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In the world of mineral exploration, milestones like permits and approvals often mark the beginning, not the end, of real progress. That theme came through clearly in a recent discussion with Tristan Pottas, CEO of First Development Resources(LSE:FDR), who shared an optimistic and forward-looking update on the company’s Selta project.

With the Notice of Authority now secured, the company has officially cleared a critical regulatory hurdle, paving the way for drilling at Ladner West. As Pottas emphasized, responsible exploration begins with compliance, and reaching this stage reflects both diligence and discipline. More importantly, it signals the transition into what many investors consider the most exciting phase: drilling.

What stands out in First Development Resources’ approach is the depth of preparation leading up to this moment. Months of technical work, integrating geophysical techniques with historical geochemical data, have been carefully layered to identify high-priority targets. This data-driven strategy is designed to reduce uncertainty and maximize the likelihood of meaningful discoveries. By focusing on “coincident anomalies,” where multiple datasets point to the same conclusion, the company is positioning itself to drill with precision and confidence.

Pottas conveyed clear enthusiasm about what lies ahead, highlighting that drilling is where exploration truly comes to life. Should the program yield positive results, it could represent a significant inflection point for the business, one that has the potential to unlock substantial value.

Beyond the immediate drilling campaign, the Selta project offers another compelling advantage: multicommodity exposure. With targets spanning gold, lithium, rare earth elements, and base metals, the project provides both diversity and strategic flexibility. In a market where different commodities cycle in and out of favor, this breadth allows the company to adapt and pursue multiple opportunities simultaneously.

Gold continues to serve as a traditional safe haven, while lithium’s resurgence and the long-term importance of rare earth elements in modern technologies underscore the relevance of Selta’s resource mix. The identification of nine distinct targets further strengthens the project’s potential, offering multiple pathways for discovery and development.

Ultimately, First Development Resources is entering a dynamic and active phase. Backed by robust technical groundwork and a diversified commodity portfolio, the Selta project is well-positioned to generate sustained interest and, potentially, significant long-term value.

As Tristan Pottas made clear, the groundwork has been laid, now it’s time for the drills to turn.

For more information visit – https://firstdevelopmentresources.com/

Shares in Ubisoft (EU:UBI) dropped more than 4% on Thursday after the group revealed that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will be released on July 9, marking its first major launch since a January profit warning that pushed the stock to a multi-year low.

The updated version of the 2013 pirate-themed game, largely developed by Ubisoft Singapore, will include enhanced graphics, additional gameplay elements and an expanded narrative.

“Resynced is the story you know and love from the original Black Flag, but the teams at Ubisoft have added brand-new content and enhancements across the experience,” the company said.

The title will be priced at €59.99 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Restructuring Efforts Continue

The announcement comes as Ubisoft continues to implement a broad restructuring plan unveiled in January, which included the cancellation of six projects.

The Paris-based publisher said it intends to reorganise its operations into five creative divisions structured by genre, as it looks to streamline costs and refocus its strategy following a period of underperformance and underwhelming releases.

Wishbone Gold Plc (AQSE:WSBN) announced it has raised gross proceeds of £1.1m in an institutional placing facilitated and arranged by Marex Financial.Read more

Sulnox Group PLC (AQSE:SNOX)secured its second patent in Hong Kong, covering technology with applications in the maritime industry’s management of “ships’ slops” — hydrocarbon-rich waste generated through tank cleaning, fuel purification and ballast water operations.

Ben Richardson, CEO of Sulnox, commented:

“This second Hong Kong patent is an important extension of our intellectual property, both in the critical Asian market generally, and in fuel reclamation specifically, supporting a sizeable revenue opportunity in the global maritime industry for tackling the issue of slops.”Read more

Connecting Excellence Group PLC (AQSE:XCE)announced the purchase of 10 Bitcoin at a total value of £585,000. The Company also secured a commitment from a strategic investor through a subscription, raising gross proceeds of £585,500. The proceeds will be used to support the expansion of the group’s Bitcoin treasury. Read more

Oil prices pushed higher on Friday amid renewed concerns over escalating military activity in the Middle East, after Iran released footage showing commandos boarding a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and reports indicated its air defences had engaged “hostile targets.”

Brent crude futures rose 99 cents, or 0.94%, to $106.06 per barrel at 0410 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 71 cents, or 0.73%, to $96.56.

For the week, Brent advanced 17.13% and WTI climbed 15.13%, marking the second-largest weekly rise since the conflict began.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the onset of hostilities between the U.S., Israel and Iran has disrupted roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.

Both benchmarks had already jumped more than 3% on Thursday, rising about $5 per barrel after reports of air defence systems engaging targets over Tehran and signs of internal divisions between hardline and moderate factions in Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran may have increased its weapons stockpile “a little bit” during the two-week ceasefire, but added that U.S. forces could neutralise it within a day.

