Nuclear Safety First

Following our recent bullish thoughts on the future for nuclear energy, those more conservative investors who have researched the sector  may prefer to spread their financial commitment across the industry rather than place their faith in one or more individual companies.

With nuclear safety investing first in mind, the Market Vectors Nuclear Energy ETF (NLR-NYSE) fit’s the bill. Read more

Nuclear Power | Uranium Stocks Set To Soar

This is short and to the point! Solar, wind and every other so called clean energy system so far developed or on the ‘to do’ list will not ‘cut the mustard’ in making up the world wide electrical power shortfall as carbon fuels are either phased out for political reasons or simply as resources become scarcer. Read more

Uranium Stockpile Held by Bankrupt Bank

The collapse of Lehman Brothers investment bank last September sent shock waves around the financial world and heralded the public awareness of the recession that has continued to worsen.

The media left us in no doubt that the reason for Lehman’s demise was due to the $60 billion of toxic assets held by the 158 year old bank.

Now the news is that Lehman Brothers also held a stockpile of around 450,000 lbs of uranium, the result of a commodities trading contract, gives a whole new slant on the much used expression ‘toxic assets’. Read more

Uranium In Favour With The Japanese

It has been some time since there has been any positive news that has given encouragement to investors in Uranium and its miners.

With the spot price dropping like a stone in the last eighteen months before stagnating around $47-$50 a lb.the news that a Japanese industrial & financial corporation has paid a 14% premium over the current share price for a near 20% stake in Uranium One Inc.may herald long overdue renewed activity in the nuclear sector. Read more

Uranium Prices To Remain Volatile For This Year

Uranium Ux308 spot market price stays around US$47 per lb. A spokesman at the mining conference in Cape Town suggests that uranium prices will remain volatile for the remainder of the year.

Peaking at over $130 per lb. in the middle of 2007, heavy selling by hedge funds taking profits as they struggled to gain liquidity to meet redemptions was a significant contributory factor as the price fell dramatically throughout the following eighteen months. Read more

Spot Price of Uranium Climbs

After months of being range bound the spot price of Uranium oxide has climbed 15% from its year low of $45 a pound two months ago.

This has been reflected in renewed interest in uranium miners with Denison Mines (DNN) gaining over 52 cents to $1.70 at the New York close on Friday.

Other uranium miners became active with Cameco Corporation, the worlds biggest producer and UEX Corp putting on substantial gains.

The rise has been prompted by Areva S.A. applying for government approval to build its first uranium enrichment plant in the US as interest in nuclear power returns with the advent of a new administration.

Uranium producers have seen substantial falls in their stock prices since peaking a year ago with Denison down by 80% and UEX losing 90%. Both have mining agreements with Areva.    

Uranium and Coal are Obamas’ Only Realistic Options

Mr Obama has frequently declared his preference for renewable energy sources and has pledged $150 billion in his first term to develop solar, wind power, bio fuels and other resources.

The cold hard fact is that even in twenty years time renewable energy alternatives will still account for no more than a minor source of power in the US and even less in developing nations such as China and India.

Like it or not, as electricity demands increase worldwide and oil reserves are depleted, the only realsistic options are nuclear power in the shape of uranium,

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Nuclear Power is Coming Your Way

Uranium continues to be the one commodity to have missed out on the recent boom, although more nuclear power plants are under construction or in the planning stage than ever before. China alone is planning or constructing over two hundred plants.

No clear source of power generation clear of polluting carbon emissions and not dependent upon fossil fuels and that is capable of meeting ever increasing world wide demand has yet emerged to challenge the nuclear option. Nor are their any substantiated forecasts that any alternatives are in the pipeline.

The International Energy Agency estimates that just to only half greenhouse gas emissions, 1400 operating nuclear power plants worldwide will be required by 2050.

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Uranium Stays steady

There is no formal regulated market for yellow cake but indicated spot prices are off their June lows and uranium stays steady at around $64.50 a lb.  

Areva, the French nuclear company, has at last settled its dispute with the Central African Republic and has been given the go ahead to start delivering the yellow cake from its mine at Bakouma by 2010. Mining rights were originally granted to UraMin, an Anglo Canadian Mining company taken over by Areva in 2007.

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Is Uranium Now A Buy?

Europe stockpiles 2158 tonnes of natural uranium above the current yearly usage of 19,774 tonnes with the major share coming from Russia. Canada supplied 18%, Niger 17% and Australia 15%. 

If Europe is stockpiling does this now make Uranium a buy?

Global Uranium demand is seen as steady but the diversity between the spot price and forward contract prices raises uncertainty over the next moves.

For now we would only consider buying into a major producer and holding for the long term but if you fancy a gamble now might be a good time to pick out a junior miner with solid prospects.

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