Breaking
Invest Core Path
Author

admin

Browsing
Editor's pick

Trump flexes power over big business as U.S. takes 10% stake in Intel

Editor's pick 4 Mins Read

The Trump administration said Friday that it had taken a 10% stake in Intel, the president’s latest extraordinary move to exert federal government control over private business.

The United States will not seek direct representation on Intel’s board and pledged to vote with the current Board of Directors on matters requiring shareholder approval, ‘with limited exceptions,’ according to a joint release from the Trump administration and Intel. The move also comes as the United States vies with China in the race to dominate the artificial intelligence industry.

President Donald Trump announced the deal on his Truth Social platform Friday, praising the company’s CEO just two weeks after he called on the executive to resign over alleged China ties.

‘It is my Great Honor to report that the United States of America now fully owns and controls 10% of INTEL, a Great American Company that has an even more incredible future,’ he wrote. ‘I negotiated this Deal with Lip-Bu Tan, the Highly Respected Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The United States paid nothing for these Shares, and the Shares are now valued at approximately $11 Billion Dollars. This is a great Deal for America and, also, a great Deal for INTEL. Building leading edge Semiconductors and Chips, which is what INTEL does, is fundamental to the future of our Nation.’

While the U.S. held temporary stakes in firms at the center of the 2008-2009 global financial meltdown as part of a bailout, this move is unusual since the economy is not embroiled in a crisis. Congress published a study in 2003 that examined the impact of the federal government taking direct stakes in public companies, concluding that doing so would “not offer a free lunch” and expose taxpayers to “greater risk” alongside the upside potential.

The stake will be paid for through $5.7 billion in grants previously awarded to Intel under the 2022 U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, plus $3.2 billion awarded to the company as part of a program called Secure Enclave. It’s a formerly classified initiative that Congress appropriated funds for in 2024 after lobbying by Intel, Politico reported in 2024.

Including $2.2 billion in CHIPs grants Intel has received so far, the total investment is $11.1 billion, or 9.9%. Intel is valued at about $108 billion on the stock market.

Trump continues to bulldoze through long-held norms regarding government and business, departing from the free-market ethos that has long prevailed in both major U.S. political parties.

This month, Trump persuaded the chipmakers Nvidia and AMD to pay the U.S. government 15% of their revenues from some sales to China in return for securing export licenses there.

While those firms have seen their fortunes rise amid the larger artificial intelligence boom, a windfall from any of them is no sure thing. In the case of California-based Intel, the company has struggled to keep up with rivals in recent years, with its shares down some 60% from the highs seen during the pandemic.

But amid the ongoing artificial intelligence arms race — and the goal of making computer chips a national security priority — Trump officials zeroed in on Intel as a means of leveling up U.S. control over semiconductor production.

Earlier this week, Japan’s SoftBank also announced it would invest $2 billion in Intel to “deepen their commitment to investing in advanced technology and semiconductor innovation in the United States.’

Some Democrats signaled they were on board with the move.

‘U.S. leadership is critical for both our economy and national security,’ U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Virginia, said in a statement Friday evening.

‘Taking an equity stake in Intel may or may not be the right approach, but one thing is clear: allowing cutting-edge chips to flow to China without restraint will erode the value of any investment we make here at home. We need a strategy that protects American innovation, strengthens our workforce, and keeps the technologies of the future firmly in American hands.’

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Keep Reading
Investing

Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: StrategX Jumps 64 Percent on Fundraising

Investing 11 Mins Read

Statistics Canada released July’s consumer price index (CPI) data on Tuesday (August 19). The figures show that inflation decelerated in the month, posting a 1.7 percent year-on-year gain, down from the 1.9 percent recorded in June.

The most significant contributor to the fall was a 16.1 percent decline in gasoline prices from the same period last year.

Excluding the lower costs at the pumps, CPI remained steady at 2.5 percent, the same increase as May and June.

The national reporting agency released June’s mineral production survey on Wednesday (August 20).

The data indicates that production and shipments increased across the board, with copper production rising to 39.17 million kilograms, gold rising to 16,935 kilograms and silver increasing to 29,081 kilograms.

For shipments, copper increased to 45.96 million kilograms from 34.38 million kilograms, gold shipments rose to 18,554 kilograms from 16,725, and silver jumped to 31,391 kilograms from 27,614 kilograms.

On Thursday (August 21), Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Although the prime minister’s office has provided few details, the two leaders reportedly had a “productive and wide-ranging conversation” about the current trade dispute, as well as economic and security relations.

Carney and Trump are expected to speak again soon.

South of the border, US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave his speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium on Friday (August 22). In his remarks, he said that the Fed’s dual mandate goal is in balance, with the labor market remaining near maximum employment, while inflation has eased from post-pandemic highs.

However, he also said that “a shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance,” hinting at a near-term cut to the Fed’s benchmark interest rate. Expectations are high for a 25 basis point cut in September.

