Blackstone Minerals (BSX:AU) has announced Blackstone Secures New Diamond Drill Rig to Advance Mankayan
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After spiraling from crisis to crisis over much of the past seven years, Boeing is stabilizing under CEO Kelly Ortberg’s leadership.
Ortberg, a longtime aerospace executive and an engineer whom the manufacturer plucked from retirement to fix the problem-addled company last year, is set this week to outline significant progress since he took the helm a year ago. Boeing reports quarterly results and gives its outlook on Tuesday.
So far, investors are liking what they’ve been seeing. Shares of the company are up more than 30% so far this year.
Wall Street analysts expect the aircraft manufacturer to halve its second-quarter losses from a year ago when it reports. Ortberg told investors in May that the manufacturer expects to generate cash in the second half of the year. Boeing’s aircraft production has increased, and its airplane deliveries just hit the highest level in 18 months.
It’s a shift for Boeing, whose successive leaders missed targets on aircraft delivery schedules, certifications, financial goals and culture changes that frustrated investors and customers alike, while rival Airbus pulled ahead.
“The general agreement is that the culture is changing after decades of self-inflicted knife wounds,” said Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, an aerospace consulting firm.
Analysts expect the company to post its first annual profit since 2018 next year.
“When he got the job, I was not anywhere as near as optimistic as today,” said Douglas Harned, senior aerospace and defense analyst at Bernstein.
Ortberg’s work was already cut out for him, but the challenges multiplied when he arrived.
As the company hemorrhaged cash, Ortberg announced massive cost cuts, including laying off 10% of the company. Its machinists who make the majority of its airplanes went on strike for seven weeks until the company and the workers’ union signed a new labor deal. Ortberg also oversaw a more than $20 billion capital raise last fall, replaced the head of the defense unit and sold off its Jeppesen navigation business.
Ortberg bought a house in the Seattle area, where Boeing makes most of its planes, shortly after taking the job last August, and his presence has been positive, aerospace analysts have said.
“He’s showing up,” Aboulafia said. “You show up, you talk to people.”
Boeing declined to make Ortberg available for an interview.
Boeing’s leaders hoped for a turnaround year in 2024. But five days in, a door-plug blew out of a nearly new Boeing 737 Max 9 as it climbed out of Portland. The almost-catastrophe brought Boeing a production slowdown, renewed Federal Aviation Administration scrutiny and billions in cash burn.
Key bolts were left off the plane before it was delivered to Alaska Airlines. It was the latest in a series of quality problems at Boeing, where other defects have required time-consuming reworking.
Boeing had already been reeling from two deadly Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that sullied the reputation of America’s largest exporter. The company in May reached an agreement with the Justice Department to avoid prosecution stemming from a battle over a previous criminal conspiracy charge tied to the crashes. Victims’ family members slammed the deal when it was announced.
For years, executives at top Boeing airline customers complained publicly about the manufacturer and its leadership as they grappled with delays. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary told investors in May 2022 that management needed a “reboot or boot up the arse.”
Last week, O’Leary had a different tune.
“I continue to believe Kelly Ortberg, [and Boeing Commercial Airplane unit CEO] Stephanie Pope are doing a great job,” he said on an earnings call. “I mean, there is no doubt that the quality of what is being produced, the hulls in Wichita and the aircraft in Seattle has dramatically improved.”
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby cast doubt over the Boeing 737 Max 10 after the January 2024 door-plug accident, as the carrier prepared not to have that aircraft in its fleet plan. The plane is still not certified, but Kirby has said Boeing has been more predictability on airplane deliveries.
Still, delays for the Max 10, the largest of the Max family, and the yet-to-be certified Max 7, the smallest, are a headache for customers, especially since having too few or too many seats on a flight can determine profitability for airlines.
“They’re working the right problems. The consistency of deliveries is much better,” Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said in an interview last month. “But there’s no update on the Max 7. We’re assuming we are not flying it in 2026.”
Boeing under Ortberg still has much to fix.
