The crew of Artemis II returned safely after a flawless 10-day mission, the first of its kind in over 50 years, offering a rare view of the far side of the Moon and a reminder that meaningful progress still requires venturing into the unknown. 

What stood out to me wasn’t just the technology, but the execution of a coordinated, multi-disciplinary effort backed by infrastructure, planning, and capital. It’s not unlike what we look for in the mining sector: taking calculated risks to generate new information and, ultimately, better outcomes. 

In the Weekly Market Digest, a potential ceasefire has made the markets more optimistic, with a drop in energy prices that supported equity markets. The fall in the US dollar and treasury yields has supported precious metals and equities. While the potential negative impacts of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on base metal production (copper, nickel) have supported these critical minerals and the equities levered to them. 

The Exploration Insights Portfolio had a positive week, led by a pair of precious metal developers in the western US and NW Argentina, which offset a pair of copper explorers in Peru that may have been negatively impacted by local elections.  

In Stock Talk, I catch up on a plethora of news. A detailed review of the financial statements for a pair of cash-flowing royalty generators leads to an adjustment in Top Picks. I cover drill results from a pair of gold developers in the western US and Australia, along with a critical mineral producer in north-central US. Finally, I review 2026 drill plans for a copper exploration company in northern Canada and a PGE-Ni-Cu development company in Brazil.