Adrian Day, president of Adrian Day Asset Management, shares his thoughts on gold’s latest price activity, saying the metal is still ‘nowhere near a top.’
In his view, its long-term drivers remain in place, and two new ones have now emerged.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) has agreed to sell its Casa Berardi gold operation in Québec to Orezone Gold (TSX:ORE,OTCQX:ORZCF) for total consideration of up to US$593 million.
The deal, announced on Monday (January 26), involves the sale of Hecla Québec, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hecla that holds the Casa Berardi mine and related exploration properties.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hecla expects to receive up to US$593 million through a mix of upfront cash, equity, deferred payments and contingent consideration.
Hecla will receive US$160 million in cash at closing, along with about 65.7 million Orezone common shares, representing about 9.9 percent of Orezone’s pro forma shares outstanding, currently valued at roughly US$112 million.
In addition, Hecla is set to receive US$80 million in deferred cash payments, split into US$30 million payable 18 months after closing and US$50 million payable after 30 months.
The remaining consideration is contingent and could total up to US$241 million.
It includes up to US$211 million in production-based royalty payments tied to future open-pit output, calculated at US$80 per ounce for the first 500,000 ounces of gold and US$180 per ounce thereafter.
Hecla may also receive a US$20 million payment upon the granting of certain permits, as well as up to US$10 million linked to a gold price exceeding US$4,200 per ounce.
The transaction is supported by Franco-Nevada (TSX:FNV,NYSE:FNV), which Orezone said is a sponsor in the acquisition.
“The sale of Hecla Quebec represents an important milestone in Hecla’s transformation as we concentrate capital allocation and operational focus on our world-class silver portfolio,” said Rob Krcmarov, president and CEO of Hecla.
For Orezone, the acquisition marks a major expansion into Canada and adds a producing gold mine to its portfolio. The company said Casa Berardi will complement its Bomboré project in Burkina Faso and will provide diversification in a jurisdiction known for stable mining regulations and established infrastructure.
“This Transaction marks a significant inflection point for Orezone as it adds a proven, cash-flow-generating asset to our portfolio, and provides asset diversification in a Tier 1 Jurisdiction,” said Patrick Downey, president and CEO of Orezone.
Casa Berardi is an underground and open-pit mine located in Québec’s Abitibi region that has been in operation since the late 1980s. It has produced over 3.2 million ounces of gold to date.
As of the end of 2024, its proven and probable reserves stood at 1.3 million ounces, with additional measured, indicated and inferred resources supporting future operations.
Casa Berardi’s gold production guidance for 2026 is between 83,000 and 91,000 ounces.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Sankamap Metals Inc. (CSE: SCU) (‘Sankamap’ or the ‘Company’) the Company and its auditor continue to work diligently toward the completion and filing of the Company’s annual audited financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 (the ‘Required Filings’). The Company has obtained approval from the Alberta Securities Commission to extend the Management Cease Trade Order (‘MCTO’) under National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders (‘NP 12-203’) until January 31, 2026. Sankamap confirms that substantially all audit work has been completed, with only one minor confirmation and customary completion procedures remaining. The Company is actively working to provide the outstanding items and is in contact with the relevant party. Subject to completion of these matters, the audit is expected to be finalized shortly.
The Required Filings were due to be filed by October 28, 2025. In connection with the anticipated delays in making the Required Filings, the Company made an application for a MCTO under NP 12-203 to the Alberta Securities Commission, as principal regulator for the Company, and the MCTO was issued on October 29, 2025. The MCTO restricts all trading by the Company’s CEO and CFO in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect. The MCTO does not affect the ability of persons who are not directors, officers or insiders of the Company to trade their securities. The MCTO will remain in effect until the Required Filings are filed or until it is revoked or varied.
The Company expects to proceed with the filing of its interim first-quarter financial statements shortly after the Required Filings have been completed and submitted.
The Company confirms that it intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines described in NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of a news release until it meets the Required Filings requirement. The Company has not taken any steps towards any insolvency proceeding and the Company has no material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed.
For further information with respect to the MCTO, please refer to the Company’s news releases dated October 21, 2025, November 4, 2025, November 18, 2025, December 3, 2025, December 17, 2025, December 30, 2025, and January 13, 2026, available for viewing on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
About Sankamap Metals Inc.
