be compelling and some of the best natural gas stocks to invest in when the time is right.

In this article

What is natural gas and LNG?
What is driving natural gas prices?
How to invest in natural gas
How to invest in natural gas stocks
How to invest in natural gas ETFs
How to invest in natural gas futures

What is natural gas and LNG?

Natural gas is a hydrocarbon gas mixture that is primarily composed of methane and is found by itself or with oil. Although it’s a carbon-based fuel, natural gas is considered a cleaner form of energy than oil and coal.

LNG, or liquefied natural gas, is a form of natural gas that’s been cooled to a liquid state to reduce transport risk and allow for easier storage.

Natural gas is used as a fuel in home heating and in transportation. It’s also used to manufacture chemicals and materials such as propane, ethane, lubricants, household cleaners, carpet fibers and plastics.

What is driving natural gas prices?

Volatility in natural gas demand often leads to big spikes and declines in natural gas prices. As a fuel for home heating as well as an energy source for air conditioning, the natural gas market is highly attuned to seasonal temperature changes and extreme weather events. Other factors that can influence natural gas prices include production, import and storage inventory levels, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Geopolitical events are also a major factor.

Natural gas prices reached a 10-year high of US$9.25 per million British thermal units in September 2022 as an energy crisis took hold in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Global supply uncertainty and delivery disruptions were the main culprit.

However, reduced demand from a mild winter demand coinciding with a period of record high production in the United States led to an oversupplied market. This pushed prices for natural gas down below US$3 in the first few weeks of 2023 and prices remained below US$4 for the next two years as the supply overhang remained.

In 2025, a much colder winter and rising geopolitical tensions have sent natural gas prices on an upward trend. The growing threat of war in Europe and the US-Canada trade war are both having an impact on natural gas prices.

The United States is the largest natural gas producer in the world by far. According to the most recent data from the Energy Institute, US natural gas production in 2023 totaled 1.35 trillion cubic meters. That figure represents nearly a quarter of global natural gas production for that year.

The country’s output has grown exponentially over the last decade due to the transition away from coal, and advancements in extraction technology such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. The United States is also the biggest consumer of the fuel, primarily for home heating and generating electricity.

In 2022, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US became the world’s largest exporter of LNG as European nations sought to wean themselves from Russian natural gas.

As for the other top natural gas producing countries, Russia is the second largest natural gas producer and exporter, with 586.4 billion cubic meters of output in 2023. The country also holds the world’s biggest-known natural gas reserves. Up until the end of January 2025, Europe accounted for 49 percent of Russia’s LNG exports, followed by China at 22 percent and Japan at 18 percent. On January 1, 2025, Ukraine let its Russian gas transit agreement expire, which could potentially disrupt natural gas supply chains and jeopardize energy security in Europe.

Iran ranks third in largest natural gas production and second in largest reserves. The Middle Eastern nation produced 251.7 billion cubic meters of the commodity in 2023. Iran plans to increase capacity with an US$80 billion investment in its gas fields and a long-term natural gas supply deal with Russia’s Gazprom for 109 billion cubic meters of gas supplied annually for domestic use and re-export.

China is not far behind Iran, producing a record 234.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2023. Despite this, the Asian nation still relies on imports to meet about half of its demand. The majority of China’s natural gas imports come from Australia, Turkmenistan, the US, Malaysia, Russia and Qatar. In response to the 10 percent tariff imposed on Chinese products to the US imposed under the Trump Administration, China slapped a 15 percent tariff on US LNG imports in mid-February 2025.

Canada rounds out the top five natural gas producers country, with an output of 190.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2023. Canada is also a top natural gas exporter; however, the US is its only trading partner. As of late-February 2025, the LNG Canada project and the Coastal GasLink pipeline is nearly complete with first shipments to the Asian Pacific markets of Japan and South Korea scheduled for mid-2025.

Canada’s natural gas exports to long-time partner the US are currently in question as Trump threatens 25 percent tariffs on Canada, with a lower 10 percent tariff on imports of Canadian natural gas and other energy. Trade negotiators on both sides are trying to work out potential exemptions.

Other trends to watch in this sector, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), are fast-growing natural gas demand in the Asia Pacific region and the transition from oil to natural gas as the primary energy source in the Middle East.

All of the uncertainty in the markets may be daunting, but investors interested in the potential for natural gas investments should not necessarily be discouraged — after all, while prices for the fuel can reach incredible lows, they can also climb to incredible highs, which no doubt supports companies in the sector.

How to invest in natural gas

Those who decide to invest in natural gas have plenty of ways to gain exposure to the fuel, including natural gas stocks, natural gas ETFs and natural gas futures. Take a look at each of those three best ways to invest in natural gas below. All data and information was current as of March 12, 2025.

How to invest in natural gas stocks

Investors can opt to look at some of the best natural gas companies to invest in this market. Many companies that are exploring for or producing natural gas are also focused on oil, and it can be difficult to find stocks that are aimed purely at natural gas. That said, some of the large-cap NYSE and NASDAQ-listed oil and gas stocks listed below are heavily involved in natural gas.