Markets and commodities react

Canadian equity markets were positive this week. The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) was in record territory, closing the week up 1.44 percent to set at another all-time high of 28,333.13. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) did even better, climbing 2.45 percent to finish Friday at 803.61. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) slumped mid-week but recovered on Friday to post a slight gain of 0.48 percent to 158.82.

US equity markets were mixed this week, but strong gains on Friday following Powell’s comments kept them in record high territory. The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) was up 1.52 percent on Friday, but down by 0.16 percent over the past five days to 6,466.92, while the Nasdaq 100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) rose 1.51 percent on Friday, but sank 1.33 percent on the week to 23,497.83 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) was the sole weekly gainer, rising 1.89 percent on Friday and 1.04 percent on the week to post a new record high of 45,631.73.

The gold price was largely flat this week, but also surged on Friday after Powell hinted at a near-term rate cut, rising 1.11 percent on the week to US$3,373.21 per ounce by 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday.

Silver saw similar movements, but ended the week with a more significant gain of 2.62 percent US$38.90 per ounce.

Copper saw little change again this week, posting a 0.22 percent decrease to US$4.52 per pound. The S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) commodities index posted an increase of 1.92 percent by close on Friday, finishing at 545.11.

Top Canadian mining stocks this week

How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

Stock data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

1. StrategX Elements (CSE:STGX)

Weekly gain: 63.64 percent
Market cap: C$11.57 million
Share price: C$0.18

StrategX Elements is advancing a portfolio of projects in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada.

Its most recent focus has been its Nagvaak project in Nunavut, which hosts a 6 kilometer mineralized zone with deposits of nickel, vanadium, cobalt, copper, silver and platinum-group metals.

On March 3, the company discovered a wide zone of high-grade graphite mineralization at Nagvaak, with one assay returning an average of 15 percent graphitic carbon over 32 meters, including an intersection of 22 percent graphitic carbon over 17 meters. StrategX said the hole also returned encouraging concentrations of other minerals, including nickel, copper and silver, supporting potential for a multi-mineral system.

The most recent news from the project came on July 30, when the company announced it was in the process of mobilizing for a 2025 drill program intended to delineate and validate the discoveries.

On Tuesday, the company completed a non-brokered private placement for 3.71 million shares, raising gross proceeds of C$296,960. It announced the placement on August 7 and said funds would be used for general working capital.

2. Max Resource (TSXV:MAX)

Weekly gain: 62.5 percent
Market cap: C$12.59 million
Share price: C$0.065

Max Resource is an explorer working to advance a portfolio of projects in Colombia.

Its Sierra Azul property is a district-scale copper and silver project consisting of 20 mining concessions covering an area of 188 square kilometers in northeastern Colombia.

The asset is covered by a May 2024 earn-in agreement with Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX), in which Freeport can receive up to an 80 percent stake by funding of C$50 million over 10 years. The site hosts multiple target areas with high-grade copper and silver mineralization, including a 20 kilometer red-bed style copper system at the AM district.

Max also owns the Florália hematite direct-shipping ore iron project located in the Minas Gerais region. The company completed the acquisition of the property in October 2024 from Jaguar Mining (TSX:JAG,OTCQX:JAGGF) for total cash considerations of US$1 million and 4 million performance share units, contingent upon reaching certain milestones. The site hosts hematite deposits with grades over 60 percent iron. Max intends to use a direct-shipping ore process to mine, crush and screen the ore before exporting the material directly to steel mills.

The company’s most recent announcement came this past Tuesday, when it secured the right to acquire Mora title, which lies adjacent to Aris Mining’s (TSX:ARIS,NYSEAMERICAN:ARMN) Marmato mine. The property hosts 40 historic workings with five active mines, with reserves with grades of 3.2 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold from 31.3 million metric tons and a resource of 9 million ounces of gold grading 3 g/t from 61.5 million metric tons.

3. Maple Gold Mines (TSXV:MGM)

Weekly gain: 50 percent
Market cap: C$45.6 million
Share price: C$0.105

Maple Gold Mines is a gold exploration company focused on the advancement of its Douay and Joutel projects located in the Abitibi greenstone belt in Québec, Canada.

The Douay project covers an area of 357 square kilometers. In a 2022 technical report, the company said the site hosts an indicated resource of 511,000 ounces of gold from 10 million metric tons with an average grade of 1.59 g/t gold, with an additional inferred resource of 2.53 million ounces from 76.7 million metric tons at 1.02 g/t.

Joutel is located directly south of Douay. The company announced on May 5 that it had staked an additional 128 mining claims, bringing the total land area at the property to 111 square kilometers from the original 39. The site hosts Agnico Eagle Mines’ (TSX:AEM,NYSE:AEM) past-producing Eagle-Telbel gold mine, which operated from 1974 to 1993. To date, the company has used 250,000 meters of historic drill results to create 3D models to aid in current exploration efforts.

