Louis Allen
Louis Allen is a recent graduate from Murdoch University in Western Australia having studied a combined degree of journalism and communications. He has a keen interest in mining and technology, as well as other key areas of the market.
US President Biden creates history with federal marijuana research bill
United States President Joe Biden has officially signed a marijuana research bill into law, becoming the first piece of standalone federal cannabis reform legislation in the nation’s history. The White House confirmed on Friday that President Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act. Congressman Blumenauer’s endorsement of the bill was joined by […]
Rolls-Royce takes ‘major step’ in hydrogen-powered jet engine testing
British aerospace giant Rolls-Royce Holdings (LSE: RR) has successfully completed the first test run of a hydrogen-powered jet engine, in what is considered to be a world-first for the aviation industry. The testing was carried out as part of a joint venture with airline provider easyJet (LSE: EZJ), in a bid to prove that hydrogen […]
Irish Government eyes off SSE Thermal’s Tarbert power station for emergency generation
SSE Thermal (LSE: SSE) reported the Irish Government is eyeing off its Tarbert power plant as a potential site for the nation’s emergency generation in the near future, if required. The thermal power generation company, which is a subsidiary of SSE, confirmed the news in a recent announcement – indicating it has been in talks […]
BP to buy US renewable natural gas company Archaea Energy in US$4.1b deal
Multinational oil and gas giant BP (LSE: BP) has announced plans to acquire renewable natural gas (RNG) company Archaea Energy (NYSE: LFG), in a deal estimated to be worth US$4.1 billion. RNG, otherwise referred to as biogas, is generated from organic waste in landfills of farms. The deal between BP and Achaea marks the largest […]
IQE executes multi-year agreement with global consumer electronics leader
United Kingdom semiconductor company IQE (LSE: IQE) has entered into a multi-year strategic agreement with an undisclosed “global consumer electronics leader” based in Asia. The agreement is focused on the high-volume production of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) for advanced 3D sensing applications, and highlights the company’s push to expand into Asia. It will also focus […]
US advisory firm files ETF to trade inverse to Jim Cramer’s investment advice
US-based advisory company Tuttle Capital Management plans to launch two exchange traded funds (ETFs) that trade on stock tips of the media personality Jim Cramer – with one that goes long and one that goes short. The advisory company filed the proposed ETFs with the US Securities and Exchanges Commission earlier this week. Tuttle Capital’s […]
Billionaire investor Ray Dalio warns stocks could drop another 20% with further interest rate rises
American billionaire investor and hedge fund manager Ray Dalio has predicted stocks could drop by around 20% as the US Federal Reserve raises interest rates aggressively in a bid to curb inflation. The founder of one of the world’s biggest hedge funds Bridgewater Associates Mr Dalio issued the warning recently in a social media post, […]
Kape Technologies’ ExpressVPN launches first ever Wi-Fi 6 router with built-in VPN protection
Leading cybersecurity company Kape Technologies’ (LSE: KAPE) subsidiary ExpressVPN has announced the launch of the first Wi-Fi 6 router with built-in VPN protection, called Aircove. The Aircove router marks the first of ExpressVPN’s hardware releases, aiming to protect customers’ devices at home including computer and laptops, smart TVs and other internet of things (IoT) devices. […]
FREYR Battery inks deal with UK-based Mpac to deliver cell manufacturing equipment for flagship facility
FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY) has secured a framework agreement with UK-based packaging and automation company Mpac Group PLC (LSE: MPAC). Mpac will exclusively supply cell manufacturing equipment for FREYR’s 29-gigawatt-hour flagship Giga Arctic facility in Norway. It is expected Mpac will help enable lower-cost and more sustainable lithium-ion battery production at FREYR’s facility. Initially, the […]
UK set to launch first ever Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre
The UK Government has announced it is setting up the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) to gather data and analyse information of the supply of critical minerals. CMIC will be run by the British Geological Survey (BGS), assessing critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium and graphite, which are key elements in the makeup of electric […]
London Metal Exchange sued for US$456m by US hedge fund Elliott Management over nickel trades
One of the world’s largest hedge funds, US-based Elliott Management has sued Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX)-owned London Metal Exchange (LME) for US$456 million, after it suspended and cancelled nickel trades in March. According to the filing, the US hedge fund claims the trade cancellation was “unlawful on public law grounds” and “constituted a […]
Japan pushes to restart nuclear power a decade on from Fukushima
After more than a decade since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced the government will move to restart idled nuclear power plants throughout the country. Japan aims to minimise the demand on Russia’s oil and gas supplies following its invasion of the Ukraine. The invasion of Russia into Ukraine has […]
UK to fight rising energy costs with 25% windfall tax
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government will introduce a 25% windfall tax on oil and gas producer profits, while alleviating the pain of soaring household energy bills with a £15 billion (A$26.46 billion) package. This temporary windfall tax for oil and gas producers will bring the headline tax rate on any profits occurring after the […]
Glencore forks out over US$1.1bn amid bribery and manipulation allegations
Switzerland-headquartered Glencore (LON: GLEN) has pleaded guilty to acts of bribery and commodity price manipulation spanning over a decade across the globe, forcing the company to fork out over US$1 billion in reparations. The mining and commodity trading firm hopes the US$1 billion will alleviate its damaged reputation, which has been questioned in recent times […]
Nationalisation of Chile’s mining sector scrapped after constitutional assembly votes against proposal
Under the Chilean Government led by Gabriel Boric, plans to nationalise parts of the country’s mining sector have fallen through after the constitutional assembly voted against the movement. The major overhaul of potential mining rights in Chile, the world’s top copper producing nation, was rejected on Saturday, despite considerable efforts from the environmental commission. In […]
Lithium alliance: Mexico set to partner with Argentina, Bolivia and Chile in exploration bid
Mexico aims to enter a partnership with “lithium triangle” countries Argentina, Bolivia and Chile in an effort to share expertise in developing lithium deposits. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says the goal “is to create an association with the aim of helping each other.” The move to collaborate comes after the president has recently […]
Biden administration tips-in $3b funding to boost lithium-ion batteries
The Joe Biden-led US Government has announced it’s making an estimated $3.16 billion investment into lithium-ion battery development in the country. In an effort to be more independent and less reliant on energy from Russia and other competing nations, especially in the current times of disturbed global markets, the Biden administration’s funding will go towards […]
Bezos and Gates-backed KoBold Metals to drill for EV critical minerals in Greenland
Heavily supported by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, exploration company KoBold Metals will start drilling in western Greenland later this year for minerals critical to electric vehicles (EVs), including nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group metals. In exploring for EV critical minerals in Greenland, KoBold Metals has partnered with London AIM-listed Bluejay Mining. The […]
Canada’s Government budget emphasises importance of critical minerals
In its latest budget, the Canadian Government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership has outlined ambitious goals, funding, and tax incentives in its bid to stay on track with achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The country will set aside as much as C$3.8 billion (A$4.04 billion) over eight years to push for greater critical mineral […]
CATL and Indonesian Government to invest US$6b into local battery and EV industry
Following Tesla’s failed negotiation attempts, Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has announced a US$6 billion collaboration with two Indonesian Government-owned entities to develop the country’s battery mineral mining, processing, refining, manufacturing and downstream electric vehicle (EV) industry. CATL’s subsidiary Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend has signed a three-way agreement with Indonesian Government-owned […]