Sankamap Metals Inc. (CSE: SCU) is a Canadian mineral exploration company dedicated to the discovery and development of high-grade copper and gold deposits through its flagship Oceania Project, located in the South Pacific. The Company’s fully permitted assets are strategically positioned in the Solomon Islands, along a prolific geological trend that hosts major copper-gold deposits; including Newcrest’s Lihir Mine, with a resource of 71.9 million ounces of gold¹ (310 Mt containing 23 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t P+P, 520 Mt containing 39 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t indicated, 81 Mt containing 5 Moz Au at 1.9 g/t measured, 61 Mt containing 4.9 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t Inferred).
Exploration is actively advancing at both the Kuma and Fauro properties, part of Sankamap’s Oceania Project in the Solomon Islands. Historical work has already highlighted the mineral potential of both sites, which lie along a highly prospective copper and gold-bearing trend, suggesting the possibility of further, yet-to-be-discovered deposits.
At Kuma, the property is believed to host an underexplored and largely untested porphyry copper-gold (Cu-Au) system. Historical rock chip sampling has returned consistently elevated gold values above 0.5 g/t Au, including a standout sample assaying 11.7% Cu and 13.5 g/t Au2; underscoring the area’s significant potential.
At Fauro, particularly at the Meriguna Target, historical trenching has returned highly encouraging results, including 8.0 meters at 27.95 g/t Au and 14.0 meters at 8.94 g/t Au3. Complementing these results are exceptional grab sample assays, including historical values of up to 173 g/t Au3, along with recent sampling by Sankamap at the Kiovakase Target, which returned numerous high-grade copper values, reaching up to 4.09% Cu. In addition, limited historical shallow drilling intersected 35.0 meters at 2.08 g/t Au3, further underscoring the property’s strong mineral potential and the merit for continued exploration. With a commitment to systematic exploration and a team of experienced professionals, Sankamap aims to unlock the untapped potential of underexplored regions and create substantial value for its shareholders. For more information, please refer to SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), under Sankamap’s profile.
1.Newcrest Technical Report, 2020 (Lihir: 310 Mt containing 23 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t P+P, 520 Mt containing 39 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t indicated, 81 Mt containing 5 Moz Au at 1.9 g/t measured, 61 Mt containing 4.9 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t Inferred)
2. Historical grab, soil and BLEG samples from SolGold Kuma Review June 2015, and SolGold plc Annual Report 2013/2012
3. September 2010-June 2012 press releases from Solomon Gold Ltd. and SolGold Fauro Island Summary Technical Info 2012
QP Disclosure
The technical content for the Oceania Project in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol., a Qualified Person in accordance with CIM guidelines. Mr. John Florek is in good standing with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (Member ID:1228) and a director and officer of the Company.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
s/ ‘John Florek’
John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol
Chief Executive Officer
Sankamap Metals Inc.
Contact:
John Florek, CEO
T: (807) 228-3531
E: johnf@sankamap.com
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved this press release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute ‘forward-looking information’ and ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to Sankamap and there is no assurance that the actual results will meet management’s expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘targets,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘plans,’ ‘expects,’ ‘may,’ ‘will,’ ‘could’ or ‘would.’
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding management’s expectations about obtaining the MCTO and completing the Required Filings within the anticipated timeline. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Sankamap does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements or information, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company’s continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281882
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Gold and silver prices are skyrocketing past key psychological price levels to historic highs as investors flock to safe-haven assets.
What once seemed like a fairy tale dream shared among ardent gold bugs is now a reality in today’s ever-shifting new world order. Gold is now trading above US$5,000 per ounce while silver prices are now into the triple digits.
The spot price of gold broke through the US$5,000 mark on Sunday (January 25) and reached as high as US$5,110.23 per ounce in early morning trading on Monday (January 26).
The price of silver also reached an historic milestone, breaking through the US$100 per ounce mark and soaring as high as US$116.37 by 9:49 am PST. Although it is valued as an investment metal, silver is key for technology such as solar panels.
This latest price surge in precious metals comes as US President Donald Trump has threatened 100 percent tariffs on Canadian goods in response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s latest trade deal with US rival China. Another contributing factor is a possible US government shutdown as the Senate Democrats push back on a new funding for the Department of Homeland Security. And there’s the US Federal Reserve interest rate decision upcoming on Wednesday (January 28).
On top of all that, investors are staring down the barrel of global economic implications of insurmountable debt levels and unresolved trade wars, which have led central banks around the world to bolster their gold reserves.
Gold price chart, January 19 to 26, 2026.
The yellow metal’s latest rise adds to an ongoing historic run.
After starting 2025 around US$2,640, gold had risen to the US$3,200 level by April. It stayed within a fairly flat range until the end of August, when it launched higher once again, breaking US$4,300 in mid-October.
The price of gold took a breather following that move, even falling briefly below US$4,000; however, its retracement was neither as steep nor as long as many market watchers expected it to be.
Gold began gaining steam again in mid-November, and took off again in earnest at the end of 2025.
In 2026, precious metals have continued to benefit from geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. Expectations of interest rate cuts after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s term ends later this year have provided support too. Trump’s feud with the Fed over rates took an eyebrow-raising turn on January 9, when the US Department of Justice served the Fed with grand jury subpoenas targeting Powell with a criminal indictment.
Last week, gold climbed higher as investors moved out of global stocks after Trump said over the weekend that European nations opposing his bid to acquire Greenland could face tariffs of up to 25 percent.
The nations targeted included France, Germany, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland. The news prompted fears of a full-blown US-Europe trade war, a weaker US dollar, higher inflation and a worsening outlook for the global economy. There were even concerns that the conflict over Greenland could seriously weaken or dismantle the NATO alliance. Gold is traditionally used as a hedge against such risks.
Greenland’s key geographic position in the Arctic has long been coveted by the US as a necessary strategic asset in its geopolitical struggle with Russia and China. “China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it,” Trump wrote on January 17 on his social media platform Truth Social. “Only the United States of America, under PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, can play in this game, and very successfully, at that!”
‘As soon as the probability of escalation increases, defensive capital tends to move preemptively, rather than waiting for tangible impacts to materialize in economic data. In this context, gold functions as a portfolio risk-balancing asset.’
European leaders responded with vows that they would not be blackmailed into allowing Trump to take Greenland, and said they were preparing counter measures to the president’s tariffs.
Perhaps the pressure worked, as Trump made a point of stating in his January 21 Davos speech: ‘I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.’
Elsewhere in the precious metals space, platinum rose to record highs on Monday, reaching US$2,933 per ounce. Palladium is also on a tear, soaring as high as US$2,188 per ounce, although it remains well below its record US$3,440 per ounce set in March 2022.
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
New Found Gold Corp. (TSXV: NFG) (NYSE American: NFGC) (‘New Found Gold’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce key advancements at its 100%-owned Queensway Gold Project (‘Queensway’ or the ‘Project’) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, which includes entering into a Phase I engineering, procurement and construction management services (‘EPCM’) contract.
Highlights of Key Project Advancements:
Offsite Mill Selection: The Company owns the fully permitted Pine Cove Mill (‘Pine Cove‘) and Nugget Pond Hydrometallurgical Gold Plant, both located in central Newfoundland. EPCM work will include upgrading and expanding Pine Cove for Queensway Phase 1 to benefit from the synergies of processing both Hammerdown and Queensway Phase 1 feed from a single facility.
Environmental Assessment: The Company has substantially completed its environmental baseline work at Queensway and plans to submit an Environmental Registration (‘ER‘) to the Newfoundland and Labrador (‘NL‘) Department of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change in late Q1/26. The ER serves to initiate the environmental assessment (‘EA‘) process for the Project, as per the NL Environmental Protection Act. Updates on the status of the EA process will be provided when available.
Project Finance: As previously announced, the Company has engaged Cutfield Freeman & Co. Ltd., an independent global mining finance advisory firm, to act as its project finance advisor with the objective of selecting the optimal financing package for the initial capital expenditure required to fund Queensway Phase 1 production2.
Technical Report: the Company plans to file an updated Technical Report, which will include an updated mineral resource estimate, in mid-2026.
Timeline: The Queensway Phase 1 project finance process is ongoing and EPCM work is underway with the objective of achieving first gold pour from Queensway Phase I in H2/27, pending receipt of all required permits.
