Carbonxt Group (CG1:AU) has announced Placement to Fund Further Investment in New Carbon
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The lithium market heads into 2026 after one of its most punishing years in recent memory, shaped by deep oversupply, weaker-than-expected electric vehicle (EV) demand and sustained price pressure.
In 2025, lithium carbonate prices in North Asia sank to four year lows, forcing production cuts and project delays as the industry grappled with the consequences of years of aggressive supply growth.
The second half of the year saw a rebound as lithium carbonate began a slow ascent. By December 29, prices had risen 56 percent from their January start position of US$10,798.54 per metric ton to US$16,882.63.
While volatility and brief price rallies highlighted the market’s sensitivity to sentiment and policy signals, analysts increasingly see the sector’s first-half downturn as an inflection point. With high-cost supply under strain and inventories gradually tightening, expectations are building that 2026 could mark the start of a rebalancing phase, supported by long-term demand tied to electrification, energy storage and the broader energy transition.
Battery energy storage systems to drive lithium growth
Energy storage is emerging as the fastest-growing pillar of battery demand, with major implications for the lithium market heading into 2026. Indeed, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence’s Iola Hughes, growth in this segment is accelerating well ahead of the broader battery market.
“We’re expecting about 44 percent growth (in 2025),” she said. That’s compared with roughly 25 percent growth across total battery demand. As a result, energy storage is set to account for about a quarter of total global battery demand in 2025, a share that is rising rapidly. The shift is even more pronounced in the US, where Hughes expects storage to make up a significant “35 to 40 percent of battery demand in the next few years.”
That growth is being driven by falling costs and the growing role of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which Hughes described as the dominant technology in stationary storage.
“It very much is the story of LFP right now,” she said, pointing to recent innovation and lower costs, which have helped to make LFP “the best chemistry” for most storage applications.
Globally, deployment remains highly concentrated. China and the US account for roughly 87 percent of cumulative grid-scale storage installations, but new markets are emerging quickly.
Saudi Arabia, Hughes noted, has surged from effectively zero to the world’s third largest market in a matter of months, deploying around 11 gigawatt-hours in the first quarter alone. “That really goes to show just how early this market is in its story,” she said; it also indicates how quickly new sources of battery demand can materialize.
Cost declines sit at the core of the expansion. Fully integrated storage systems in China are now approaching, and in some cases falling below, US$100 per kilowatt-hour. Hughes said this has fundamentally changed the economics of storage, making deployments viable even as policy support tightens. “The prices are so much cheaper, the economics are a lot stronger, even in a normal, unsubsidized environment,” she said.
In the US, growth remains concentrated in a handful of states — led by California and Texas — but Hughes stressed how early stage the market still is. New Mexico, now the fifth largest storage market, is built on just a few projects.
At the same time, the scale of energy storage projects is increasing rapidly. Giga-scale installations, defined as projects larger than 1 gigawatt-hour, are moving from novelty to norm.
Hughes said nine such projects are expected to come online this year, accounting for about 20 percent of battery demand, with more than 20 in the pipeline for next year, representing close to 40 percent.
Policy remains a key variable. While investment tax credits for storage remain in place in the US, Hughes warned that tighter sourcing and eligibility rules are reshaping supply chains, particularly for LFP. The pipeline of announced LFP gigafactories has grown sharply this year — up more than 60 percent — led largely by Korean manufacturers.
“We’re in a much better position when it comes to sourcing of cells for energy storage than we were even three months ago,” she said, though challenges remain around production tax credits and heavy reliance on Chinese cathode supply.
Underlying the storage boom is a broader shift in electricity demand.
After more than a decade of stagnation, US power demand is rising again, driven by data centers, AI, electrification and reshoring of manufacturing. Hughes said estimates now point to electricity demand rising 20 to 30 percent by 2030, placing energy storage at the center of energy security planning. “Storage has become a central topic in the energy security conversation,” she said, adding that its role will only grow.
Looking ahead, Hughes said LFP is likely to dominate shorter-duration storage, while sodium-ion and other battery technologies compete in longer-duration segments.
For the lithium market, the message is clear: as storage scales up in size, geography and strategic importance, it is becoming one of the most powerful demand drivers shaping the sector’s outlook for 2026 and beyond.
Lower costs driving LFP adoption
Howard Klein, RK Equity co-founder and partner, argued that falling costs remain a central driver of LFP battery adoption, reflecting a familiar economic dynamic: as prices decline, demand accelerates.
While lithium is a key input, he suggested that ongoing manufacturing efficiencies and economies of scale are likely to continue pushing LFP battery costs lower over time, potentially offsetting upward pressure from higher lithium prices.
Klein emphasized that even if LFP costs rise modestly, battery storage will remain highly competitive as a source of grid power. Compared with conventional generation options such as gas or coal, storage already offers a compelling cost and performance proposition, he said, and does not rely solely on subsidies to remain economically viable.