The most recent news from Maple came on Wednesday when it announced a C$5 million non-brokered private placement led by strategic investor Michael Gentile. Additionally, the company reported that Agnico Eagle has indicated it intends to participate in the offering to maintain its pro rata ownership interest in Maple Gold.

The release also said that it has appointed Marc Legault and Chris Adams to the board of directors.

4. Capitan Silver (TSXV:CAPT)

Weekly gain: 40.45 percent
Market cap: C$113.2 million
Share price: C$1.25

Capitan Silver is an explorer focused on advancing silver and gold projects in Durango, Mexico.

The company’s flagship asset is the 100 percent owned Cruz de Plata project, in the heart of Mexico’s historic Penoles Mining District. The district is known for hosting significant silver mineralization and historic mining.

The Cruz de Plata project encompasses two historic silver mines — Jesus Maria and San Rafael — and the El Capitan oxide gold prospect, all within a 22.9 square kilometer land package.

To date, the company has completed 86 diamond drill holes totaling over 11,550 meters.

A 2020 technical report demonstratesd an inferred resource of 16.99 million ounces of contained silver and 331,000 ounces of contained gold from 28.3 million metric tons of ore with grades of 18.7 g/t silver and 0.36 g/t gold.

The most recent news from Capitan came on Friday, when it announced it executed a definitive agreement to acquire a strategic land package at its Cruz de Plata property from Fresnillo (LSE:FRES,OTC Pink:FNLPF) for total cash considerations of US$4 million. The transaction was initially announced in June.

The new parcel consists of seven mineral concessions covering an area of 2,171.4 hectares and increases its total holdings in the area by 85 percent and the surface expression of the silver and gold trend by 1.2 kilometers to the east.

5. District Metals (TSXV:DMX)

Weekly gain: 36.9 percent
Market cap: C$163.98 million
Share price: C$1.15

District Metals is a uranium exploration company focused on advancing a portfolio of assets in Sweden.

Its flagship Viken property covers an area of 38,657 hectares in Jämtland County and in addition to uranium hosts mineral deposits of vanadium, molybdenum, nickel, copper and zinc.

On June 13, District filed a technical report for the project’s updated mineral resource estimate. It shows an indicated resource of 176 million pounds of U3O8 from 456 million metric tons of ore with a grade of 175 parts per million (ppm) U3O8 and an inferred resource of 1.54 billion pounds of U3O8 from 4.3 billion metric tons with a grade of 161 ppm.

The company has also been advancing its Tomtebo-Stollberg zinc project in South-Central Sweden. The project is part of an October 2023 definitive agreement in which Boliden (STO:BOL) can earn an 85 percent interest in the property by spending C$10 million over four years and District can earn a 15 percent stake in Boliden’s Stollberg property.

Tomtebo covers an area of 5,144 hectares and hosts the historic Tomtebo and Lovas mines, while Stollberg covers an area of 5,180 hectares and is located near Boliden’s Garpengerg mine.

The most recent update from Tomtebo came on July 29, when District released assays from a five hole, 2,485 meter drill program conducted between February and April. One highlighted drill hole recorded multiple zones of silver and base metals mineralization, including 88 g/t silver, 3 percent zinc and 1.9 percent lead over 7.85 meters.

The company has not released any news since.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

As of February 2025, there were 1,572 companies listed on the TSXV, 905 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,859 companies, with 181 of those being mining companies.

Together the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

How do you trade on the TSXV?

Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading
Investing

Tech 5: Softbank to Invest US$2 Billion in Intel, Figure Seeks Nasdaq IPO

Investing 6 Mins Read

A broad selloff in heavyweight tech stocks at the start of the week abruptly reversed after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a speech that bolstered expectations of a September interest rate cut.

Speaking at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, Powell took a more dovish tone than investors may have been expecting, noting a slowdown in both worker supply and demand that could lead to employment risks.

He stated that the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting the Fed’s policy stance, stressing the need to balance both sides of the central bank’s dual mandate when goals are in tension.

This is a change from the Fed’s previous stance, which had been more focused on the need to keep rates high to fight inflation. Powell acknowledged the visible, though likely temporary, effects of tariffs, cautioning about the potential for persistent inflation, but signaled that the Fed is now also seriously considering the downside risks to employment.

A risk-on rally ensued, impacting various market sectors: the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX), Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) and Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) all closed up by more than 1.5 percent.

Bitcoin climbed above US$116,800, the Russell 2000 Index (INDEXRUSSELL:RUT) surged by 3.9 percent and 10 year treasury yields decreased by 0.07 percentage points to 4.26 percent. Traders now have higher expectations for a September rate cut, with probabilities exceeding 83 percent according to CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool.

Here’s a look at the other drivers that shaped the tech sector this week.