Keith Boyle, CEO of New Found Gold stated ‘Commencing EPCM work is a key milestone in advancing Queensway. We believe our rapid timeline from initial mineral resource in early 2025 to a planned first gold pour in late 2027 is supported by a unique combination of factors, namely: significant drilling and technical work completed on a deposit with an at-surface, high-grade core; ownership of the recently acquired Pine Cove operation, equipped with a fully permitted milling and tailings facilities; and being located in a mining-positive region. Newfoundland and Labrador is a jurisdiction ranked in the top 10 globally in the Fraser Institute’s 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies and offers excellent access, infrastructure and a skilled labour force. Having executed on a number of key steps in 2025 and building a strong technical and operating team over the past year has put the Company in an excellent position to accelerate the development of Queensway in a strong gold price environment.’
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Keith Boyle, P.Eng., CEO, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Boyle consents to the publication of this press release by New Found Gold. Mr. Boyle certifies that this press release fairly and accurately represents the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this press release.
About New Found Gold Corp.
New Found Gold is an emerging Canadian gold producer with assets in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Company holds a 100% interest in Queensway and owns the Hammerdown Operation, Pine Cove Operation and Nugget Pond Hydrometallurgical Gold Plant. The Company is currently focused on advancing Queensway to production and bringing the Hammerdown Operation into steady-state gold production.
In July 2025, the Company completed a PEA at Queensway (see New Found Gold news release dated July 21, 2025). Recent drilling continues to yield new discoveries along strike and down dip of known gold zones, pointing to the district-scale potential that covers a +110 km strike extent along two prospective fault zones at Queensway.
New Found Gold has a new board of directors and management team and a solid shareholder base which includes cornerstone investor Eric Sprott. The Company is focused on growth and value creation.
Keith Boyle, P.Eng.
Chief Executive Officer
New Found Gold Corp.
Contact
For further information on New Found Gold, please visit the Company’s website at www.newfoundgold.ca, contact us through our investor inquiry form at https://newfoundgold.ca/contact/contact-us/ or contact:
Fiona Childe, Ph.D., P.Geo.
Vice President, Communications and Corporate Development
Phone: +1 (416) 910-4653
Email: contact@newfoundgold.ca
Follow us on social media at https://www.linkedin.com/company/newfound-gold-corp, https://x.com/newfoundgold
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statement Cautions
This press release contains certain ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including relating to WSP’s engagement to provide EPCM services for Queensway Phase 1 project development; the expected start of the EPCM work in Q1/26; the planned work on Pine Cove for Queensway Phase 1; the expected submission of an ER to the NL Department of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change in late Q1/26; the future updates on the status of the EA process; the anticipated filing of an updated Queensway technical report; and the expected first gold pour from Queensway Phase I, pending receipt of all required permits. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts, they are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘interpreted’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘aims’, ‘suggests’, ‘indicate’, ‘often’, ‘target’, ‘future’, ‘likely’, ‘pending’, ‘potential’, ‘encouraging’, ‘goal’, ‘objective’, ‘prospective’, ‘possibly’, ‘preliminary’, and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘can’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSXV, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with the Company’s ability to complete exploration and drilling programs as expected, possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results and the results of the metallurgical testing program, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company’s exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company’s business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company’s Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators’ System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.
1 for additional information see the Company’s news release dated July 21, 2025.
2 for additional information see the Company’s news release dated November 28, 2025.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281691
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Brightstar Resources (BTR:AU) has announced Sandstone Strategic Plan to Deliver Long-Life Production Hub
Download the PDF here.
Coelacanth Energy Inc. (TSXV: CEI,OTC:CEIEF) (‘Coelacanth’ or the ‘Company’) announces that its board of directors approved the granting of incentive stock options (‘Options’) under its stock option plan to acquire up to an aggregate of 8,634,250 common shares (‘Common Shares’) of the Corporation (6,298,250 granted to certain of its directors and officers and 2,336,000 granted to certain of its employees) and to the granting of restricted share units (‘RSUs’) under its restricted share unit plan to obtain up to an aggregate of 5,369,500 Common Shares (4,224,250 granted to certain of its directors and officers and 1,145,250 granted to certain of its employees).