Geopolitical instability on the rise
Critical minerals are increasingly at the center of US foreign policy, and that shift is set to reshape the lithium value chain through 2026, according to Klein. He noted that geopolitics now underpins many of Washington’s strategic priorities, from Eastern Europe to Africa and the Arctic.
“The entire foreign policy agenda is largely being driven by critical minerals,” Klein said, citing regions including Ukraine, Russia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Greenland and Canada.
China’s willingness to weaponize its dominance in key supply chains has sharpened that focus.
On that note, Klein pointed to Beijing’s renewed rare earths export restrictions in October, noting that these measures were applied globally, not just against the US.
“They showed that they wield a significant negotiating stick, and they’re willing to use it,” he said.
In Klein’s view, that move has triggered a forceful response from western governments. “I think they’ve overplayed their hand to some degree, because now you’ve had this very big reaction from the US.”
That reaction is translating into a renewed push to localize and reshore critical mineral supply chains — an effort that has gained rare bipartisan backing in Washington.
“Unlike so many other things in America, which are hyper-partisan, both sides agree we need to resolve this,” Klein said, adding that the policy momentum will continue to shape the lithium industry.
While rare earths remain the immediate pressure point, Klein said the policy lens is widening. The US recently added 10 minerals to its critical minerals list, which now stands at a total of 60. Lithium, he said, sits high on that agenda, not out of enthusiasm for the metal itself, but because of its role in batteries.
“It’s an understanding by the government that batteries and battery technology are very, very important, and the entire battery supply chain needs to be supported,” Klein said. That support extends beyond lithium to graphite, manganese, nickel, cobalt and battery components such as anodes and cathodes.
The approach is increasingly coordinated across western economies. Klein described it as “a G7 effort,” with the EU and Canada aligned alongside the US through a mix of bilateral and multilateral initiatives.
That coordination is already translating into capital flows. He pointed to US-backed progress at Thacker Pass, EU funding for Vulcan Energy Resources (ASX:VUL,OTC Pink:VULNF) and a 360 million euro grant for European Metals Holdings (LSE:EMH,ASX:EMH,OTCQB:EMHLF) as early examples. Canada, he added, is also ramping up support.
“Canada announced C$6 billion over 26 investments,” Klein said, adding that more announcements are likely by the time the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention rolls around in March.
Klein sees geopolitics, industrial policy and supply chain security converging into powerful lithium tailwinds. “This is a super hot topic,” he said, and one that is likely to drive increased lithium-related activity well into 2026.
Should the US build a strategic lithium reserve?
To dilute China’s grip on the sector, Klein is advocating for a strategic lithium reserve in the US as a more effective and market-neutral alternative to company-specific subsidies. He argues that the industry’s core challenge is not demand, but extreme price volatility caused by global oversupply and what he describes as non-market behavior, which has driven prices below sustainable levels and distorted investment signals across the sector.
“The problem in lithium is volatile prices — prices below the marginal cost, catastrophically low prices that put companies out of business,” he said, pointing to persistent oversupply as the primary distortion.
In Klein’s view, a reserve would act as a counterweight by creating steady, large-scale demand that stabilizes prices within a sustainable range. “The main focus is to stabilize price … not at a super high level, but at a level where companies can make an economic return,” he said. That stability, he added, is essential to incentivize investment in mines, processing and conversion facilities across the US, Canada and allied jurisdictions.
Unlike targeted government support, Klein said a reserve would allow the market to determine which projects succeed.
“I want the market to decide which projects and companies are the best, not necessarily the government,” he said, noting the diversity of competing lithium resources, from US clay and brine projects to Canadian hard-rock deposits.
A more predictable price environment with fewer large swings would lower the cost of capital and give private investors greater confidence to finance viable projects.
Klein stressed that a lithium reserve should not be confused with a stockpile.
“People use ‘stockpile’ and ‘reserve’ like they’re the same thing, and they’re not,” he said. While a stockpile focuses on availability for emergencies, a reserve is designed as a market-stabilizing mechanism that can buy and sell material to smooth volatility. Availability, he said, is a secondary benefit.
He sees the concept as most relevant for mid-sized, fast-growing markets like lithium, graphite and other battery materials that lack deep futures markets and long-term hedging tools.
“Those are the markets that could be amenable to a reserve,” he said, contrasting them with large, liquid commodities like copper or very small, niche minerals tied mainly to military use.
Looking longer term, Klein said a lithium reserve aligns closely with the growth of EVs, energy storage, data centers and grid electrification, as well as geopolitical efforts to diversify supply chains away from China.
“This is no longer just a renewables or EV thing — this is national security, clean energy and building an electro-state,” he said, arguing that reducing volatility would make it easier for automakers, utilities and manufacturers to commit capital without fear of being caught on the wrong side of wild price swings.