1. Softbank to invest US$2 billion in Intel

Intel’s (NASDAQ:INTC) share price got a boost this week after a series of major announcements, beginning with SoftBank Group’s (TSE:9984) Monday (August 18) announcement that it plans invest US$2 billion in the company.

“Semiconductors are the foundation of every industry. For more than 50 years, Intel has been a trusted leader in innovation,’ said Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank, in a press release.

‘This strategic investment reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role,” he added.

Following that news, sources confirmed last week’s reports that the US government was seeking an equity stake in Intel in exchange for Biden-era Chips Act funding. Then, on Friday (August 22), US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced that Intel had agreed to sell an 8.9 percent stake to the federal government, a move that will convert billions of dollars in previously awarded grants into a passive ownership stake.

Intel performance, July 28 to August 18, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

These developments have sent Intel’s market value soaring, with its share price increasing over 28 percent from the start of the month. Shares of Intel closed up on Friday at US$24.80.

2. Figure files for Nasdaq IPO

Figure Technology filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq on Monday under the ticker symbol FIGR, joining a growing list of crypto-related companies looking to access public markets following the successful debut of stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL).

Figure leverages blockchain to streamline financial services. The company’s filing reveals a strong financial performance, with profit reaching US$29 million in the first half of 2025, compared to a US$13 million loss in the same period last year. Its revenue for the first half of the year was US$191 million.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) and Bank of America Securities are acting as lead underwriters for the offering. The number of shares and price ranges are yet to be confirmed.

3. Google unveils new Pixel and more

Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) made headlines this week with several new developments spanning its business lines.

The week kicked off with the tech giant announcing it has increased its stake in data center operator and Bitcoin miner TeraWulf (NASDAQ:WULF) to roughly 14 percent, worth US$3.2 billion.

The company also revealed a partnership with advanced nuclear startup Kairos Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority to power its data centers in Tennessee and Alabama using a new nuclear reactor.

On Wednesday (August 20), Google unveiled its latest Pixel smartphone, the Pixel 10, and accessories, with upgrades including a health coach powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

The week culminated with reports of a US$10 billion cloud computing agreement with Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) to provide the necessary servers and infrastructure for Meta’s expanding AI operations. The news sent Google’s share price up by over 3 percent and Meta’s up by over 2 percent.

4. NVIDIA tumbles amid China tension and chip sales

NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) experienced a volatile week, with its share price slipping in early trading on Monday following reports of renewed tensions with China. The downturn was triggered by news that Beijing will move to restrict sales of the H20 AI chip, the company’s most advanced product approved for the Chinese market.

China’s internet and telecom regulator, as well as the state planning agency, issued informal guidance to major tech companies, instructing them to halt new orders of the H20 chips, citing security concerns.

According to unnamed officials who spoke to the Financial Times, the decision was also influenced by “insulting” remarks from US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

In response to the Chinese directive, NVIDIA has reportedly instructed its component suppliers, including Foxconn Technology (TPE:2354), Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and Amkor Technolgy (NASDAQ:AMKR), to suspend production of the H20 chip; the company also said it is working on a new AI chip for China.

Alphabet, NVIDIA, Palo Alto Networks and Meta Platforms performance, August 19 to 22, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

NVIDIA saw the greatest losses midweek, falling over 4 percent between Tuesday and Thursday. The company recovered some of its losses during Friday’s rally, but finished the week over one percent lower.

5. Palo Alto Networks rises on strong forecast

Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) surged over 7 percent on Tuesday after the cybersecurity company forecast that revenue and profit for its 2026 financial year will come in above estimates.

The company gave a strong performance in its 2025 fiscal year, with total revenue increasing 15 percent year-on-year to US$9.2 billion, fueled by an increase in revenue from newer, cloud-based security products. This growth occurred alongside a 24 percent rise in its future contracted business to US$15.8 billion.

The company also surpassed a US$10 billion revenue run rate while maintaining its “Rule-of-50” status — a measure of the balance between growth and profitability — for the fifth consecutive year.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading
Sport

Maria Sharapova inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame by Serena Williams

Sport 2 Mins Read

Maria Sharapova was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., on Saturday, Aug. 23. 

Sharapova amassed a 645-171 record during her career and won 36 singles titles. She’s earned close to $39 million.

The Russian started her professional career at the age of 14 in 2001, just a few years shy of her epic rivalry with Serena Williams.

Williams appeared as a surprise inductee for Sharapova.

“There are only a few players in my career who challenged me to be the very best, every single time we stepped out on the court,” Williams said of Sharapova. “Maria Sharapova was one of them. Whenever I saw her name next to mine in the draw, I made sure I practiced harder.”

The women were at the top of their game together for several years and had played 22 matches against each other since 2004. 

Their last match was in 2019. Williams has managed to get the best of Sharapova with a 20-2 record. Williams also holds an 8-1 record in major events against Sharapova, including a 3-1 record in major finals.

Sharapova’s only two victories against Williams came in the Wimbledon finals and the WTA Championships final in 2004.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Keep Reading
Sport

What Carson Wentz workout means for Vikings’ QB depth chart

Sport 5 Mins Read

The Minnesota Vikings are preparing to start J.J. McCarthy at quarterback to begin the 2025 NFL season. The order of the quarterback depth chart may be in flux behind him.

Case in point, the Vikings worked out veteran quarterback Carson Wentz on Saturday, ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry reports.

Wentz spent the 2024 NFL season backing up Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 32-year-old didn’t play much, making just one start in Kansas City’s Week 18 loss to the Denver Broncos. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 118 yards and an 80.6 passer rating across his limited action.

The Chiefs replaced Wentz with Gardner Minshew during the 2025 offseason. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft has remained unsigned as he looks to play for a sixth different team over the last six seasons, but he hadn’t drawn much interest before his workout with the Vikings.

Could Wentz be a fit with the Vikings? Here’s what to know about Minnesota’s current quarterback depth chart:

Will the Vikings sign Carson Wentz?

Wentz’s workout with the Vikings doesn’t necessarily mean the team is interested in signing him imminently. NFL teams host workouts throughout the year to keep tabs on players in whom they might have interest should injuries ravage their roster.

As such, Wentz’s workout could have been a typical due diligence move by Kevin O’Connell and Co.

That said, there are two points of interest in Wentz’s workout. Notably, the veteran spent the 2023 NFL season with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams. O’Connell worked as McVay’s offensive coordinator during the 2020 and 2021 seasons and runs a similar offense to his former mentor. That should allow Wentz to seamlessly ingratiate himself into O’Connell’s offense were he to sign.

Additionally, the Vikings could use some veteran quarterback depth on their roster behind the inexperienced McCarthy. Wentz has made just two starts over the last couple of seasons, but he has made 94 starts dating back to his rookie season in 2016.

Comparatively, the entire four-man Vikings quarterback room has combined to make 22 total NFL starts, with McCarthy and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer each sporting zero to their names.

So, a logical case could be made for Minnesota to add another quarterback to the fray, especially if it is seeking a veteran to help mentor McCarthy. Wentz could fit the bill, whether it’s as a backup on the 53-man roster or as a veteran presence with upside on the practice squad.

Vikings QB depth chart

Below is a look at the current pecking order in Minnesota’s quarterback room, according to the Vikings’ official website.

  1. J.J. McCarthy
  2. Sam Howell
  3. Brett Rypien
  4. Max Brosmer

Minnesota spent a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on McCarthy. The Vikings also let Sam Darnold walk in free agency to clear the path for the Michigan product to start in 2025.

The Vikings traded a fifth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Howell and a later fifth-round pick during the offseason with the expectation of making the 24-year-old their backup quarterback. Howell likely remains ahead in the race for that role but endured a disappointing preseason, completing 12 of 18 passes for 118 yards, one interception and a 61.8 passer rating.

Meanwhile, Rypien is listed third on Minnesota’s depth chart but may be in danger of missing the cut. The 29-year-old completed just 15 of 29 passes for 151 yards, an interception and a 52.5 passer rating during the preseason.

Brosmer, 24, was the best of Minnesota’s backup signal-callers during the preseason. The undrafted rookie completed 35 of 58 passes for 364 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and an 82.8 passer rating in extensive action.

That may be enough to make Brosmer the team’s third-string quarterback over Rypien. Still, it isn’t clear whether the Vikings will be willing to consider the inexperienced signal-caller as their primary backup to McCarthy.

Carson Wentz stats

Wentz has posted a 47-46-1 record across his 94 career starts with a respectable 89.3 passer rating. Below is a full look at his stats from his 9-year NFL career to date:

  • Completion %: 62.7%
  • Passing yards: 22,410
  • Passing TDs: 153
  • INTs: 67
  • Passer rating: 89.3
  • Yards per attempt: 6.7
  • Carries: 357
  • Rushing yards: 1,418
  • Rushing TDs: 11

Wentz also finished third in the NFL MVP voting during the 2017 season. He played in just 13 games that season before suffering a season-ending torn ACL.

Carson Wentz teams

Wentz began his career with the Philadelphia Eagles but has played for six teams in total. Below is a look at his career timeline:

  • Philadelphia Eagles (2016-20)
  • Indianapolis Colts (2021)
  • Washington Commanders (2022)
  • Los Angeles Rams (2023)
  • Kansas City Chiefs (2024)

Wentz won Super Bowl 52 as a member of the Eagles. He did not play in that game while recovering from a torn ACL.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Keep Reading
Sport

Shilo Sanders ejected after throwing punch at Bills player

Sport 2 Mins Read

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders was ejected from the team’s preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills after throwing a punch at Bills tight end Zach Davidson.

