The US administration is reportedly considering raising tariffs on Canada in response to smoke drifting south into the northeastern United States from roughly 180 active wildfires across northern Ontario. The smoke has also blanketed much of southern Ontario, including the provincial capital. 

Followers of the odyssey, otherwise known as the month-long FIFA™ World Cup, may find some relief ahead of this weekend’s finale, as forecast rain along the eastern seaboard is expected to clear much of the lingering haze before Sunday's match between Argentina and Spain.

In the Weekly Market Digest, the collapse of the ceasefire in the Middle East and renewed tensions between the US and Iran pushed oil prices higher and increased market volatility.

Concerns that higher energy prices could fuel inflation and keep benchmark interest rates elevated weighed on precious metals and the equities leveraged to them. Industrial metals and critical minerals were mixed, while the related equity ETF benchmarks also declined.

The Exploration Insights portfolio declined an average of 6.6% last week, broadly in line with the major resource equity ETF benchmarks, with only one holding, a grassroots explorer, posting a positive return. 

In Stock Talk, a Top Pick precious-metal developer reported drill results from its flagship project in NW Argentina. A cash-flowing royalty generator increases its exposure to a copper producer in Perú while several companies reported drill results from non-core assets.