North American cooperation key for lithium
Gerardo Del Real, publisher at Digest Publishing, also highlighted the impact of geopolitics on the lithium value chain, emphasizing the need for North American coordination to reduce reliance on dominant producers like China.
“I think this is the path towards that. It has to happen,” he said, noting that collaboration between the US, Canada and potentially Mexico could strengthen regional supply security and reduce vulnerability to global disruptions.
Del Real framed the issue in broader energy terms, pointing to the strategic value of domestic resources: “If we are serious as a country and as a region in being somewhat independent from China and from the Russians … we have a luxury of resources in the US, in Canada … there could be a very powerful path forward.”
On market dynamics, he suggested investors are focused on timing and catalysts, with policy shifts, demand surprises or supply disruptions likely to drive sentiment in 2026.
He also warned that the market may be underestimating the importance of coordinated regional supply initiatives as a factor shaping pricing and project economics.
Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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The Atlanta Falcons are resetting once again.
Just hours after the regular-season finale on Sunday, the team fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. Both of Morris’ seasons at the helm concluded with 8-9 records.
Fontenot had been the general manager for the past five years and oversaw several controversial moves, including the selection of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall a little more than a month after the Falcons signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract.
Despite closing the campaign out with four consecutive wins, the Falcons opted to make a change at the top.
‘I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons, but I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward,’ Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. ‘The decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.’
Expectations were high for Atlanta entering the season as the organization sought to break an active playoff drought only surpassed by the New York Jets. With Penix taking over as the full-time starter after a promising three-game stint to close out 2024, the Falcons sought to unleash an explosive offense keyed by running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London.
But Penix struggled with his ball placement, and the Falcons offense floundered in both scoring and third-down conversions in the early going. After a 3-2 start, the team went on a five-game losing streak that would torpedo its playoff hopes and extend its run of consecutive losing seasons to eight.
In mid-November, Penix suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, ending his season. The former Washington and Indiana passer suffered two torn ACLs in college.
Still, Robinson finished the year with an NFL-best 2,298 yards from scrimmage.
‘We’ve got enough people in place right now to have done what we needed to, and that’s what’s so frustrating for us,’ Morris said Sunday after the season finale against the New Orleans Saints.
Last April, Atlanta gave up its 2026 first-round pick in order to secure edge rusher James Pearce Jr. with the No. 26 overall selection. Along with fellow first-rounder Jalon Walker, Pearce was brought aboard to invigorate a pass rush that had netted by far the fewest sacks of any organization from 2019-24. Pearce set the franchise single-season rookie sack record with 10 ½, and the unit overall ranked second in the NFL with 57 thanks to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s blitz-happy approach.
But the Falcons ended up surrendering a pick in the top half of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft to the Rams, leaving the team with few resources to address holes in the receiving corps and elsewhere.
Morris is the third coach to be fired this season after the Tennessee Titans dismissed Brian Callahan and the New York Giants parted ways with Brian Daboll.
(This story has been updated with new information.)
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- Myles Garrett set the new single-season sack record with 23 sacks in the 2025 season.
- Garrett achieved the record in a 17-game season, which has sparked debate about its legitimacy compared to previous records.
- The article notes other records, like Reggie White’s 21 sacks in 12 games, that require context when discussing all-time bests.
- Sacks only became an official NFL statistic in 1982, further complicating historical comparisons.
The Cleveland Browns defensive end set the record for most sacks in a single season with his 23rd of the 2025 campaign, a takedown of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on one of the most impressive speed rushes you’ll ever see in your life, on Sunday, Jan. 4.
But as with all records, this distinction – long as it is noted and referenced as we talk about the NFL – must come with the proper context.
Garrett had the benefit of a 17th game. Without it, his quest for the record ends with him chasing Aaron Rodgers around. As we saw in Week 17, Rodgers released the ball quicker than anybody could utter “hot potato!” Regardless, that’s how the Pittsburgh Steelers have designed their offense.
We don’t tell the whole truth enough in our world today. But doing is important. It doesn’t take away from Garrett’s greatness – did you see that sack? How many people have you watched who are capable of moving like that? The moment deserves warranted recognition. But let’s not take the easy way out by failing to complete a proper accounting.
NFL’s single-season sack king? The context behind the numbers
The sack-king dispute was already messy and required some clean-up, even before Garrett upended the rubble. Garrett surpassed Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt, each of whom had 22.5 sacks.
Reggie White had 21 sacks in 12 games with the Philadelphia Eagles during the strike-shortened and partially scab-played 1987 season. That’s certainly something worth further examination that feels lost to the past because, well, it was nearly four decades ago now.
Jerry Rice, who also played 12 games that season, had 22 touchdown receptions. Randy Moss’ 23 TD catches came in a 16-game season. O.J. Simpson’s 1973 season – the first 2,000-yard rushing performance – came in the era of 14-game regular seasons.
