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Small caps, explained. Research for small-cap investors on the companies, the filings and the markets they trade on.

What it costs each year to hold gold through a fund. Chart: Annual expense ratio, %: VanEck Gold Miners (GDX) 0.51%; SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) 0.40%; Sprott Physical Gold Trust 0.39% MER. Source: Fund sponsors (GDX net ratio; Sprott MER at Jun 30, 2026).Commodities · Oct 26, 2026

Gold ETFs vs Physical Gold vs Gold Mining Stocks: How Each One Works

Bars and coins, bullion funds and mining shares all track gold differently. Here is what you own in each, what it costs, and where the risks sit.

Commodities

Rare Earth Elements Explained: Where They Come From and Why AI Needs Them

China's rare earth share rises along the chain. Chart: China's share, 2024, %: Magnet rare earth mining ~60%; Refined output 91%; Sintered permanent magnets 94%. Source: International Energy Agency.
Mining

How Mineral Claims Work in Canada: Staking in BC, Ontario and Quebec

Holding a BC claim costs more every two years. Chart: Annual requirement, C$ per hectare: Years 1 and 2 Work required $5, Cash in lieu $10; Years 3 and 4 Work required $10, Cash in lieu $20; Years 5 and 6 Work required $15, Cash in lieu $30; Year 7 onward Work required $20, Cash in lieu $40. Source: Province of British Columbia, Mineral Titles fees.
Macro

How OTC Markets Work for Canadian Companies: OTCQX, OTCQB and Pink

OTCQX and OTCQB entry standards side by side. Chart: Minimums for admission, international companies, US$: Minimum bid, 30 days, $0.25 / $0.05; Market capitalization, $25M / none; Public float, % of shares, 20% / 10%; Holders of 100+ shares, 100 / 50. Source: OTC Markets Group, OTCQX and OTCQB Rules (Sep 17, 2026).
Commodities

How Gold Is Priced: The LBMA Auction, COMEX Futures and the Spot Price

London handles most of the world's gold trading. Chart: ~70%: London OTC share of global notional gold trading volume (2021 data). 15.8M oz Daily average cleared in London, July 2026; ~27M oz Daily equivalent traded in COMEX GC futures. Source: World Gold Council; LBMA clearing data; CME Group.

Themes we cover

All topics →
VVenture MarketsTSXV, CSE, financings

LatestTSX Venture vs CSE vs TSX: How Canada’s Stock Exchanges Differ

CACanadaRates, trade, policy

LatestHow Mineral Claims Work in Canada: Staking in BC, Ontario and Quebec

AIAI & TechPower, compute, exploration

LatestRare Earth Elements Explained: Where They Come From and Why AI Needs Them

AuGoldPrice, miners, central banks

LatestGold ETFs vs Physical Gold vs Gold Mining Stocks: How Each One Works

CuCopperSupply, grid, pricing

LatestCopper Explained: Where It Is Used, Where It Is Mined, and How It Is Priced

UUranium & NuclearFuel cycle, SMRs, AI power

LatestSmall Modular Reactors in Canada: The Darlington SMR Project Explained

CMCritical MineralsRare earths, lithium, graphite

LatestRare Earth Elements Explained: Where They Come From and Why AI Needs Them

AgSilver & PGMsIndustrial demand, supply

LatestThe Gold to Silver Ratio Explained: What It Measures and Its Historical Range

How it works

All explainers →
Darlington SMR cost per kW, first unit to fourth. Chart: C$ per kW, including financing and escalation: Unit 1 plus common infrastructure ~$25,700; All four units ~$17,400; Fourth unit (OPG projection) ~$13,700. Source: Ontario Power Generation; World Nuclear News.Explainer · Energy