This list of US natural gas companies is arranged in alphabetical order and all stocks had market caps above US$2 billion when data was gathered.

Antero Resources (NYSE:AR)
Antero Resources is a natural gas and liquids company with operations in the United States’ Appalachian Basin. The company is one of the largest US-based suppliers of natural gas and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) to the global natural gas export market.

Civitas Resources (NYSE:CIVI)
Civitas Resources produces crude oil and liquids-rich natural gas from its assets in the DJ Basin in Colorado and the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. Natural gas and natural gas liquids comprise 32 percent and 30 percent, respectively, of the company’s total proved reserves.

Comstock Resources (NYSE:CRK)
Comstock Resources is a natural gas producer with operations in the Haynesville Shale in North Louisiana and East Texas. This natural gas basin has direct access to Gulf Coast markets and the LNG corridor.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)
ConocoPhillips is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with operations and exploration activities in 14 countries. In addition to oil and bitumen, its products include natural gas, natural gas liquids and is a leading pioneer in the LNG market.

Coterra Energy (NYSE:CTRA)
Coterra Energy is a Houston, Texas-based energy company with a multi-basin portfolio of operations and deep inventories in the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale and the Anadarko Basin. Natural gas and natural gas liquids account for 50 percent of the company’s revenues.

Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ:FANG)
Diamondback Energy is a Texas-based oil and gas company operating unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves assets in the Permian Basin. Half of its hydrocarbon reserves are natural gas and natural gas liquids.

Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN)
Devon Energy, based in Oklahoma City, has oil and natural gas exploration and production operations in key US energy resource plays including the Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford, Anadarko Basin, Powder River Basin and Williston Basin. Natural gas production is a focal point of Devon’s growth strategy for 2025.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG)
EOG Resources is one the largest US oil and gas producers with significant operations across the US, including in the Barnett Shale, Northeastern Utah’s Uinta Basin and South Texas. The company has a long-term LNG supply contract with major energy trading company Vitol.

Northern Oil & Gas (NYSE:NOG)
Northern Oil & Gas is a non-operator model company with a large portfolio of upstream oil and natural gas assets in the United States. As a non-operator, NOG does not drill or operate rigs, but rather acquires a fractional working interest in drilling operations. This allows the company to benefit from market upside while mitigating costs and downside risks. The company’s properties are primarily in the Williston, Uinta, Permian and Appalachian basins.

Range Resources (NYSE:RRC)
Range Resources is a Fort Worth, Texas-based natural gas exploration and production company. It operates in the Appalachian Basin and is the largest land owner in the Marcellus Formation.

How to invest in natural gas ETFs

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are another option for oil and gas investors. Below are a few natural gas-focused ETFs and broader oil and gas ETFs to get you started.

iShares U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (BATS:IEO)
The iShares U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF offers investors exposure to the US oil and gas industry. While not a good pick for a long-term portfolio, ETF Database says “it can be very useful for more active traders seeking to establish a tilt towards domestic energy companies.” The fund’s top holdings include many of the stocks on this list. The fund’s one-year and three-year returns are -8.14 percent and 6.48 percent, respectively.

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (ARCA:XOP)
The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF is another fund focused on the US energy markets, specifically companies discovering and exploiting new oil and gas deposits. As with IEO, the XOP is not ideal for a long-term investment approach. However, it does offer a more balanced exposure to the same stocks and lower costs than IEO, ‘making it the most attractive option for those seeking to bet on this corner of the U.S. energy market,” ETF Database states. The fund’s one-year and three-year returns are -12.37 percent and 1.18 percent, respectively.

ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas ETF (ARCA:BOIL)
The ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas ETF offers twice daily leveraged exposure to natural gas. An important caveat is that the volatile nature of the natural gas market makes this ETF for more seasoned investors, ETF Database advises. Taking a look at the fund’s one-year and three-year returns of 37.2 percent and -70.49 percent, respectively, proves this out.

United States Natural Gas Fund (ARCA:UNG)
The United States Natural Gas Fund offers exposure to US natural gas. It can potentially act as an inflation hedge, ETF Database states, although “UNG often suffers from severe contango making the product more appropriate for short-term traders.” The fund’s one-year and three-year returns are 48.37 percent and -29.09 percent, respectively.

United States 12 Month Natural Gas Fund LP (ARCA:UNL)
The United States 12 Month Natural Gas Fund LP differs from UNG in that it “diversifies across multiple maturities, potentially mitigating the adverse impact of contango,” ETF Database explains. The fund’s one-year and three-year returns are 37.17 percent and -10.53 percent, respectively.

How to invest in natural gas futures

Some of the top natural gas futures contracts include Henry Hub Natural Gas Futures, E-mini Natural Gas Futures and Delivered Natural Gas Futures sold through the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME Group). Futures prices of natural gas are set in contract units of 10,000 MMBtu.

Investors considering investing in natural gas futures should be aware that these contracts are very liquid and extremely active throughout the week.

As for when natural gas futures trade, these futures trade nearly 24 hours a day from Sunday to Friday, with a 60-minute break each day beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Trading in natural gas futures is generally heaviest on Thursdays, when the US Department of Energy releases its weekly natural gas storage report.

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

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