Dan Marino’s 1984 campaign has lost luster over the years. The Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley surpassed the 2,000-yard rushing threshold in 16 games (and was the ninth to do it) and stood down in Week 18 to preserve Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 rushing yards that’s stood since 1984.
Dickerson is unabashedly transparent about not wanting his record broken, which is something he has in common with Mark Gastineau, a sack king in his own right. Strahan famously set his record via a Brett Favre dive, which broke the heart of Gastineau – the previous record-holder (22 sacks in 1984). Sacks weren’t even an official stat until 1982. Pro Football reference lists the unofficial leader as Al Baker, who had 23 sacks (unofficially) with the Detroit Lions in 1978.
Another more-recent example and more pertinent to Garrett’s record is Watt, who accomplished his single-season, record-tying feat in 15 games during the 2021 season (the first that had 17 games).
Records don’t change. But the games do, and we can recognize that
And pretty soon, we’ll be at 18 games. And we’ll be having the same discussion about why context is important when we’re talking about records. Which makes talking about it way less fun. But that’s the cost of business when you’re a sports fan. It’s a fine tradeoff. The discourse can be whacky in exchange for the spectacle Garrett provides. (Garrett is handsomely compensated for his labor. He signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Browns that included $123.5 million in guarantees in March 2025.)
Garrett will go down as one of the best to ever do it and have his claim to GOAT status. Garrett has now racked up 125.5 career sacks since the Browns drafted him first overall in 2017 (83 of those have come in the last five seasons). He turned 30 last week. Bruce Smith’s 200 sacks certainly could be within reach.
Sam Fortier of the Washington Post talked about how Garrett’s chase felt “small.” I don’t agree with that at face value; I’m a sucker for narrative and excitement. But he asked the right question – does it count to break a record in 17 games that was set in 16 games? One of his theses: a lot of records feel cheapened. My colleague Nate Davis compiled a list of NFL records that could be affected by the existence of a 17-game schedule.
Myles Garrett is the single-season sack leader. Let the record books reflect it. The same as Barry Bonds is MLB’s home-run leader. The record books should reflect such. But let’s make sure we’re saying all of the truth.
We don’t do that enough these days.
This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Holy cow.
Those who tuned into the ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers probably had something akin to that reaction, with the two AFC North rivals going blow-for-blow, resulting in the Steelers escaping with a 26-24 win – and the AFC North crown.
How they got there, though, might have been an act of divine intervention.
Ravens kicker Tyler Loop slicing a kick wide right of the uprights as time expired, gifting the Steelers the win, and answering the prayers of plenty of Steelers faithful. Was it literal, though?
Prior to the game, a priest was seen blessing an end zone with holy water – the same end zone where the upright stood that was the target of Loop’s missed field goal try.
It was a blessing for the Steelers and a curse for the Ravens, who lined up to steal the win from the Steelers in Week 18. With the victory, Pittsburgh punched the last remaining ticket to the 2025 NFL playoffs.
Pittsburgh will defend home turf against the Houston Texans on Jan. 13 in the wild-card round. They’ll continue to look for miracles as their playoff run gets underway.
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The march toward solidifying the NFL playoff picture tends to define Week 18 annually. But for most fan bases, the turning of the calendar means flipping attention to mock draft season rather than the postseason.
Sunday mark an important step in the pre-draft process, as the top 18 spots in the first-round order – occupied by all the franchises that failed to make the playoffs – are now set. And with a flurry of coaching staff and front-office shake-ups looming this week as the College Football Playoff continues, more clarity could be ahead in the coming weeks.
With Week 18’s games now complete and more than half of the first-round order in place, here’s our latest NFL mock draft projection:
2026 NFL mock draft
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Heisman Trophy winner isn’t the elite improvisor or creator that recent No. 1 picks have been, but he’s composed and clean in almost any scenario you could throw at him. Mendoza also does seem capable of enacting a significant cultural shift, which is more than needed for a Raiders organization that has severely whiffed in a series of resets.
2. New York Jets – Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Moore is no mere consolation prize, and he’s proven himself to be a highly composed and accurate distributor despite a limited body of work. Returning to school and vying for the No. 1 pick in 2027 remains an option, but Moore should be highly in demand if he does declare.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
Reese would pair with Josh Sweat to give the kind of fearsome pairing off the edge that Arizona could build its defense around for the foreseeable future.
4. Tennessee Titans – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
An absolute force at 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, Faulk is a work in progress as a pass rusher, but he’s the kind of project any defensive line coach would gladly take on.
5. New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Could a receiver who’s never been WR1 on his own team end up the first pass catcher selected in an entire draft class? Tate will likely face plenty of scrutiny for the role he operated in with the Buckeyes, but his route-running and body control are that of a target who can make a massive difference to ease the burden on his future quarterback.