The FAA capped Boeing’s production at 38 Maxes a month, a rate that it has reached. To go beyond that, to a target of 42, Boeing will need the FAA’s blessing.
Ortberg said this year that the company is stabilizing to go beyond that rate. Manufacturers get paid when aircraft are delivered, so higher production is key.
“I would suspect they would be having those discussions very soon,” Harned said. “It’s 47 [a month] that I think is the challenging break.”
He added that Boeing has a lot of inventory on hand to help increase production.
Its defense unit has also suffered. The defense unit encompasses programs like the KC-46 tanker program and Air Force One, which has drawn public ire from President Donald Trump. Trump, frustrated with delays on the two new jets meant to serve the president, turned to a used Qatari Boeing 747 to potentially use as a presidential aircraft, though insiders say that used plane could require months of reoutfitting.
Ortberg replaced the head of that unit last fall.
A strike could also be on the horizon at the defense unit after factory workers “overwhelmingly” rejected a new labor deal, according to their union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 837.
“The proposal from Boeing Defense fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled IAM Union workforce,” the union said Sunday. “Our members are standing together to demand a contract that respects their work and ensures a secure future.”
There is a seven-day cooling off period before a strike would begin, if a new deal isn’t reached.
“They’re not totally out of the woods,” Harned said.
Boeing and Ortberg also need to start thinking about a new jet, some industry members said. Its best-selling 737 first debuted in 1967, and the company was looking at a midsize jetliner before the two crashes sent its attention elsewhere.
“Already there’s been a reversal from ‘read my lips, no new jet.’ I would like to see that accelerate,” Aboulafia said. “He is the guy to make that happen.”
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Samsung Electronics has entered into a $16.5 billion contract for supplying semiconductors to Tesla, based on a regulatory filing by the South Korean firm and Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s posts on X.
The memory chipmaker, which had not named the counterparty, mentioned in its filing that the effective start date of the contract was July 26, 2025 — receipt of orders — and its end date was Dec. 31, 2033.
However, Musk later confirmed in a reply to a post on social media platform X that Tesla was the counterparty.
He also posted: “Samsung’s giant new Texas fab will be dedicated to making Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chip. The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate. Samsung currently makes AI4.TSMC will make AI5, which just finished design, initially in Taiwan and then Arizona.”
“Samsung agreed to allow Tesla to assist in maximizing manufacturing efficiency. This is a critical point, as I will walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress,” Musk said on X, and suggested that the deal with Samsung could likely be even larger than the announced $16.5 billion.
Samsung earlier said that details of the deal, including the name of the counterparty, will not be disclosed until the end of 2033, citing a request from the second party “to protect trade secrets,” according to a Google translation of the filing in Korean on Monday.
“Since the main contents of the contract have not been disclosed due to the need to maintain business confidentiality, investors are advised to invest carefully considering the possibility of changes or termination of the contract,” the company said.
The company’s shares rose over 6% in trading on Monday to reach their highest level since September 2024.
Tesla was a probable customer, Ray Wang, research director of semiconductors, supply chain and emerging technology at The Futurum Group, told CNBC before Musk’s post. Bloomberg News had earlier reported that Samsung’s deal was with Tesla, citing a source.
Samsung’s foundry service manufactures chips based on designs provided by other companies. It is the second largest provider of foundry services globally, behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
The company stated in April that it aimed to commence 2 nanometer mass production in its foundry business and secure major orders for the next-generation technology. In semiconductor technology, smaller nanometer sizes signify more compact transistor designs, which lead to greater processing power and efficiency.
Local South Korean media outlets have also reported that American chip firm Qualcomm could place an order for chips manufactured using Samsung’s 2 nanometer technology.
Samsung, which is set to deliver earnings on Thursday, expects its second-quarter profit to more than halve. An analyst previously told CNBC that the disappointing forecast was due to weak orders for its foundry business and as the company has struggled to capture AI demand for its memory business.