Haitong Futures said the current ceasefire increasingly resembles a staging phase for renewed conflict. The firm warned that if U.S.-Iran negotiations fail to produce meaningful progress by the end of April and fighting resumes, oil prices could move to fresh highs for the year.

Iran on Thursday released footage it said showed commandos boarding a large cargo ship following the breakdown of peace talks, reinforcing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which around 20% of global oil and gas typically flows.

As markets and policymakers look for a lasting resolution, Trump said he would not set a “timetable” for ending the conflict with Iran and emphasised his aim of securing “a great deal.”

“Don’t rush me,” he said when asked how long he was prepared to wait for a comprehensive peace agreement with Tehran.

Analysts caution that extended disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could push global inventories of crude and refined fuels below five-year seasonal averages by late May or early June, reintroducing a supply risk premium into oil markets, according to Mingyu Gao, chief researcher for energy and chemicals at China Futures.

Separately, Trump said in a social media post that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks after high-level discussions at the White House.

“The Meeting went very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned militant group engaged in fighting with Israel, was not present at the talks and maintains that it has “the right to resist” occupying forces.

Trump added that he expects to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future.

Prior to that announcement, Israel had warned it was prepared to resume military operations against Iran.

Gold prices declined on Friday and were set for a sharp weekly drop, as escalating uncertainty around the U.S.-Iran conflict pushed investors toward the dollar.

Spot gold fell 0.5% to $4,672.22 an ounce by 02:27 ET (06:27 GMT), while gold futures slipped 0.8% to $4,686.89 per ounce. For the week, spot prices were on track to fall roughly 3%, weighed down by a stronger dollar amid concerns that the Iran conflict could fuel inflation.

The dollar was heading for its strongest weekly advance since early March.

Precious Metals Retreat Broadly

Other precious metals also moved lower under pressure from the firmer greenback. Spot silver dropped 1.2% to $74.483 per ounce and was set to record a weekly loss of nearly 8%.

Spot platinum declined 1% to $1,992.72 per ounce, bringing its weekly drop to about 5.4%.

Both silver and platinum had recently outpaced gold, leaving them vulnerable to profit-taking. Their recent strength had been supported by optimism over industrial demand, as well as expectations of a widening supply deficit in the silver market in 2026.

Rate Fears Weigh on Metals

Markets are increasingly concerned that inflation linked to the Iran conflict could prompt major central banks to adopt more aggressive monetary tightening and raise interest rates—typically a negative backdrop for metals.

Higher interest rates reduce the appeal of non-yielding assets like gold. At the same time, oil prices have surged this week, reinforcing concerns about energy-driven inflation.

Geopolitical Risks Remain Elevated

Despite the United States extending a ceasefire with Iran indefinitely earlier this week, tensions between the two sides remain high. Iran has continued to restrict traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. maintains its naval blockade.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was in no rush to reach a peace agreement with Iran and had instructed the military to respond to any Iranian vessels attempting to lay mines in the strait.

Separately, Iran released footage it said showed its forces boarding a vessel and highlighted its fast-boat capabilities for operations in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the ongoing risks to global shipping and energy markets.

TotalEnergies SE (EU:TTE) has sanctioned and financed the Mirny onshore wind and battery storage development in southeast Kazakhstan, a $1.2 billion project combining a 1 GW wind farm—featuring 150 turbines—with a 600 MWh energy storage system provided by affiliate Saft.

The project is majority-owned by TotalEnergies, alongside partners Samruk Energy and KazMunayGas. Electricity generated will be sold under a 25-year agreement with the Kazakh government. Over its lifetime, Mirny is expected to produce enough renewable power to supply around one million people.

Supporting Grid Stability and Energy Transition

The integration of large-scale battery storage is designed to improve grid reliability and modernise Kazakhstan’s energy system. The project supports the country’s goal of increasing the share of renewables in electricity generation to 15% by 2030, as well as its long-term objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

Financing for the project is approximately 75% debt-based, backed by an international lending consortium that includes the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and several major financial institutions. The development also strengthens TotalEnergies’ renewable energy footprint in Asia and aligns with its strategy of expanding stable, low-carbon electricity capacity in emerging markets.

More about TotalEnergies SE

TotalEnergies SE is a diversified global energy group operating across oil, biofuels, natural and green gases, renewables, and electricity, with activities in around 120 countries. In Kazakhstan, where it has operated since 1993, the company combines hydrocarbon production with renewable energy investments, holds a significant stake in the North Caspian Project, and manages 128 MW of solar capacity.

The group is building an integrated energy portfolio that combines solar and wind generation—both onshore and offshore—with flexible assets such as gas-fired power plants and battery storage. With more than 34 GW of gross renewable capacity, TotalEnergies aims to significantly expand its electricity output by 2030, positioning itself as a major contributor to the global energy transition while supporting host countries in reducing carbon emissions.