Sanders’ ejection occurred at the end of a play that saw Bills quarterback Shane Buechele throw a 1-yard pass to Elijah Moore. Sanders was engaged with Davidson, who was blocking him and continued to push the rookie safety down the field after Moore had already been tackled.

After Davidson delivered a final push to Sanders, the Colorado product took a swing at the 6-7 tight end. He landed a blow to the left side of Davidson’s helmet, prompting an immediate flag from the officials.

Sanders was quickly disqualified from the contest, bringing to an end his first NFL preseason. The Bills scored an 11-yard touchdown one play after his exit from the game.

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles was asked during a postgame news conference about his message to Sanders after the play.

‘You can’t throw punches in this league. I mean, that’s inexcusable,’ Bowles said. ‘They’re gonna get you every time. Gotta grow from that.’

Sanders racked up three total tackles across his three preseason games with the Buccaneers, as he battled for a spot on Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster. He was listed as a third-string safety behind Antonie Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, Kaevon Merriweather and Christian Izien on the Buccaneers’ most recent depth chart update.

Now, the 25-year-old rookie’s wait to see if he made Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster will begin in earnest.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Keep Reading
Sport

Stanford defender penalized for TikTok celebration dance

Sport 2 Mins Read

Stanford football’s Clay Patterson made quite the play against Hawai’i on Saturday, Aug. 23, blowing up an attempted trick play for a 12-yard loss late in the second half.

Then his celebration came.

The seventh-year senior broke out a hilarious celebration, busting out a TikTok dance on the field after the sack. However, the celebration was penalized, resulting in an automatic first down for the Rainbow Warriors.

‘Clay Patterson aura farming right now,’ said CBS color commentator Logan Ryan, a former NFL defensive back.

“Hawaii goes with the trickeration,” Logan added. “Clay Patterson has been in college seven years. You can’t fool him. But then he does the foolish TikTok dance that looks like it’s gonna be a taunting call. Welcome to Week 0 football, people.

‘Clay Patterson, trying to get trending real quick, cost his team. That might get you a seat next to the coach on the bench … and then you get the infamous hand on the head. ‘Oh, doy. What did I do?’”

While Patterson’s dance moves might have been elite, it was a substantial blunder for Stanford. Hawai’i avoided the negative play and later scored on the drive, taking a 14-13 lead into halftime after quarterback Micah Alejado found Jackson Harris for a 19-yard score.

Patterson had already impacted the game in a strong way before the penalty, though, as he strip sacked Alejado in the end zone in the first quarter before linebacker Wilfredo Aybar recovered the ball for a touchdown.

Patterson has two sacks against Hawai’i through three quarters, although he’d have three if it wasn’t for the penalty.

The 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive tackle is making his presence felt against the Rainbow Warriors, but he should probably leave the TikTok dances on the internet rather than the gridiron.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Keep Reading
Sport

Caitlin Clark injury update: Fever guard’s status vs. Lynx Sunday

Sport 5 Mins Read

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever have battled the injury bug all season long.

The 2024 Rookie of the Year has missed 23 of the Fever’s 36 games this season due to various injuries, including a right groin injury that has sidelined her 14 consecutive games. And that number will grow as Clark will the Fever’s matchup against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Sunday in Minneapolis.

Clark last played for the Fever on July 15, when she suffered a right groin injury in Indiana’s 85-77 win over the Connecticut Sun. She subsequently tweaked her ankle during recovery on Aug. 7, adding another hurdle to her return.

The Fever (19-17) have stumbled upon hard times and dropped five of their last seven games.

Here’s the latest on Clark’s status:

Is Caitlin Clark playing Sunday? Injury status for Fever-Lynx

Clark (right groin injury) has been ruled out of the Fever’s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday in Minneapolis, which is set to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on ION. There is not timetable for her return.

How was Caitlin Clark injured?

Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston on July 15. With 39.1 seconds remaining in the contest, Clark completed a bounce pass to Kelsey Mitchell to put the Fever up 84-75. After the pass, Clark immediately grabbed for her right groin and grimaced as she gingerly walked over and headbutted the stanchion. She did not return. 