Small Modular Reactors in Canada: The Darlington SMR Project Explained

The gold to silver ratio has run from near 30 to above 120. Chart: Ounces of silver one ounce of gold buys: 1940 (average) 99.76; 2011 near 30; 2019 (average) 86.04; March 2020 peak 123.78; April 4, 2025 above 100; Sep 21, 2026 65.74. Source: Nasdaq; BullionVault; Kitco; USAGOLD.Explainer · Commodities

The Gold to Silver Ratio Explained: What It Measures and Its Historical Range

China mines 8% of copper but refines 48%. Chart: 2025 estimates, thousand tonnes of copper: Chile Mine production 5,300, Refinery production 1,700; Congo Mine production 3,200, Refinery production 2,800; Peru Mine production 2,700, Refinery production 340; China Mine production 1,800, Refinery production 14,000. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.Explainer · Commodities

Copper Explained: Where It Is Used, Where It Is Mined, and How It Is Priced

Policy rate down 2.75 points from July 2023. Chart: Bank of Canada, %: July 12, 2023 Overnight rate target 5.00%, Bank Rate 5.25%; September 2, 2026 Overnight rate target 2.25%, Bank Rate 2.50%. Source: Bank of Canada.Explainer · Macro

How the Bank of Canada Sets Interest Rates: Process, Schedule and Target

Recent articles

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Resource GDP doubled in two years. Jobs rose 13%.. Chart: Natural resources sector, change from 2020 to 2022: Energy GDP ~139%; Nominal GDP ~104%; Minerals and mining GDP ~68%; Jobs ~13%; Real GDP (2017 dollars) ~8.5%. Source: Statistics Canada, table 36-10-0624-01.
Oct 12, 2026 · Macro

Canada’s Resource Economy by the Numbers: GDP, Exports and Jobs

TSX Venture lists 890 miners to the TSX's 185. Chart: Mining issuers listed, August 31, 2026 (59% of TSX Venture issuers): TSX Venture 890; TSX 185. Source: TMX Group MiG report, August 31, 2026.
Oct 9, 2026 · Mining

TSX Venture vs CSE vs TSX: How Canada’s Stock Exchanges Differ

TSXV caps placement discounts at 25%, 20% or 15%. Chart: Maximum discount to the last close, by closing price: Up to $0.50 25%; $0.51 to $2.00 20%; Above $2.00 15%. Source: TSX Venture Policy 1.1 (as at March 31, 2026).
Sep 30, 2026 · Mining

Private Placements Explained: What It Means When a TSXV Junior Raises Money

Central bank gold buying is well above its 2010s pace. Chart: Central bank net purchases, tonnes: 2010 to 2021 avg. 473 t; 2024 1,092.4 t; 2025 863.3 t; H1 2026 345.4 t. Source: World Gold Council; USGS.
Sep 28, 2026 · Macro

Why Central Banks Hold Gold: A Short History of Gold in Official Reserves

What NI 43-101 Means and What a Technical Report Tells You
Sep 24, 2026 · Mining

What NI 43-101 Means and What a Technical Report Tells You

How to Read a Drill Result Without a Geology Degree
Sep 24, 2026 · Mining

How to Read a Drill Result Without a Geology Degree

A streamer's cost per ounce is its contract price. Chart: Wheaton Precious Metals, Q2 2026, US$ per ounce, Cash cost and Cash margin: All streams (GEO) Cash cost 568, Cash margin 3,875; Salobo gold Cash cost 433, Cash margin 4,019. Source: Wheaton Precious Metals Q2 2026 results.
Sep 24, 2026 · Mining

How Gold Royalty and Streaming Companies Make Money

December 30 is the last trade date for 2026. Chart: Canadian exchanges, T+1 settlement: Thu Dec 24, Tue Dec 29; Mon Dec 28, Market closed; Wed Dec 30, Thu Dec 31 · last for 2026; Thu Dec 31, Mon Jan 4, 2027. Source: TMX settlement schedule.
Sep 24, 2026 · Macro

Tax-Loss Selling on the TSX Venture and CSE: How It Works in 2026

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