6. Cleveland Browns – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
A fairly extensive injury history will surely loom over Tyson’s stock, and he could slide if teams have concerns. When healthy, however, he’s a smooth target who can threaten defenses all over the field.
7. Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
As questions about his arm length and fit at the next level have amplified, Bain has continued to bulldoze all comers, leading the charge for the Hurricanes’ defense in the unit’s College Football Playoff run.
8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
For all the legitimate concerns of the positional value and limitations of running backs, the all-purpose RB shapes up as the kind of consistent big-play threat for whom teams will pay a significant premium. He’d be a fitting successor to Alvin Kamara and someone who could help Tyler Shough continue to ascend in Year 2.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech
No one made life more difficult for quarterbacks this season than Bailey, the Stanford transfer who tied for the Football Bowl Subdivision lead in sacks (14½). His skill set is enough to make teams that prefer more prototypically built edge rushers reconsider.
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
A two-time unanimous All-American and Thorpe Award winner, Downs accomplished nearly everything imaginable for a collegiate defensive back. While some franchises might be reticent to take a safety in the top 10, the do-everything defender shouldn’t be reduced to his positional label.
11. Miami Dolphins – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Essentially a lockdown presence in his final season after transferring from Virginia Tech, Delane gave teams plenty of reasons to look past his pedestrian physical tools to his overall coverage prowess.
12. Dallas Cowboys – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Long known for his rare athleticism, Styles has come into his own as a linebacker by developing an advanced feel for the position, particularly in his work against the run. At 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds with outstanding speed, he also has all the physical traits to match up with tight ends and transcend a typical role at the second level.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The unanimous All-American’s fleet feet set him apart from his peers in this class, making him the clear front-runner to be the first offensive tackle off the board.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
McCoy missed all of the 2025 season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in January, but a clean bill of health at the combine could enable him to compete to be the first cornerback taken. Along with 2024 first-rounder Nate Wiggins, he could give Baltimore a formidable cornerback tandem as the team reflects on whether there’s a reasonable way to bring back Marlon Humphrey at a lower price.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Woods never flourished into the top-five talent it seemed he was on track to become entering this season, but his high-end flashes as a disruptor still seem likely to entice a team in the early first round.
16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Biletnikoff Award winner is uniquely positioned to thrive in this era of football, as he consistently frees himself up from coverage in the short-to-intermediate area and piles up yards after the catch with ease.
17. Detroit Lions – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)
Solid to the core in pass protection and a true punisher in the run game, Mauigoa will up the physicality of whatever front he joins. That’s something that Dan Campbell would covet as he tries to re-establish Detroit’s ability to set the tone up front with a stronger interior.
18. Minnesota Vikings – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Aggressive yet composed, Terrell would enable the Vikings to sort out a secondary that needs to turn the page on a challenging 2025 season.
19. Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
His main selling point will be how he can expand a passing attack as a seam threat and mismatch creator, but Sadiq will also elevate the run game of whatever team he joins thanks to his relentless approach.
20. Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
It’s difficult to find cornerbacks who can match Cisse in smothering receivers at the line of scrimmage or catch point while staying composed in between. Any team looking for a dose of physicality in the secondary will be drawn to him.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Simpson’s hardly enjoyed the late-season trajectory of a surefire first-rounder, and he lacks the high-end tools to help teams overlook his flagging production. Still, Simpson could stand to benefit from a shallow quarterback class if he chooses to declare, as coaching staffs might see a passer worth developing thanks to his quick processing and pocket awareness.
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Ioane demonstrated outstanding resilience in the face of a disastrous season for the Nittany Lions, which helped push him to the front of the pack to be the first interior lineman taken.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
A two-time transfer from Wyoming and USC, Pregnon has elevated his game at every stop and should be a stout presence at the next level.
24. Buffalo Bills – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Boston sizes up as exactly the kind of jump-ball winner and red-zone threat you’d expect of a 6-foot-4, 210-pound target, but he’s also more fluid than one might expect given his build.
25. Chicago Bears – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
A foot injury that robbed him of most of his final season at Florida is the biggest knock on Banks’ draft stock, as the 6-foot-6, 330-pounder combines rare quickness and athleticism to disrupt along the interior.
26. San Francisco 49ers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
As the Paul Hornung Award winner for the most versatile player in college football, the receiver and return specialist can ignite explosive plays in a variety of different forms for his next team.
27. Houston Texans – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The 6-foot-3, 330-pounder figures to be a force multiplier at the next level, commanding double teams and collapsing the pocket while also making his mark as a run stuffer.
28. Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Proctor’s singular size (6-foot-7, 366 pounds) and uneven play could make him a polarizing prospect, but there’s no denying his ability to erase defenders when he properly locks in.