Caitlin Clark injury timeline

  • May 24: Clark suffered a left quad injury during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, where she recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Clark couldn’t pinpoint the specific play that caused her injury, but noted that it happened early in the contest. Clark said, ‘Adrenaline covers up a lot of stuff when you’re in the heat of battle. After the game, I had some pain, and then we got an MRI, and that kind of gave me the result that I didn’t want to see.’ She missed the Fever’s next five games.
  • June 14: Clark returned to Indiana’s lineup in the Fever’s 102-88 win over the Liberty and dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back. 
  • June 24: Clark suffered a left groin injury in the Fever’s 94-86 win over the Seattle Storm, which resulted in Clark missing the team’s next four games. Fever coach Stephanie White said she learned of Clark’s groin injury the following night after Clark alerted team trainers of discomfort.
  • July 1: Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s 2025 Commissioner’s Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. That didn’t stop Clark from rightfully celebrating the team’s hardware.
  • July 9: Clark returned to the Fever’s lineup in the Fever’s 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Clark was limited to 10 points, shooting 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 5 from the 3-point line, in addition to six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers. Following the blowout loss, Clark said it was ‘going to take me a second to get my wind back. … Just trying to get my legs under me.’
  • July 15: Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston. White later confirmed Clark ‘felt a little something in her groin.’ This marked the last game for which Clark suited up.
  • July 18: Clark announced that she would sit out the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where she was named a team captain. Clark was also set to participate in the 3-point contest. She said, ‘I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate … I have to rest my body.’
  • July 24: The Fever said Clark’s medical evaluations confirmed there’s ‘no additional injuries or damage,’ but the team said it will be cautious with Clark’s rehab and recovery.
  • August 7: Clark reportedly suffered a mild bone bruise in her left ankle while during an individual workout session in Phoenix on Aug. 7, according to The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.
  • August 8: During an appearance on Sue Bird’s podcast, ‘Bird’s Eye View,’ Clark spoke about the frustrations of her injury-filled season: “It’s not like I have a training camp to build up to play in my first game again. It’s like no, you’re tossed into Game 30 — like, ‘Go try to play well.’ It’s hard, it really is.”
  • August 10: Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark has progressed in her recovery and has started running full court again, but Clark hasn’t returned to practice just yet: an important step in her ramp-up. ‘She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running with all of her body weight… She’s been able to do a little more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not into practice yet,’ White said.
  • August 20: White confirmed that Clark has not returned to practice yet.

Caitlin Clark stats

Clark is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and a career-high 8.8 assists in 13 games this season. Her assists average is the second-highest in the league, behind Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (9.0).

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Keep Reading
Editor's pick

Crop tour projects record 2025 U.S. corn harvest, but disease could hit yields

Editor's pick 4 Mins Read

ROCHESTER, Minnesota, Aug 22 (Reuters) – U.S. farmers will harvest a record corn crop in 2025 after ideal weather across much of the Midwest this summer, but the bounty will fall short of the U.S. government’s lofty outlook as pockets of plant disease and heat stress dented yields in spots across the farm belt, crop consultancy Pro Farmer said on Friday.

Growers are also expected to reap a bumper soybean crop, although dry conditions in parts of the eastern Midwest and pockets of disease pressure in Iowa may limit yield potential, Pro Farmer said after its annual four-day tour across seven top-producing states this week.

The United States is the world’s top corn exporter and No. 2 soybean exporter, and favorable weather in most of the main growing states supported crops but pushed futures prices to recent multi-year lows.

The warm and wet conditions that fueled crop growth also fostered fungal diseases such as tar spot, southern rust and northern blight in corn, and sudden death syndrome in soybeans.

“Each day we’ve noted the disease pressure in corn. Tar spot, southern rust more widespread than we’ve ever seen before. Those are going to be some real yield robbers,” said Lane Akre, Pro Farmer economist and one of the leaders of the tour’s eastern leg.

Pro Farmer projected 2025 U.S. corn production at a record 16.204 billion bushels, with an average yield of 182.7 bushels per acre, and soybean production at 4.246 billion bushels, with an average yield of 53.0 bpa.

The outlook is below the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest forecast for corn production at a record 16.742 billion bushels with yields averaging 188.8 bpa, and soybean production at 4.292 billion bushels with record average yields of 53.6 bpa.

Crop scouts on the Pro Farmer tour saw more disease-hit fields than normal across the Midwest farm belt this week, although it is not yet clear whether these diseases will blow up into significant yield loss.

At one stop in northwest Illinois, the corn field appeared healthy and green from the roadside, but 30 to 40 steps in, leaves were streaked with rust, leaving crop scouts covered in color. Overhead, bright yellow crop dusters banked low as they sprayed wide white plumes of fungicide.

Jake Guse, a Minnesota row crop farmer and crop scout on the eastern leg of the tour, said disease levels were the worst and most widespread that many crop scouts had ever seen on the tour.

“As we traveled across Indiana, we started seeing more (disease). In Illinois, started getting bad — and it was all over Iowa,” Guse said of three of the largest producing states.

However, crop scouts also found exceptional yield prospects that could help cushion any disease-related yield decline.

The strong production prospects may not be welcome news to farmers, who are facing a third straight year of declining corn prices due to excess supplies and only a modest improvement in soybean prices, according to USDA data.

Production costs remain high while trade tensions with key markets like China, the top soybean importer, have left demand uncertain.

While the USDA is forecasting that the nation’s farm economy will improve in 2025, that boost will largely come from a massive influx of federal funding the Trump administration plans to send to rural America, according to USDA data.

