Although I have been busy with several site visits and a major conference in Florida this summer, I managed to squeeze in a trip to NYC with the family and then drop off our youngest at a Canadian university on the opposite coast. 

Meanwhile, the resource sector showed little sign of a slowdown, as volatile metals markets, geopolitical uncertainty, and a steady flow of corporate and exploration news kept things moving.

With summer coming to an end, the pace is about to pick up again as we head into the busy precious metal conference season, and I feel I already need a nap. 

In the Weekly Market Digest, attacks on energy infrastructure and key waterways in the Middle East increased expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike in September. Higher real rates weighed on precious and industrial metals and their equities amid concerns that higher energy costs and interest rates could slow global economic growth.

The Exploration Insights portfolio was down slightly last week but outperformed both precious- and industrial-metal equity ETF benchmarks. A stellar polymetallic intersection from a magmatic nickel-copper operator and developer in Minnesota helped offset broader market weakness and prompted a change in my Top Picks. An oxide gold developer in Idaho also outperformed following the release of its feasibility study.

In Stock Talk, I also cover exploration updates from grassroots explorers in Perú, Québec, and Australia. In addition, a cash-flowing royalty company clears a regulatory hurdle for a significant transaction, while an integrated REE developer brings in a new partner to fund exploration in Brazil.