All of the Options are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $0.80 per Common Share and 33⅓% of the Options will vest on the date that is one year after the date of the grant of such Options and the remainder will vest 33⅓% per year thereafter. All of the RSUs are exercisable for a period of three years at no additional cost and 33⅓% of the RSUs will vest on the date that is one year after the date of the grant of such RSUs and the remainder will vest 33⅓% per year thereafter.
Following the grant of Options and RSUs, Coelacanth has an aggregate of 30,220,931 Options and 9,865,698 RSUs outstanding. Coelacanth’s share based incentive plans limit the total number of Common Shares underlying the aggregate outstanding Options and RSUs to no more than 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of 535,316,833. As of the date of this press release, the total number of Common Shares underlying the outstanding Options and RSUs on an aggregate basis is 40,086,629 or approximately 7.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Coelacanth Energy Inc.
2110, 530 – 8th Ave SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3S8
Phone: 403-705-4525
www.coelacanth.ca
Mr. Robert J. Zakresky
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Nolan Chicoine
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Asara Resources (AS1:AU) has announced Drilling confirms grade continuity at depth and along strike
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President Donald Trump on Thursday filed a $5 billion lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon, claiming that the bank improperly closed his accounts for political reasons.
‘While we regret President Trump has sued us, we believe the suit has no merit,’ a JPMorgan Chase spokesperson said. ‘We respect the President’s right to sue us and our right to defend ourselves – that’s what courts are for.’
The suit accuses the bank of libel and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. It also says the bank and its chief executive violated Florida trade practices laws.
The suit says Trump held ‘several’ accounts at the firm which were closed.
On Feb. 19, 2021, shortly after the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot, the bank notified Trump that the accounts would be closed within two months, the suit also says.
The lawsuit adds to a still-growing list of legal efforts from Trump directed at a wide variety of institutions — from media outlets to tech platforms — many of which have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements. The president’s company, the Trump Organization, sued Capital One Bank last year over allegations of improper account closures. Capital One said at the time that the allegations have no merit.
Dimon, as head of JPMorgan Chase, the nation’s largest bank, is among the most influential people in the business world and someone who has been courted for years by Republicans and Democrats. In the run-up to the 2024 election, Trump falsely claimed that Dimon had endorsed him.
Dimon has at times been critical of some Trump policies — most notably inflation — while supportive of others, including efforts to streamline the U.S. government.
On Wednesday, Dimon criticized the Trump administration over its immigration policies.
‘I don’t like what I’m seeing,’ Dimon told attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Dimon also said that while he doesn’t agree with everything the administration does, he does agree with some of its economic policies.
On Saturday, Trump threatened the lawsuit in a Truth Social post. Over the weekend, JPMorgan Chase said it appreciated ‘that this administration has moved to address political debanking and we support those efforts.’
Almost exactly one year ago, Trump used an address at the World Economic Forum to take a shot at JPMorgan and its competitor, Bank of America.
‘I hope you start opening your bank to conservatives because many conservatives complain that the banks are not allowing them to do business,’ Trump said.
“You and Jamie and everybody, I hope you’re going to open your banks to conservatives because what you’re doing is wrong,” Trump said.
Bank of America said that it serves over 70 million consumers and does not close accounts for political reasons. JPMorgan says that it also serves tens of millions of accounts and likewise does not close accounts on political grounds.
In an expletive-laden interview with CNBC last year, Trump vented his frustrations at big banks that close accounts for legal and regulatory reasons.
‘I had JPMorgan Chase — I had hundreds of millions of dollars in cash,’ Trump told the cable network on Aug. 5. ‘I was loaded up with cash, and they told me, ‘I’m sorry, sir, we can’t have you.”
Trump says he was informed he had 20 days to move his assets out of the bank. ‘I said, ‘You got to be kidding. I’ve been with you for 35, 40 years,” the president recounted.
Trump said, ‘then what happens is I call a Bank of America.’
‘And they have zero interest,’ he said. CEO Brian Moynihan ‘was kissing my a– when I was president, and when I called him after I was president to deposit a billion dollars plus and a lot of other things … and he said, ‘we can’t do it.”
The JPMorgan Chase spokesperson said Thursday that the bank ‘does not not close accounts for political or religious reasons. We do close accounts because they create legal or regulatory risk for the company.’
Trump was indicted multiple times after his first term in office. In 2024, he was indicted on charges that he conspired to defraud the United States, conspiracy to to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.
In recent years, banks have faced intense pressure from conservatives leveling ‘debanking’ claims against them. However, banks and their lobbying groups have long maintained that they do not close accounts for political or religious reasons, but they close accounts based primarily on legal or regulatory grounds.
Trump’s administration has sought to ease those regulations in order to make it harder for a bank to close a customer’s account. In August, Trump signed an executive order which sought to end ‘politicized or unlawful debanking activities.’
In September, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, one of the top banking regulators, began a review of banking rules to ‘depoliticize the banking system.’
New Found Gold is an emerging Canadian gold producer with a multi-asset portfolio in Newfoundland and Labrador, anchored by the high-grade, district-scale Queensway project and complemented by the Hammerdown operation and permitted processing infrastructure at Pine Cove and Nugget Pond. New Found Gold offers a combination of near-term cash flow potential and long-term, district-scale growth.
New Found Gold (TSXV:NFG,NYSE:NFGC) is an emerging Canadian gold producer with assets located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The company’s portfolio includes its flagship Queensway gold project, as well as the Hammerdown operation, Pine Cove mill and Nugget Pond hydrometallurgical gold plant.
In 2025, New Found Gold refreshed its board of directors and management team, adding a group of experienced mine builders and operators to support the company’s transition from exploration to production, and build off its established exploration expertise. The reconstituted board is led by chairman Paul Andre Huet and includes seasoned mining executives and capital markets specialists.
In November 2025, New Found Gold completed the acquisition of Maritime Resources, creating a diversified gold company with both development and producing assets in a top-tier jurisdiction. The transaction brought together two high-quality gold projects — Queensway and Hammerdown — and added permitted processing infrastructure, positioning the company to pursue a clear path to production and cash flow.
The company is currently focused on ramping up Hammerdown safely and efficiently through 2026, while advancing Queensway through engineering, permitting and project finance toward a targeted Phase 1 start-up in H2/2027. This multi-asset approach is intended to support near-term cash flow potential while maintaining meaningful exploration and development upside through Queensway’s large, high-grade gold system.
At Queensway, New Found Gold has consolidated a district-scale land position and continues to advance technical work including infill drilling, grade control drilling, geotechnical studies, metallurgical testwork, environmental baseline studies and broader exploration programs. In parallel, the company has engaged Cutfield Freeman as project finance advisor to help evaluate and select an optimal financing package for Queensway Phase 1 initial capital.
The 100 percent owned Queensway gold project is New Found Gold’s flagship asset and the primary driver of long-term value creation. Located in central Newfoundland, Queensway spans 230,225 hectares and covers more than 110 kilometres of strike along the Appleton and JBP fault zones, highlighting its district-scale exploration potential.
Aerial view of the Queensway gold project, adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway near Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
In 2025, New Found Gold published its initial MRE for Queensway, outlining 18 Mt grading 2.40 grams per ton (g/t) gold for 1.39 Moz (indicated), with an additional 10.7 Mt grading 1.77 g/t gold for 0.61 Moz (inferred), establishing a solid mineral resource base to underpin development studies.
In July 2025, New Found Gold completed a PEA for Queensway showing total production of approximately 1.5 Moz over a 15-year mine life and robust base-case economics, including after-tax NPV5 percent of C$743 million and after-tax IRR of 56.3 percent at US$2,500/oz gold, with life-of-mine AISC of US$1,256/oz, and Phase 1 initial capital of approximately C$155 million. The PEA outlines a phased development strategy designed to accelerate the project’s path to production, with Phase 1 focused on high-grade, near-surface mineralization from the Appleton Fault Zone (AFZ) Core and a low-capital processing approach leveraging off-site milling and tailings capacity (including the company’s permitted Pine Cove facility).
The AFZ Core hosts multiple high-grade gold zones, including Keats, Iceberg, Keats West, Lotto and Monte Carlo, which form the foundation of the PEA mine plan. Ongoing infill drilling, grade control drilling, excavation and geotechnical programs are being carried out to support mine planning, improve resource confidence, and advance future mineral resource updates. In 2025, the company completed more than 74,000 metres of diamond drilling, primarily focused on resource definition and pre-development work, alongside continued near-surface excavation, mapping and channel sampling in key zones.
Beyond the current mine plan, continued drilling along strike and at depth across Queensway has delivered new discoveries, highlighting the project’s potential for resource growth beyond the initial PEA scope. Notably, exploration success at targets outside the AFZ Core — including the Dropkick zone — underscores the broader camp-scale potential across the district-scale land package.
The Hammerdown operation is a high-grade gold project that New Found Gold is advancing through production ramp-up. Following the Maritime acquisition, Hammerdown achieved a first gold pour in November 2025 and is targeted to ramp up to commercial/steady-state production later in 2026.
Hammerdown benefits from on-island processing infrastructure and regional synergies, providing the company flexibility to pursue a production-focused strategy alongside ongoing development at Queensway. Hammerdown is the first step in establishing New Found Gold as a new Canadian gold producer.
New Found Gold also owns the Pine Cove operation, which includes a fully permitted mill and tailings facility, as well as the Nugget Pond hydrometallurgical gold plant. These assets provide the company with permitted processing infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador and support operational flexibility as Hammerdown ramps up and Queensway advances toward a phased production strategy.
Keith Boyle brings over 40 years of global mining experience, including extensive roles in operations, project development, technical studies, investor relations and budget management. Prior to joining New Found Gold, Mr. Boyle served as chief operating officer at Reunion Gold, where he fast-tracked the high-grade Oko West project in Guyana ahead of its acquisition for $870 million. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering and an MBA, and is a registered professional engineer in Ontario and Newfoundland & Labrador.
Paul Andre Huet is currently the chief executive officer at Americas Gold and Silver and was chairman and CEO of Karora Resources from 2019 to 2024, until its acquisition by Westgold Resources for $1.3 billion. Prior to this he was president, CEO and Director of Klondex Mines from 2012 to 2018, until its acquisition by Hecla Mining Company for $700 million. Huet has a strong command of capital markets and has served in all levels of engineering and operations within publicly traded mining companies. He graduated with Honors from the Mining Engineering Technology program at Haileybury School of Mines in Ontario and successfully completed the Stanford Executive program at the Stanford School of business.
Melissa Render is an exploration geologist with more than 18 years of experience focused on orogenic gold systems. She joined New Found Gold as a consultant in 2020, became vice-president, exploration in 2021, and was promoted to president in 2024. Ms. Render has led exploration programs worldwide across multiple gold belts and brings expertise in target generation, 3D modelling, data management and exploration program design. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological and Earth Sciences from Dalhousie University and is a registered professional geoscientist in Ontario and Newfoundland & Labrador.
Hashim Ahmed brings 25 years of finance, corporate strategy and capital markets experience to New Found Gold. He has held senior financial and executive positions across the mining industry, including most recently as executive vice-president and CFO at Mandalay Resources. His background spans royalty, mid-tier and senior gold companies. Mr. Ahmed obtained his CA/CPA designation with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Robert Assabgu is an experienced mining engineer with expertise in project management, engineering and operations. His career includes leadership roles at Inco/Vale and Hudbay Minerals, where he oversaw multiple mines, concentrators and technical services teams. He also played a key role at Reunion Gold on the Oko West project ahead of the G Mining Ventures acquisition. Mr. Assabgui holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mining and Mineral Engineering from McGill University in Montreal.
Fiona Childe has more than 25 years of industry experience, beginning as an exploration geologist and later focusing on capital markets, corporate development and investor communications. Throughout her career, she has held senior management positions and consulted for mining companies, such as Mineros S.A. and Tau Capital Corp. with a primary focus on gold. Dr. Childe holds a Ph.D. in geology from the University of British Columbia and a professional geoscientist designation in Ontario.
Jared Saunders brings over two decades of experience in environmental science, regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement. His background includes environmental leadership roles at Vale Newfoundland & Labrador and consulting project experience in environmental risk assessment and contaminated site management. Dr. Saunders holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences degree from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. He sits on the Board of Directors for Mining Industry, NL as Director – Exploration.
Jelena Novikov Fried has more than 20 years of legal experience in corporate, commercial and securities law. Prior to joining New Found Gold, she served as legal director, corporate and securities at lithium-ion battery recycler Li-Cycle, and practiced corporate and securities law with Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and Bennett Jones LLP. Ms. Novikov Fried holds a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