Corn and soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade firmed this week as reports from the crop tour suggested that recent USDA harvest forecasts may be too high.

The benchmark CBOT December corn contract CZ25 ended the week up 1.5%, its first weekly gain in a week in five weeks, while November soybeans SX25 also rose 1.5% and hit a one-month high.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Keep Reading
Investing

Grande Portage Applies for Road Easement from State of Alaska

Investing 6 Mins Read

Easement to Facilitate Near-Term Exploration Logistics for New Amalga Gold Project & Secure Road Route Spanning One-Third of Distance from Public Highway to Project Site

Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GPG)(OTCQB:GPTRF)(FSE:GPB) (‘Grande Portage’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it has applied for a State of Alaska easement related to its New Amalga Gold project in southeast Alaska. This easement application incorporates a proposal for development of approximately 1.3 miles (2 km) of gravel road along with two equipment staging areas.

Extending from Glacier Highway across State of Alaska property, development of this road segment will greatly facilitate the Company’s helicopter-supported exploration efforts by establishing an equipment staging area much closer to the project site. The helicopter shuttle distance for transporting drilling equipment and supplies would be reduced by over 60% for each cycle compared to the previous staging area located in the Juneau Mendenhall Valley suburbs.

Ian Klassen, President and CEO comments: ‘The submission of this easement application is an important step for the project. The proposed road development and equipment staging areas will not only enhance the efficiency of our exploration efforts but will also reduce the impact of helicopter noise on residential areas of the Mendenhall Valley. Furthermore, this road segment will comprise a significant proportion of the overall road development required to ultimately establish surface access to the project site.’

This initial road segment would span approximately one-third of the total distance from Glacier Highway to the project site, ending at the boundary between State of Alaska and US Forest Service land. Further road development will require separate federal environmental review and permitting. Baseline environmental studies are ongoing in order to support future federal submissions.

The future facilities at the project site are envisioned to include a small-footprint underground mining operation without an ore processing plant or tailings disposal landfill. Due to the resource location near tidewater and less than 4 miles (6.5km) from existing paved highway (Fig. 1), the Company considers off-site processing by a third party to be the most favorable configuration for the project.

Kyle Mehalek, P.E.., is the QP within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Mehalek is independent of Grande Portage within the meaning of NI 43-101.

About Grande Portage:

Grande Portage Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on advancing the New Amalga Mine project, the outgrowth of the Herbert Gold discovery situated approximately 25 km north of Juneau, Alaska. The Company holds a 100% interest in the New Amalga property. The New Amalga gold system is open to length and depth and is host to at least six main composite vein-fault structures that contain ribbon structure quartz-sulfide veins. The project lies prominently within the 160km long Juneau Gold Belt, which has produced over eight million ounces of gold.

The Company’s updated NI#43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) reported at a base case mineral resources cut-off grade of 2.5 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) and consists of: an Indicated Resource of 1,438,500 ounces of gold at an average grade of 9.47 g/t Au (4,726,000 tonnes); and an Inferred Resource of 515,700 ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.85 g/t Au (1,813,000 tonnes), as well as an Indicated Resource of 891,600 ounces of silver at an average grade of 5.86 g/t Ag (4,726,000 tonnes); and an Inferred Resource of 390,600 ounces of silver at an average grade of 7.33 g/t silver (1,813,000 tonnes). The MRE was prepared by Dr. David R. Webb, Ph.D., P.Geol., P.Eng. (DRW Geological Consultants Ltd.) with an effective date of July 17, 2024.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

‘Ian Klassen’
Ian M. Klassen
President & Chief Executive Officer
Tel: (604) 899-0106
Email: Ian@grandeportage.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain ‘forward-looking statements’ under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company’s future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as ‘believes’, ‘anticipates’, ‘expects’, ‘estimates’, ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘will’, or ‘plan’. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties as described in the Company’s filings with Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Please note that under National Instrument 43-101, the Company is required to disclose that it has not based any production decision on NI 43-101-compliant reserve estimates, preliminary economic assessments, or feasibility studies, and historically production decisions made without such reports have increased uncertainty and higher technical and economic risks of failure. These risks include, among others, areas that are analyzed in more detail in a feasibility study or preliminary economic assessment, such as the application of economic analysis to mineral resources, more detailed metallurgical and other specialized studies in areas such as mining and recovery methods, market analysis, and environmental, social, and community impacts. Any decision to place the New Amalga Mine into operation at levels intended by management, expand a mine, make other production-related decisions, or otherwise carry out mining and processing operations would be largely based on internal non-public Company data, and on reports based on exploration and mining work by the Company and by geologists and engineers engaged by the Company.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED UNDER THE POLICIES OF THE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE

Source

Click here to connect with Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GPG)(OTCQB:GPTRF)(FSE:GPB) to receive an Investor Presentation

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading