The years 2020 and 2021 represent rapid share price gains. In recent trading days, the Defence Therapeutics share has built up momentum reminiscent of the stock market boom of that time. At the same time, things are moving forward operationally. In the coming weeks and months, the Company plans to move several projects related to the fight against cancer into Phase 1 trials. According to market researchers, the market potential for all projects could reach USD 100 billion by 2030. In this report, we learn what is at stake now, what announcements are making prices rise and why a takeover bid is possible at any time.
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death worldwide, which claims at least 17.9 million lives each year. More than 4 out of 5 deaths from cardiovascular disease are due to heart attacks and strokes, 1/3 of which occur in people under 70. The most recent victim: Lisa Marie Presley. The daughter of music legend Elvis Presley lived to be only 54 years old and succumbed to cardiac arrest. Worldwide, 35% of women die from cardiovascular disease - making it the most common cause of death. Life sciences company Cardiol Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) is focused on the discovery and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease. There is news, particularly in recurrent pericarditis.
Gold has been in strong focus since the turn of the year. Driven by geopolitical uncertainties and a historic inflation rate of just under 10% in Europe, the precious metal approached the USD 2,000 mark again in January. While the gold price in euro terms is only EUR 100 per ounce below the high of August 2020, the gap in the world currency US dollar, is still around USD 170 per ounce or 8% from the nominal all-time high at USD 2,075 per ounce of gold. At the moment, the smaller public companies in the gold segment are trading at a deep discount. In turn, this invites the big players in the market for takeovers because it is currently impossible to buy into the increasingly scarce new gold projects at a lower price. Desert Gold Ventures is sitting on a premium project in Mali, West Africa, and its more prominent neighbors are likely just waiting for the next results.
Gold got off to a good start in 2023, with prices beyond the USD 1,900 mark. Due to the general price increases in the commodity and goods markets, the central banks reacted in 2022 with some upward interest rate adjustments. The onset of inflation also gave precious metals a good raison d'être. That is because they offer wealth preservation in the longer term and protect against excessive loss of purchasing power. Large mining companies thrive on their product diversity and the resulting diversification in their proprietary balance sheets. For investors, the framework conditions for commodity investments have improved dramatically in the last 2 years. However, despite all the euphoria surrounding important metals such as copper, the major producers still lag behind their expectations. Barrick Gold is well positioned with its deposits in gold and copper. Yesterday, the Company delivered its first figures for the full year 2022.
The past stock market year was a disaster for the loyal Varta shareholders. With a minus of 85%, the popular technology stock has been hit hard. But the new year starts with a bang. Because in the first two trading weeks, the share recorded a plus of around 20%! Many issues put pressure on the mood in 2022: sales and profit forecasts were lowered several times, the resignation of the CEO, and some major shareholders threw bundles of Varta shares onto the market. Many analysts had dramatically lowered their price target because of the operational weaknesses. The new Varta CEO Markus Hackstein has now brought in restructuring experts from Boston Consulting to get the battery manufacturer, which had come under pressure, back on track. We look at the chances of a comeback for the Ellwangen-based technology company.
Cancer changes everything. Effective remedies against the scourge of our time would be a revolution. Defence Therapeutics is working to turn hope into fact: In the coming weeks, vaccines against cancer are to be combined with Accum, a drug enhancer patented by Defence, and then clinically tested. For the Company, this could mean a breakthrough at a time when the big players in the industry are paying close attention to innovative biotechs with a platform approach. With the help of facts and figures, we outline where Defence Therapeutics currently stands, which projects could ultimately result in a convincing overall picture and why the share has excellent prospects.
The second industrial revolution is to begin in an area at the northern end of thyssenkrupp's steel mill in Duisburg. Where steel slabs are currently stored, one of the world's most advanced green steel production plants will go into operation in around three years. Green because hydrogen will be used in production instead of dirty coal. At least, that is how thyssenkrupp Steel envisions it. A lot is currently being done within the Group to give the historic business units a modern face. Will good old thyssenkrupp AG now become a Greentech company?
The J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, January 9 - 12, 2023, in San Francisco, is the largest and most informative healthcare investment conference, bringing together leaders in the industry. Emerging, fast-growing companies, innovative technology developers and investment community members also find a home here. Bayer Pharma Division Head and Board Member Stefan Oelrich is making investors' hearts beat faster with blockbuster-level new drug announcements and sales estimates. Four new drugs could generate sales of more than EUR 12 billion at peak times. Consumer Health also grew strongly on the back of increased self-medication. Can these two divisions pull Monsanto's beleaguered Crop Science division along? Early investors would like to see a change in leadership and are looking to split up the group to guarantee shareholder value.
The start of the new year could not be better for shareholders of the Heidelberg-based portfolio company Altech Advanced Materials. Gains of over 50% are on the price list for the first few days. The share price rally is not surprising, however, as the Company is in tune with the spirit of the times with two innovations in the field of battery technology that could herald a new era in the electromobility sector. The next step towards commercialization is now to be taken with the construction and commissioning of a pilot plant.
Nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance. With a growing focus on electrification and decarbonization, the world has begun transitioning to clean energy to meet established climate neutrality goals. Alongside the expansion of renewables, nuclear power is becoming an integral part of the global energy mix. Thus, the largest industrialized nations, with the exception of Germany, are relying on nuclear power, attributing to it a key role in achieving the targets. However, due to the Ukraine conflict and possible sanctions against Russia, growing demand has been met with limited supply. The US alone obtains nearly 50% of the uranium it needs from state-owned companies in Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The US government responded with billion-dollar programs to support domestic uranium producers. This benefits the exploration company Oberon Uranium, which is promisingly positioned for a rising market with two projects.