29. Rams – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Los Angeles could clearly stand to add a little more bulk and reliability in the secondary, and Hood could help significantly on both fronts.
30. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M
While Howell might get dinged for his arm length, he’s demonstrated a number of different ways to compensate for the shortcoming to become a highly efficient pass rusher.
31. Denver Broncos – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Allen’s hardly the biggest linebacker at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, but his well-rounded athleticism should allow him to make plays in a variety of different ways at the next level.
32. Seattle Seahawks – Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
If he declares, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Jones has the make-up of a player who could rise significantly throughout the pre-draft process. He’d be a fitting potential replacement for Tariq Woolen in a Seahawks cornerback group that could undergo a major shift in 2026.
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The second season of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s professional basketball league, tips off on Monday, Jan. 5, in Miami with four games.
Unrivaled expanded from six teams to eight for 2026, with 48 players and a development pool of six ready to step in if someone gets hurt. Twenty six players return from last season including co-founder Breanna Stewart. Twenty two new players join them including rookies Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen.
Rose BC won the inaugural title but will be without Angel Reese, who decided not to play this season. One other notable absence is Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier, who will miss the season because of surgery on both ankles.
Here’s a look at how to watch the Monday’s games and the rosters:
How to watch Unrivaled women’s basketball
The 2026 Unrivaled women’s basketball league tips off on Monday, Jan. 5, on TNT, truTV, and streaming on HBO Max. Games will air Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The season runs from January through early March.
What time in Unrivaled women’s basketball?
Monday, Jan. 5
- Mist vs. Hive, 1 p.m. ET (truTV)
- Vinyl vs. Laces 2:15 p.m. ET (truTV)
- Lunar Owls vs. Rose 8 p.m. ET (truTV, TNT)
- Phantom vs. Breeze 9:15 p.m. ET (truTV, TNT)
2026 Unrivaled club rosters
*Players making their Unrivaled debut
Breeze BC
Head coach: Noelle Quinn
- *Paige Bueckers
- Rickea Jackson
- *Dominique Malonga
- *Aari McDonald
- Kate Martin
- *Cameron Brink
(Cameron Brink was a member of the Lunar Owls last season, but did not play while recovering from an ACL injury. She is set to make her debut in 2026.)
Hive BC
Head coach: Rena Wakama
- *Kelsey Mitchell
- *Sonia Citron
- *Ezi Magbegor
- *Natisha Hiedeman
- *Saniya Rivers
- *Monique Billings
(Natisha Hiedeman was a member of Unrivaled last season as a relief player, but did not spend the entire season with one club.)
Laces BC
Head coach: Andrew Wade
- Jackie Young
- Brittney Sykes
- Alyssa Thomas
- Jordin Canada
- *Maddy Siegrist
- *Naz Hillmon
(Naz Hillmon was a member of Unrivaled last season as a relief player, but did not spend the entire season with one club.)
Lunar Owls BC
Head coach: DJ Sackmann
- Skylar Diggins
- Marina Mabrey
- *Temi Fagbenle
- *Rachel Banham
- *Rebecca Allen
- Aaliyah Edwards
(Temi Fagbenle replaces Napheesa Collier, who will miss the 2026 season following ankle surgery)
Mist BC
Head coach: Zach O’Brien
- Allisha Gray
- Breanna Stewart
- *Alanna Smith
- *Veronica Burton
- Arike Ogunbowale
- *Li Yueru
Phantom BC
Head coach: Roneeka Hodges
- *Kelsey Plum
- Satou Sabally
- Aliyah Boston
- *Dana Evans
- Natasha Cloud
- *Kiki Iriafen
(Kelsey Plum was invited to play in Unrivaled last season, but later declined her invite, opting to return for her first full year in 2026.)
Rose BC
Head coach: Nola Henry
- Chelsea Gray
- Kahleah Copper
- *Sug Sutton
- Azurá Stevens
- Lexie Hull
- Shakira Austin
Vinyl BC
Head coach: Teresa Weatherspoon
- Courtney Williams
- Rhyne Howard
- Dearica Hamby
- *Erica Wheeler
- Rae Burrell
- Brittney Griner
Developmental Pool
Laeticia Amihere
Makayla Timpson
Hailey Van Lith
Aziaha James
Haley Jones
Emily Engstler
This post appeared first on USA TODAY
To kick it off, our team asked nine experts to share their highest-conviction sectors.
Here’s what they had to say.
1. John Rubino — Silver
2. Peter Schiff — Silver, mining stocks
Peter Schiff of Euro Pacific Asset Management and Schiff Gold mentioned silver too, although he also said he sees mining stocks overall doing well.
3. Craig Hemke — Silver-mining stocks
Similarly, Craig Hemke of TFMetalsReport.com is bullish on silver, but said his choice for top-performing asset of 2026 would be silver-mining stocks.
4. Byron King — Gold
5. Chris Temple — Uranium
6. Lobo Tiggre — Copper
7. Rick Rule — Oil/gas, small-scale community banks in the US
Unsurprisingly, Rick Rule of Rule Investment Media went outside the box.
8. Gareth Soloway — ‘Defensive names’ like Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)
Gareth Soloway of VerifiedInvesting.com also had an alternate take. Although he believes gold will perform well in 2026, he said it won’t necessarily be the top-performing asset.
9. Clem Chambers — Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)
Finally, Clem Chambers of aNewFN.com spoke about why he sees promise in Intel.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
This post appeared first on investingnews.com
After a steep decline during the first half of 2025, the zinc price is ending the year close to where they started.
Because it’s used to make galvanized steel, the majority of zinc demand is closely tied to housing and manufacturing sectors, which have recently faced pressures from a combination of high inflation and interest rates.
Additional pressures have come from an evolving US trade policy, causing uncertainty among investors who turned away from real estate and consumers who reduced spending.
What happened to the zinc price in 2025?
The zinc price was relatively flat at the start of 2025, beginning the year at US$2,927 per metric ton (MT) on January 2 and closing the first quarter at US$2,855 on March 30. However, the second quarter brought a broad rout for base metals prices, and by April 9 zinc had fallen to a yearly low of US$2,562.
Since then, zinc has gained steadily, ending the second quarter at US$2,753 on June 30. The price rise continued through Q3 and Q4, with zinc reaching US$2,954 on September 30 and US$3,088 on December 29.
Zinc price, 2025.
Chart via the London Metal Exchange.
Key trends for zinc in 2025
As mentioned, zinc saw a major price decline at the start of April, falling 14 percent as the base metals sector responded to US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs announcement.
At the time, analysts predicted that the proposed reciprocal tariffs could trigger a recession, impacting consumer spending on new homes and cars, both of which have significant inputs of galvanized steel.
While the threat of a significant global recession eased as the proposed tariffs were dialed back, considerable uncertainty among both investors and consumers remained. This was evident in the US housing market, where affordability challenges persist, leading to stagnation in new housing starts and a glut of unsold homes.
Likewise, a stalled Chinese housing market persisted throughout 2025. The country’s real estate market collapsed in 2020 as Evergrande and Country Garden filed for bankruptcy. Over the past five years, the government has implemented several measures to stimulate the beleaguered sector, but they have had little effect.
According to CNBC, November sales from China’s top 100 developers declined 36 percent over 2024, and were down 19 percent through the first 11 months of 2025 — a ‘real and concerning’ worsening.
Against that backdrop, the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) is predicting a 2025 zinc market surplus of 85,000 MT in 2025. It notes that during the first 10 months of the year, zinc mine production rose to 10.51 million MT, up from 9.87 million MT in 2024. Refined zinc production was also up, rising slightly to 11.52 million MT from 11.12 million MT in the same period last year. Zinc demand reached 11.44 million MT, up from 11.19 million MT in 2024.
Despite the oversupply situation, London Metal Exchange (LME) stockpiles fell from 230,325 MT on January 2 to just 33,825 MT on November 1. The gap has since widened again, reaching 52,025 MT on November 28.
Zinc surplus expected in 2026
Oversupply is likely to persist as newly mined metals enter the market, while demand growth remains modest.
The ILZSG is predicting that global refined zinc demand will increase by 1 percent to 13.86 million MT in 2026.
The group notes that while it anticipates sees Chinese demand posting a 1.3 percent gain in 2025, it believes usage from the country will be flat in 2026 as the slump in the Chinese real estate sector persists into 2027.
Additional challenges are arising from a slowdown in the US housing market, as new buyers face high home prices and elevated mortgage rates. However, policy proposals from the Trump administration on December 17 could give the sector a much-needed boost and potentially increase downstream demand for zinc.
Likewise, European zinc demand is likely to grow next year following predicted 0.7 percent growth in 2025.
However, the ILZSG is predicting a more significant upward trend in zinc mine supply in 2026 — the organization is anticipating that output will increase by 2.4 percent to 12.8 million MT. This will come on the back of higher output from existing operations in Europe, Australia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo and China.
Additional zinc supply will come from a recent restart at the Almina-Minas Aljustrel mine in Portugal, commissioning of Bunker Hill Mining’s (CSE:BNKR,OTCQB:BHLL) namesake mine in Idaho, and the start of commercial production at the Xinjiang Huoshaoyun mine in China, which will be the sixth largest lead-zinc mine in the world.
Refined zinc output is also expected to increase by 2.4 percent in 2026, reaching 14.13 million MT from the anticipated 13.8 million MT in 2025. The higher levels are owed to the greater availability of concentrates in Brazil, Canada, Norway and China. Overall, the ILZSG predicts a global zinc supply surplus of 271,000 MT in 2026.
Zinc price forecast for 2026
In terms of the zinc price in 2026, a December report from Fastmarkets suggests that upward momentum from the 2025 LME average of US$3,218 is expected to continue through the first half of the year.
The firm points to regional disparities as Chinese production runs at a surplus, while the rest of the world falls short.
However, the expectation is that the zinc market will achieve a better balance in the second half of the year and into 2027 as global surpluses begin to emerge. Zinc prices are then seen declining as a result.
For its part, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) recently revised its zinc price outlook for 2026, calling for a yearly average of US$2,900 for the base metal, as per a mid-December Reuters article.
Additionally, according to a November Argus report, long-term zinc contracts have slowed amid low LME inventories, creating near-term uncertainty and driving prices higher.
Argus suggests that manufacturers have been slow to issue sales orders, which has caused uncertainty among producers, leaving them to take a wait-and-see approach to determine if low inventories persist.
It’s also important to note that zinc is listed as a critical mineral in the US for its use in the production of galvanized steel for infrastructure and defense projects. The US has already given South32’s (ASX:S32,OTC Pink:SHTLF) Hermosa project FAST-41 approval, giving it access to streamlined regulatory processes.
With building regional disparities and a tense relationship between the US and China, the world’s top zinc producer, a deteriorating trade status could be a boon for US and western producers of the metal.
However, as long as refined supply of zinc remains in surplus against a backdrop of weak demand growth, investors can expect more of the same from zinc markets in the near term. This may open up opportunities for patient or less risk-averse investors who are willing to take a wait-and-see approach to how the market evolves.
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
This post appeared first on investingnews.com
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 16-14 in their final regular-season game.
- Both teams’ playoff hopes now depend on the outcome of the Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints game.
- The Buccaneers need a Saints victory or a tie to win the NFC South and make the playoffs.
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales wore a hat during his team’s Week 18 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that had the word “OPPORTUNITY” written on it.
Ironic.
Both teams enter the final day of the regular season with their respective playoff fates beyond their control. A potential Atlanta Falcons victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Jan. 4 would render the Buccaneers’ 16-14 victory in sloppy conditions Jan. 3 in Tampa moot. But if the Saints win (or tie), the Bucs would move on as the NFC’s No. 4 seed and NFC South division winners for the fifth straight season.
The Panthers cracked the window for the sliding doors scenario – a win would have automatically clinched the division title for Carolina, who can still make the playoffs with a Falcons victory.
“Shoot, I think we’re all gonna be on the seat of our – the edge of our seats (Sunday), watching that game, hoping for the outcome, for the Falcons to pull through,” Canales told reporters after the game. “At the same time, at least we have that hope to look at.”
Baker Mayfield ‘hates’ the Saints, but will pull for them Sunday
For Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who earlier this season made headlines for espousing his hatred of the Saints, it’s a somewhat awkward situation.
“We’ll all be pulling for New Orleans,” Mayfield told reporters.
Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David started his postgame news conference by thanking everybody in the room for the past 14 years, which begged the question: “So is this it?”
“Nah,” he replied. “I’m trying to see what the Saints are going to do tomorrow.”
He never thought the day would come in which he had to root for the Saints.
“I got some guys over there who I know who I can get in contact with to make sure they handle business,” he said.
Mayfield was quick to point out that a tie could get the Bucs into the playoffs too. He said there could be a group text sent out for a watch party among teammates.
‘We put ourselves in this situation’
Carolina signal-caller Bryce Young said he hasn’t even thought about the Falcons-Saints matchup. Missing out on the opportunity – there’s that word again – to take the division for themselves and now that it’s in the hands of somebody else is uncomfortable.
“I might not even watch, to be honest with you,” he told reporters.
Waiting is all these two teams can do, Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said.
‘Can’t wait for tomorrow if we didn’t win today,” Bowles told reporters. He continued: “Gave ourselves a chance. All we can ask for.”
He will be watching the 1 p.m. ET kickoff from home. His team watched a 5-1 start to the season slip away and Bowles said they could have made “a ton” of plays down the stretch. But dwelling on the past doesn’t change it, he said.
“It’s disappointing today. Could be jubilation tomorrow,” Bowles said. “If tomorrow doesn’t happen, it’ll be disappointing. We put ourselves in this situation. We’re grown men about it.”
Mayfield agreed with everything Bowles said. The focus was always beating the Panthers and then letting the chips fall as they may.
“Honestly, it just felt good to get back into that win column, have that singular-game focus, control what we can control. It’s just about us right now. Go execute to the best level that we can and find a way to win.”
Mayfield was asked about his thoughts on the Bucs should they advance.
“Feel good about it,” he said with that type of grin that says more than anything that actually came out of Mayfield’s mouth. “Feel good about it if we get in.”
“If” being the uncomfortable reality for the last day of the season.
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