The company has fallen behind competitors SK Hynix and Micron in high-bandwidth memory chips — an advanced type of memory used in AI chipsets.
SK Hynix, the leader in HBM, has become the main supplier of these chips to American AI behemoth Nvidia. While Samsung has reportedly been working to get the latest version of its HBM chips certified by Nvidia, a report from a local outlet suggests these plans have been pushed back to at least September.
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International Graphite (IG6:AU) has announced Comet share sale and debt repayment
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International Graphite (IG6:AU) has announced Agreement to develop new Expandable Graphite facility
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International Graphite (IG6:AU) has announced Reinstatement to Quotation
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Blackstone Minerals (BSX:AU) has announced Blackstone Completes Share Purchase Plan
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Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ,OTC:QQCMF) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (‘Questcorp’ or the ‘Company’) is excited to announce a strategic engagement with GRA Enterprises LLC, operating as the National Inflation Association (‘NIA’), to deliver a dynamic marketing and communications campaign aimed at boosting investor awareness and market visibility.
Under the terms of the agreement (the ‘NIA Agreement‘), which commences July 28, 2025, Questcorp will pay a one-time fee of US$30,000 for a three-month initial campaign, with the option for renewal. The NIA will leverage its expansive distribution channels-including targeted email lists, website features, and blog content-to highlight Questcorp’s compelling growth story and project developments.
‘As we continue advancing our highly prospective assets in British Columbia and Mexico, this partnership with NIA will allow us to connect with a broader investment audience and amplify our message at a pivotal time,’ said Saf Dhillon, Founding Director, President & CEO of Questcorp.
NIA, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, is an arm’s-length third party with a strong track record of investor communications for publicly traded companies. Questcorp confirms that no securities will be issued as part of this agreement and, to its knowledge, NIA does not currently own any equity or convertible instruments of the Company.
For more information about NIA: Contact ga@gerardadams.com or visit them at 112 Camp Lane, Mooresville, North Carolina, 28117.
About Questcorp Mining Inc.
Questcorp Mining Inc. is focused on the acquisition and exploration of precious and base metal projects across North America. The Company holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the North Island Copper Property-covering 1,168 hectares on Vancouver Island, British Columbia-as well as the La Union Project in Sonora, Mexico, comprising 2,520 hectares. Both properties are subject to royalty obligations and represent high-potential targets for copper, silver, and gold exploration.
Contact Information
Questcorp Mining Corp.
Saf Dhillon, Founding Director, President & CEO
Email: saf@questcorpmining.ca
Telephone: (604) 484-3031
Website: https://questcorpmining.ca
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains ‘forward-looking statements’ under applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and assumptions. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements unless required by law.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260142
News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia
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Palantir has hit another major milestone in its meteoric stock rise. It’s now one of the 20 most valuable U.S. companies.
The provider of software and data analytics technology to defense agencies saw its stock rise about 3% on Friday to another record, lifting the company’s market cap to $375 billion, which puts it ahead of Home Depot and Procter & Gamble. The company’s market value was already higher than Bank of America and Coca-Cola.
Palantir has more than doubled in value this year as investors ramp up bets on the company’s artificial intelligence business and closer ties to the U.S. government. Since its founding in 2003 by Peter Thiel, CEO Alex Karp and others, the company has steadily accrued a growing list of customers.
Revenue in Palantir’s U.S. government business increased 45% to $373 million in its most recent quarter, while total sales rose 39% to $884 million. The company next reports results on Aug. 4.
Earlier this year, Palantir soared ahead of Salesforce, IBM and Cisco into the top 10 U.S. tech companies by market cap.
Buying the stock at these levels requires investors to pay hefty multiples. Palantir currently trades for 273 times forward earnings, according to FactSet. The only other company in the top 20 with a triple-digit ratio is Tesla at 175.
With $3.1 billion in total revenue over the past year, Palantir is a fraction the size of the next smallest company by sales among the top 20 by market cap. Mastercard, which is valued at $518 billion, is closest with sales over the past four quarters of roughly $29 billion.
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Investor Insight
NextSource Materials is an emerging leader in the global battery materials sector, backed by a world-class graphite resource and proven technology to produce high-performance anode material. With a focus on full vertical integration, the company is strategically positioned to supply critical materials essential to the global clean energy transition.
Overview
NextSource Materials (TSX:NEXT, OTCQB:NSRCF) is a Canadian-based battery materials development company focused on becoming a vertically integrated global supplier of critical minerals essential to the global clean energy transition. The company’s strategy spans the full value chain – from mining and upgrading high-quality flake graphite to producing advanced battery anode materials – positioning it as a key supplier to the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy storage markets.
NextSource’s core asset is the Molo graphite mine in Madagascar, one of the largest and highest-grade flake graphite deposits in the world. Commencing production in October 2024, the Molo mine has a resource base of more than 153 million tonnes and the exclusive source of NextSource’s trademarked SuperFlake® graphite.
Complementing the Molo graphite mine is the company’s downstream expansion through battery anode facilities (BAFs), which will convert its proprietary SuperFlake® graphite into spherical purified graphite (SPG) and coated SPG (CSPG), enabling direct supply to global battery and automotive manufacturers outside traditional Asian supply chains.
Global demand for flake graphite, valued at US$3.12 billion in 2024, is forecast to grow to US$5.48 billion by 2034, driven by a 6.1 percent CAGR. This growth is primarily fueled by the expansion of lithium-ion battery manufacturing for EVs and renewable energy systems, where graphite remains the dominant material used in battery anodes.
NextSource also owns the Green Giant vanadium project, an advanced-stage and strategically significant vanadium asset located near the Molo mine. With a large, sediment-hosted deposit suited for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), Green Giant provides additional exposure to the grid-scale energy storage market – a rapidly emerging segment of the clean energy landscape.
NextSource has assembled an impressive leadership team with a proven track record in mine operations and building shareholder value. With long-term offtake agreements in place, a scalable mine-to-anode business model, and strategic backing from Vision Blue Resources, led by former Xstrata CEO Sir Mick Davis, NextSource is positioned to deliver significant value as a secure and sustainable supplier of critical battery materials.
Company Highlights
- Molo Graphite Project: The Molo graphite project in Madagascar is among the world’s largest and highest-quality graphite resources and is the exclusive source of SuperFlake® graphite.
- First Commercial Shipments Completed: SuperFlake® shipments have been to multiple end-users and approved for high-demand applications for flake graphite, including battery anodes, refractory and graphite foils for fire retardants and consumer electronics.
- Long-term Offtake Agreements: One of the few graphite producers globally to secure long-term sales agreements with tier one partners, including a 20,000 tpa agreement with a leading Japanese trader that supplies intermediate anode material to the Japanese market, and a 35,000 tpa agreement with thyssenkrupp Materials Trading GmbH for SuperFlake® graphite concentrate.
- Mine Expansion Planned: With anticipated volume demands expected to quickly outgrow its Phase 1 volume capacity, NextSource updated its operational strategy to utilize Phase 1 for campaign production to focus on development of its Phase 2 mine expansion.
- Downstream Value-add Expansion: The company is executing a phased rollout of battery anode facilities to produce spherical purified graphite and coated SPG at commercial scale. These facilities will supply high-performance anode material directly to battery and automotive manufacturers outside traditional Asian supply chains.
- Strategic Shareholder Support: Vision Blue Resources, a battery materials investment fund led by former Xstrata CEO Sir Mick Davis, is NextSource’s corner-stone shareholder. Sir Mick Davis also serves as NextSource’s chairman, bringing decades of mine development and operational leadership to the company.
- Vanadium Exposure: NextSource also holds the Green Giant vanadium project in Madagascar, an advanced-stage NI 43-101 resource and one of the world’s largest known sedimentary vanadium (V2O5) deposits.
Key Projects
Molo Graphite Mine and Project
NextSource’s flagship Molo graphite project ranks as one of the largest-known and highest-quality flake graphite deposits in the world. The property spans more than 62.5 hectares, sits in the Tulear region of Southwestern Madagascar, and is located 11.5 kilometers east of the town of Fotadrevo. Phase 1 of the mine is currently in operation.
NextSource has superior flake size distribution and well above the global average. The Molo asset is relatively unique for having almost 50 percent premium-priced large and jumbo flake graphite and can achieve up to 97 percent carbon purity with simple flotation alone. Molo SuperFlake® has been verified by end-users and meets or exceeds all criteria for the top demand markets for flake graphite; anode material for lithium-ion batteries, refractories, graphite foils and graphene inks.
Project Highlights
Geological and Resource Overview:
- Measured and indicated resources: 100.37 million tonnes (Mt) at 6.3 percent total graphitic carbon (C), based on a 2 percent C cut-off.
- Proven and probable reserves: 53.75 Mt at 6.2 percent C, based on a 3 percent C cut-off, including 21.33 Mt proven and 32.41 Mt probable.
- Over 300 km of continuous surface graphite mineralization has been delineated, enabling flexible, demand-driven production scale-up.
- The resource base supports more than 100 years of mine life at 17,000 tpa and 25+ years at 150,000 tpa production levels.
Operational Status:
- Phase 1 operations commenced production in October 2024, with the first commercial shipments of SuperFlake® graphite concentrate delivered to customers in Germany and the US in early 2025.
- In May 2025, NextSource transitioned Phase 1 to campaign production in order to preserve capital and prioritize the larger Phase 2 expansion, which is now the operational focus.
- Nameplate capacity for Phase 1 is 17,000 tpa, with modular Phase 2 plans targeting up to 150,000 tpa production capacity.
Strategic Sales Agreements:
- A 20,000 tpa agreement with a leading Japanese trader that supplies anode material to major OEM supply chains (Tesla, Toyota).
Battery Anode Facilities
NextSource’s BAFs are value-added processing plants designed to convert smaller flake graphite into high-performance anode material, an essential component of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.
Project Highlights
Technology and Product Focus:
- Using a proprietary and proven processing technology, licensed exclusively by NextSource and currently supplying major OEMs, the BAFs will produce spherical purified graphite (SPG) and coated SPG (CSPG) through a process verified within, and currently being used by, the Tesla and Toyota supply chains.
- The CSPG production process involves micronizing flake graphite, shaping it into spheres (spheroidization), purifying it and applying a hard carbon coating to enhance durability and performance in battery applications.
Pilot to Commercial Progression:
- A pilot BAF in Mauritius successfully validated NextSource’s processing technology and facilitated advanced product qualification with Tier 1 EV and battery manufacturers.
- In 2025, the company redirected its BAF expansion focus from Mauritius to the Middle East, identifying Saudi Arabia and the UAE as ideal first locations due to favorable permitting, infrastructure, and access to global EV markets.
Strategic Plans and Economic Advantages:
- NextSource’s established technical process gives it a competitive advantage by significantly reducing the time and cost required for R&D and qualification phases.
- The modular BAF rollout strategy supports flexible scaling, with additional facilities planned for North America, Europe, and Asia to meet growing OEM demand.
- Feedstock will be sourced primarily from the Molo Mine, with provisions for qualified third-party graphite as needed.
Green Giant Vanadium Project
The Green Giant vanadium project is a 100-percent-owned, advanced-stage exploration asset located in south-central Madagascar, approximately 15 kilometers from the Molo Graphite Mine. It is one of the world’s largest known vanadium deposits and a potential future growth driver for NextSource.
Project Highlights
Resource Profile:
- NI 43-101 compliant resource of approximately 60 million tonnes, grading an average of 0.7 percent vanadium pentoxide at a 0.5 percent cut-off.
- The deposit is sediment-hosted, a rare geological profile seen in only about 5% of vanadium occurrences, and favorable for producing high-purity vanadium compounds.
Strategic Importance:
- Vanadium is a key material in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), which are emerging as a critical solution for long-duration grid-scale energy storage—a necessary component of the transition to renewable power.
- With increasing global focus on decarbonizing power systems, Green Giant provides long-term optionality in a growing adjacent market.
Development Status:
- Over US$20 million has been invested in exploration and development since acquisition in 2007.
- While currently on hold to maintain focus on graphite and anode material commercialization, the project remains a strategic asset for future energy storage market expansion.
Management Team
Hanré Rossouw – President and Chief Executive Officer, Director
Hanré Rossouw joins NextSource from his role as executive director and chief financial officer of Sasol Limited with extensive experience in the global natural resources industry over the last 25 years. A British and South African national, Rossouw has held senior positions in leading global mining and investment companies where his roles involved business development, M&A, capital markets, asset management and growth optimization.
Craig Scherba – Chief Development Officer, Director
Craig Scherba brings extensive operational and geologic experience, having discovered both the Molo and Green Giant deposits. He currently heads up development of NextSource’s downstream OEM offtake strategy and plans.
Jaco Crouse – Chief Financial Officer
Jaco Crouse brings over 20 years of experience in the global natural resources sector, with expertise in M&A, capital markets and financial strategy. He held senior positions at Glencore and Xstrata.
Brent Nykoliation – EVP, Strategy and Corporate Affairs
Brent Nykoliation joined the senior management team at NextSource Materials as vice-president in 2007 and leads strategy and corporate affairs for the company. In addition, he oversees all communications with graphite customers, institutional investors and analysts for the company.
He brings over 20 years of senior management experience, having held marketing and strategic development positions with several Fortune 500 corporations in Canada.
Dr. Tilo Hauke – EVP, Downstream Operations
Dr. Tilo Hauke leads the development of the company’s BAFs, focused on producing commercial-scale graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. He previously spent two decades at SGL Carbon SE, a global leader in carbon and graphite products, holding senior roles including SVP of Fuel Cell Components and Group VP of Technology and Innovation.
Danniel Stokes – VP, Special Projects
Daniel Stokes spearheads the project management aspects of the company, with significant experience across a diverse portfolio of projects in mining, infrastructure and nuclear industries.
Markus Reichardt – VP, Sustainability
Markus Reichardt is responsible for driving the company’s safety, health, environment, social, climate change and quality performance and initiatives. He has a 25-year track record in operational, senior corporate and advisory roles in the resources, agricultural and renewables sectors across the developing world.
Jean Luc Marquetoux – Country Manager
Jean Luc Marquetoux brings nearly three decades of experience in mining and project development in Madagascar and brings deep regional and governmental expertise in Madagascar.
Board of Directors
Sir Mick Davis – Chairman
Sir Mick Davis is the CEO of Vision Blue Resources and a highly successful mining executive accredited with building Xstrata plc into one of the largest mining companies in the world before its acquisition by Glencore plc.
Ian Pearce – Director
Ian Pearce is the former CEO of Xstrata Nickel, and was the former COO of Falconbridge Limited, which was acquired by Xstrata Plc in 2006. Xstrata Plc’s acquisition of Falconbridge was one of the largest mining takeovers globally and one of the largest takeover bids in Canadian history.
Brett Whalen — Director
Brett Whalen has over 20 years of investment banking and M&A expertise, spending over 16 of those years at Dundee Corporation. During his tenure at Dundee, Whalen was directly involved in completing approximately $2 billion in M&A deals and helped raise over $10 billion in capital for resource sector companies.
Christopher Kruba – Director
Christopher Kruba is vice-president and legal counsel to Nostrum Capital Corporation and several related corporations that are part of the Toldo Group.
Martina Buchhauser – Director
Martina Buchhauser is a globally recognized leader in the automotive industry, with deep expertise in sustainable mobility and the transition to low-carbon, responsible business practices. Her executive career includes senior roles in global procurement and supply chain management at General Motors, MAN, BMW, and most recently Volvo Cars.
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