A choppy week for markets felt like a good place to add back some more traditional sectors - Financials and US Technology. Also hedged Europe.
Portfolio News
In a week where S&P 500 dropped 0.5% and Europe rose 0.18%, my pension portfolio rose 1.14% - commodity weighting starting to pay off. Easy to see that in the list of big movers below.
Big movers of the week were Viking Mines (VKA.AX) (58.3%), Lodestar Minerals (LSR.AX) (55.6%), Grand Gulf Energy (GGE.AX) (50%), St George Mining (SGQ.AX) (39%), Kogan.com (KGN.AX) (35.9%), Dateline Resources (DTR.AX) (34.4%), AdAlta (1AD.AX) (33.3%), Blue Star Helium (BNL.AX) (25%), Power Minerals (PNN.AX) (25%), PLS Group (PLS.AX) (24.2%), Yunnan Tin Company (000960.SZ) (23.3%), Stroud Resources (SDR.V) (22.6%), Netflix (NFLX) (22.3%), Lynas Rare Earths (LYC.AX) (21%), ERAMET S.A. (ERA.PA) (20.9%), Largo (LGO) (20.9%), Myriad Uranium Corp (M.CN) (19.6%), Solis Minerals (SLM.AX) (19.4%), Lightning Minerals (L1M.AX) (19%), Broken Hill Mines (BHM.AX) (18.9%), Northern Dynasty Minerals (NAK) (18.3%), Silvercorp Metals (SVM.TO) (18.3%), Kaiser Reef (KAU.AX) (17.9%), First Majestic Silver Corp (AG) (16.2%), Kelsian Group (KLS.AX) (15.9%), Sigma Lithium Corporation (SGML) (15.6%), Azincourt Energy Corp (AAZ.V) (15.4%), Rush Rare Metals Corp (RSH.CN) (15.4%), Woolworths Group (WOW.AX) (15.3%), Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (5711.T) (14.7%), Tess Holdings (5074.T) (14.4%), Cauldron Energy (CXU.AX) (14.3%), Lifeist Wellness (LFST.V) (14.3%), Alamos Gold (AGI) (13.3%), Arafura Rare Earths (ARU.AX) (13%), Black Bear Minerals (BKB.AX) (13%), Sun Silver (SS1.AX) (12.9%), Lithium Americas Corp (LAC) (12.7%), Resimac Group (RMC.AX) (12.6%), Reece (REH.AX) 912.3%), American West Metals (AW1.AX) (12.2%), Tourism Holdings (THL.AX) (12.1%), Titan Minerals (TTM.AX) (11.9%), Equinox Gold Corp (EQX) (11.6%), Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ) (11.5%), Ramsay Health Care (RHC.AX) (11.5%), Haranga Resources (HAR.AX) (11.1%), Seabridge Gold (SEA.TO) (10.7%), MGX Resources (MGX.AX) (10.5%), Orezone (ORE.AX) (10.4%), Global Atomic Corporation (GLO.TO) (10.3%), Coeur Mining (CDE) (10.2%)
A record 52 stocks making the big movers list. It is a story of commodities with some earnings related moves on ASX stocks. from the top - rare earths (6 stocks), alternate energy materials (6 stocks), gold/silver mining (17 stocks), uranium (5 stocks), marijuana (1 stock)
Second monthly update of pension portfolio performance (green line) vs S&P500 (blue line) - something is working - still doing more than double the markets. For year to date S&P500 was 0.49% and pension portfolio at 11.6% - happy with that. Performance of personal portfolio is appreciably better and managed portfolio less so but still ahead of S&P500
US markets have become preoccupied with the AI trade and especially the risk to the software industry. Can AI replace software? Did watch a good interview in the week with CEO of Resolve AI, Spiros Xanthos - his view is big business will not be rebuilding their huge software bases - too risky and too expensive. They could do better using Resolve AI agents to work the software better. As a long time ago author of a book on Banking Technology, I agree with him. Profit from the volatility.
This statement from Donald Trump was what I needed to know - attack coming after markets close Friday - sometime this weekend.
Crypto Sideways
Bitcoin price pushed lower and then found buyers finishing the week 1% higher than the open with a trough to peak range of 12%.
Ethereum price pushed higher and then dropped off finishing the week 5.9% higher than the open with a peak to trough range of 19% - quite subdued through the start of the Iran warfront
Polkadot (DOTBTC) bottoms out and breaks the downtrend on a 4 hour chart up 33% at one point.
A few charts looking the same - turning up - NEAR up 21%
Uniswap (UNIBTC) doing the same up 23%
Nuclear Energy Holdings
A few additions in US and ASX stocks and a small 0.1% drop in valuations
Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (URNJ) and Paladin Energy Ltd (PDN.AX) swap places in slots 5 and 6 and enCore Energy Corp (EU) and Silex Systems Limited (SLX.AX) swap places in slots 9 and 10. Small drop in share of portfolios to 28.8%
Holdings by Stage sees small changes with biggest change - Producers up 0.3 points.
Alternate Energy Holdings
One addition in lithium and a 2.5% increase in valuations.
No change in mix of holdings of Top 10. One more stock joins the list of Others. Share of portfolios goes up 0.2 points to 7.2%
Precious Metals Holdings
A few additions in gold stocks and a 6.8% change in valuations - markets reacting to the build up in Iran story
No changes in the ranking of Top 10 stocks but 0.6 point increase in share of portfolios. Number of Others goes up by 2 stocks.
Bought
Lithium Americas Corp (LAC): Lithium. Watched a Triangle Investor interview with Fabi Lara, Next Rush host - she liked this as a lithium play. Was interested how few stocks she holds in the commodity space given she is a commodity expert. Added a parcel to pension portfolio. Wrote covered call for 2.7% premium with 44.7% price coverage.
https://triangleinvestor.substack.com/
Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF): US Financials. Picked this off the charts the day after the big selloff. Feels like a 10% discount from the January highs and did feel the need to get some financial exposure in the pension portfolio
Not often does one get a 10% discount on these stocks. Wrote covered call for 0.4% premium with 5.1% price coverage.
Fortune Bay Corp (FOR.V): Gold Mining. Watched Fabi Lari interview on Triangle Investor - one of the few stocks she holds. Company does also have Athabasca basin uranium options
Lotus Resources (LOT.AX): Uranium. SPP closes this week and price is still below the SPP level - added parcels in pension portfolio and personal portfolio rather than taking up allocations. Small discount is always a bonus.
Deutsche Bank AG (DBK.DE): German Bank. Decided to add a small holding in personal portfolio and managed portfolio after months and months of sold put writing - 15 months (28 in managed portfolio) of successive sold puts with only one bought back at a loss. Wrote covered call for 1.3% premium with 5.7% price coverage.
enCore Energy Corp (EU): Uranium. Scaled into holding in managed portfolio to average down entry cost a little.
Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK): US Technology. Picked this off the charts the day after the big tech selloff. Feels like a 10% discount from the January highs and did feel the need to get some technology exposure in the pension portfolio
Not often does one get a 10% discount on these stocks. Currently am only holding Nvidia (NVDA) aside from this new holding. Wrote covered call for 0.43% premium with 7% price coverage.
Tiger Gold Corp (TIGR.V): Gold Mining. Watched Fabi Lari interview on Triangle Investor - one of the few stocks she holds. Company is exploring for gold in gold belt in Colombia - recent drill results also showing promising copper and molybdenum intercepts. Added a small parcel in pension portfolio
Jaguar Uranium Corp (JAGU): Uranium. Scaled into holding in pension portfolio to average down entry price. Price performance since IPO has been very patchy - markets need more data on progress in both Argentina and Colombia.
Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR): Bitcoin Mining. Assigned early on sold put in pension portfolio. Breakeven vs $19.74 open (Feb 27) is ugly with last 3 cycles of sold put roll outs capturing the stock loss move fully. In this for the long haul once markets get over the crypto funk.
Duolingo (DUOL): Internet Services. Earnings disappointed markets and price was smacked over 25%. Rounded up holding in pension portfolio to be able to write covered calls - did the trade in extended hours - do not often do that. Sense is the market has got it all wrong and over-reacted. Yes, AI may be a headwind for learning languages market - the big markets they are aiming for is teaching kids the stuff they teach at school. Pending order for covered call was not hit - next week.
The quarter and full year were objectively fantastic: 52M DAUs (+30%), 12M paid subscribers, $1.04B in revenue (+39%), over $300M in adjusted EBITDA with ~30% margins, $360M in free cash flow, more than $1B in cash and a $400M buyback authorized.
Back to those earnings - words from Swiss Transparent Portfolio - maybe some volatile time ahead - scaling in at a better price felt right.
Sold
No sales
ASX Portfolio
The segment reports trading in ASX fractional share portfolio. Trade entries are made based on stock screens looking for undervalued stocks (price to book, price earnings, price to sales) that are showing technical signs of breaking a downtrend. Exits are made at 35% profit or 25% if 52 week high is lower than 35% advance. New buys are in $500 lots. Scale ins and top ups in $250 lots
Top Ups
Eureka Group Holdings Limited (EGH.AX): Property. Dividend yield 2.83%
Chart shows price failing at breakout after first entry and dropping down to support. Maybe this time - guidance is solid and there is a dividend on the way
Kogan.com Ltd (KGN.AX): Retail. Dividend yield 3.75%
Chart shows a failed breakout after the last entries (the blue rays) - plumbing lower and reversing with a double bottom. Will get the dividend.
Auto-Invest for Grandkids
Fifth month running mini-ETF investment for my two granddaughters for $100 a month spread across a mix of uranium and rare earths stocks. Auto-invest programs carry no fees on entry
- Orpheus Uranium Ltd (ORP.AX): Uranium.
- American Uranium (AMU.AX): Uranium.
- Dateline Resources (DTR.AX): Rare Earths.
- Locksley Resources (LKY.AX): Rare Earths.
With the merger of Global Uranium and Enrichment (GUE.AX) with Snow Lake Resources (LITM) switched over the Lotus Resources (LOT.AX) - a pure uranium play. Thinking will be to close out the merged holding and switch to an ASX listed uranium stock.
Sold
BHP Group Limited (BHP.AX): Base Metals. Closed at 52 week high target for 25.3% blended target since November 2022/September/October 2023. Seems strange to be exiting a big copper/uranium play BUT this is a trading account not a buy and hold account. Am holding the stock in other portfolios.
Clearview Wealth Ltd (CVW.AX): Asset Management. Closed out holding after takeover offer announced from Zurich Insurance (ZURN.SW) for 16.4% blended profit since August/October/November 2023/October 2024/March 2025. With at least 6 months till deal closure better off deploying capital elsewhere and forego the possibility of a 5 cents dividend. All tranches profitable.
Hedging Trades
Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK): Europe Index. With price opening at $89.49 put in place a June expiry 87/84 ratio put spread. This offers price protection for a drop in price between 2.9% and 6.5%
Thinking is to see a drop after the blue arrow price run. Will need two of the red arrow moves to reach the maxim - one will be just fine. Note: trade was made with an eye forward before the Trump statement on Iran (Feb 24)
Income Trades
Covered Calls
54 covered calls written across 3 portfolios (UK 2 Europe 6 US 45 Canada 1)
Cronos Group (CRON): Marijuana. Duplicated a trade in personal portfolio - sold 3 strike calls vs trade day price of $2.64. Close watch needed. As both trades had commission paid - will put in a low ball bid to buy one back if needed closer to expiry.
Naked Puts
Sold puts happy to own at lower prices - ordered by sector
- NatWest Group (NWG.L): UK Bank. Return 1.56% Coverage 10.8%
- Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L): UK Bank. Return 1.6% Coverage 4.8%
- ING Groep (INGA.AS): Dutch Bank. Return 1.7% Coverage 4.1%
- Commerzbank AG (CBK.DE): German Bank. Return 1.22% Coverage 7.1%
- Deutsche Bank AG (DBK.DE): German Bank. Return 1.48% Coverage 6.4%
- Fresenius SE (FRE.DE): German Healthcare. Return 1.12% Coverage 5.7%
- DHL Group (DHL.DE): Europe Logistics. Return 1.24% Coverage 7.4%
- Sixt SE (SIX2.DE): Europe Logistics. Return 1.23% Coverage 9.5%
- Power Solutions International (PSIX): US Industrials. Return 5.2% Coverage 16.3%
- Centrus Energy Corp (LEU): Nuclear Technology. Return 5.33% Coverage 11.1%
- Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.L): Aerospace/Defense. Return 1.92% Coverage 10.6%
- Lightbridge Corporation (LTBR): Nuclear Technology. Return 10.8% Coverage 0.9%
- Lightbridge Corporation (LTBR): Nuclear Technology. Return 12.2% Coverage 3.4% - different strike - different day
- Cameco Corporation (CCJ): Uranium. Return 1.9% Coverage 16.2% - 2 portfolios
- Denison Mines Corp (DNN): Uranium. Return 2.86% Coverage 15.4%
- Uranium Energy Corp (UEC): Uranium. Return 4.9% Coverage 14%
- Uranium Royalty Corp (UROY): Uranium. Return 6.25% Coverage 5.3%
- Westwater Resources (WWR): Graphite. Return 20% Coverage -12.2% - ITM
- Lithium Americas Corp (LAC): Lithium. Return 2.6% Coverage 26%
- NOV Inc (NOV): Oil Services. Return 1.4% Coverage 11.8%
- Coeur Mining (CDE): Silver Mining. Return 2.5% Coverage 24.5%
- Silvercorp Metals (SVM.TO): Silver Mining. Return 4.3% Coverage 0.7%
- Wheaton Precious Metals Corp (WPM): Gold/Silver Mining. Return 1.04% Coverage 15.7%
- ERAMET (ERA.PA): Base Metals. Return 1.35% Coverage 21.7%
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH): Cruising. Return 2.5% Coverage 16%
Credit Spreads
Two new credit spreads replacing ones expiring the week before
- iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA): Aerospace/Defense. ROI 13% Coverage 5.5%
- Valero Energy Corporation (VLO): Oil Refining. ROI 25.3% Coverage 5.6%
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO): Pharmaceuticals. With price opening at $38.59 (Feb 25) put in place a May expiry 40/35 credit spread. ROI 122% Coverage -4.6%
Price was smacked on two factors - trial results on obesity drug that were not as good as Eli Lilly (ELY) results and price drops in US on Ozempic. Chart shows that price has broken below the support just above $40 and it looks like a falling knife trade entry to buy the stock here. use a credit spread to achieve a breakeven below the open but protecting the downside if the price does collapse. Expectation is price will reverse and bounce away above the sold put level (40) - bank the net premium. TSP idea
Resources
Cautions: This is not financial advice. You need to consider your own financial position and take your own advice before you follow any of my ideas
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February 23-27, 2026