After processing the World Economic Forum (Davos) and the Future Minerals Forum (Riyadh), we sat down to unpack what we’re seeing in markets as commodities move from cyclical to strategic. In this Rock Stock Recap, Howard, Matt and Rodney discuss how geopolitics—choke points, export controls, reserves, and policy alignment—are increasingly shaping price formation in critical minerals, and why that shift changes how investors should think about valuation, project selection, and long-duration assets in strong jurisdictions.
Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(00:57) Commodities Become Strategic Assets
(04:17) Davos And Rising Geopolitical Risk
(07:23) Gold Repatriation And China's Role
(09:26) Precious Metals And Fiat Skepticism
(11:05) Silver Prices Hit Demand Limits
(16:27) Capital Flows: Gold, Bitcoin, And Hard Assets
(20:20) Platinum And Palladium Outlook
(22:08) Lithium Costs And Demand Risk
(24:15) Copper, Aluminum, And Nickel Update
(29:11) Lithium Producers Performance Review
(34:10) Closing Remarks
(35:48) Howard Lutnick & Champagne
(40:21) Robert Friedland
(41:02) Mark Carney (Canada)
(43:55) Friedrich Merz (Germany)
(45:28) Elon Musk (Tesla)
They also cover early signals from lithium reporting season and what improving spot pricing could mean for producers and developers, alongside broader commodity moves across precious metals and industrial metals. Rodney and Matt dig into the silver rally—why equities haven’t tracked the metal, how solar economics may drive “thrifting,” and what happens if demand transitions from industrial use toward investment-led dynamics. We compare the current setup in gold versus silver, and touch on platinum and palladium in a world where ICE longevity, changing EV regulations, and competing technologies all matter.
On the macro side, we talk through Europe’s evolving posture after Davos, potential supply chain redirection, currency and reserve diversification, and how a weaker dollar can pressure global cost curves. We close with a measured look at the broader economy: AI’s productivity upside versus uneven distribution, a more K-shaped consumption landscape, and what a shifting global order could mean for commodities and real assets in 2026.
Topics include: geopolitics and critical minerals, Davos takeaways, strategic commodities, lithium earnings season, silver and gold dynamics, solar panel cost pressure, platinum/palladium outlook, copper and industrial metals, nickel and Indonesia regulation, inflation pass-through, and AI’s impact on growth and jobs.
Sponsors
- Lithium Royalty Corp (TSX: LIRC) - diversified lithium royalty portfolio.
(Website: https://www.lithiumroyaltycorp.com/ | X: https://x.com/Lithium_Royalty)
- USCF Investments - commodity-focused ETFs (e.g., CPER copper, ZSB battery metals, USG gold, SDCI diversified commodities).
(Website: https://www.uscfinvestments.com/ | X: https://x.com/USCFInvestments)
Links
- Strategic Lithium Reserve (SLR) White Paper: https://blog.rkequity.com/2025/12/08/strategic-lithium-reserve/
- Read Matt's research blog: https://blog.rkequity.com/
- Sign up for the Lithium-Ion Bull newsletter/Matt's Blogs: https://rkequity.com/
Have a question? Drop us an email: rockstockchannel@rkequity.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rockstockchannel
Podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lithium-ion-rocks/id1457969172
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KiMIZOPaDg8ENfPJMSINq
X (Twitter):
Howard: https://x.com/LithiumIonBull
Rodney: https://x.com/RodneyHooper13
Matt: https://x.com/matt_fernley
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DISCLAIMER
NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH
Howard, Matt and Rodney are not financial advisors nor broker-dealers, this video is for information purposes only and should not be considered investment or financial advice. Please do your own independent research and read the disclaimer at the end of the video or on RK Equity's website https://www.rkequity.com
Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein
