SpaceX: No one seems interested in the expiry of the lock-up periods yet
SpaceX’s recent record-breaking IPO has ushered in a new era in the financial markets. After the June 2026 IPO, less than 5% of the shares were initially freely tradable, but a major wave of share releases is now heading to the market. As strict lock-up periods for employees and early investors gradually expire, the free float will rise to around 40% by December 2026. However, this massive supply pressure has left many market participants unmoved, as attention has long since shifted to a much bigger sensation. Elon Musk’s official statements on platform X on October 20 have brought speculation about a spectacular merger with Tesla to a boiling point. The visionary surprisingly confirmed that both tech giants have already set up special committees to examine the merger’s feasibility.
Musk himself publicly describes combining the two empires as a decidedly “good idea”. Such a move would create a gigantic super-corporation with a market value of around USD 3.5 trillion. The new mega-entity is intended to bring together synergies in the pioneering fields of artificial intelligence, robotics and satellite connectivity. However, analysts emphasise that Tesla’s strict voting procedure represents the biggest regulatory hurdle to success. This mega-merger requires an absolute majority of all outstanding shareholder votes. While Wall Street experts are still debating the deeper rationale, retail investors must decide amid this storm whether to take their gains. Given Elon Musk’s daily unpredictability, the situation remains extremely exciting for investors for the time being. The market will soon have to absorb another 6.5 billion unlocked shares, at the same time as the next mega-IPO, Anthropic. This could unexpectedly become a real test.
Barrick Mining and B2Gold: The wheels keep turning in Mali
While the unstoppable wave of euphoria around the SpaceX IPO keeps tech markets on edge, forward-looking investors are turning away from orbital hype and back to fundamental safeguards on Earth. Anyone wishing to escape the volatile risks of extremely highly valued dreams of the future will currently find compelling arguments in the crisis-tested precious metals sector. In West Africa in particular, the picture for mining groups is rapidly improving. Following intensive regulatory negotiations and geopolitical pressure, Mali is returning to the global commodities stage with impressive strength.
Industry giant Barrick Mining has successfully restarted production at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex following the settlement of a protracted dispute with the government in Bamako. Government approval extends the key mining concession by another 10 years and provides much-needed planning certainty. Competitor B2Gold is also advancing: the company secured the coveted Menankoto mining licence for the promising Fekola Regional project. Despite minor adjustments to annual guidance from 460,000 to 390,000–420,000 ounces at B2Gold and 260,000–290,000 ounces at Barrick, both groups are benefiting enormously from highly efficient extraction operations and the persistently strong gold price. While technology stocks are overheating on equity markets, the West African desert state is proving that real-asset returns are possible again. For the mining companies operating there, one can only hope the military government is also satisfied with its newly negotiated “Mining Code” and does not once again fall prey to greed and megalomania.
Kobo Resources: Maiden resource estimate within reach
Explorer Kobo Resources is also trying its hand in West Africa, specifically in Côte d’Ivoire. The focus is on the systematic development of its Kossou Gold project, where more than 53,430 m of drilling have now been completed. The Road Cut Zone in particular repeatedly delivers high-grade intercepts and shows that gold mineralisation continues northwards and at depth along several structures. Recent results include an interval of 19.0 m grading 1.94 g/t gold, including 9.0 m grading 3.29 g/t. Previously, a narrow 1 m interval grading an exceptional 68.60 g/t gold attracted attention. The Kadie Zone is also contributing further high-grade results, thereby broadening the exploration potential beyond a single target area. The next decisive milestone is the maiden mineral resource estimate expected in the first quarter of 2027, which is intended to translate the drilling results to date into a formal resource model for the first time. Kossou is located about 20 km from Yamoussoukro and borders an established gold mine with existing processing infrastructure. Alongside its core project, Kobo holds another exploration property in Côte d’Ivoire, Kotobi, which offers additional discovery opportunities.
IIF presenter Lyndsay Malchuk interviewed CEO Ed Gosselin about Kobo’s projects in Côte d’Ivoire.
Côte d’Ivoire has become a significant gold-mining location in West Africa, supported by established mining activity and the presence of international producers. Should Kossou yield sufficiently large and economically attractive resources, such regional conditions could play a role in assessing development options in future. For Kobo, the central question of value remains project-specific: How large is the gold system, how continuous are the mineralised zones, and what economic development opportunities can be derived from it? Rumour has it that there is already interest from strategic investors looking to benefit from the story with a substantial stake. This is not surprising, given that Montage Gold completed the full takeover of Australian junior African Gold, located near the capital, Yamoussoukro, in April 2026. Through this strategic acquisition worth around USD 170 million, the group secured the promising Didiévi gold project. Kobo Resources has made significant progress at Kossou with extensive drilling programmes and repeated gold intercepts. This provides compelling reasons to follow the next news closely. Of course, Kobo still needs to underpin the next major step in its valuation with a robust resource estimate. It remains exciting!
Conclusion
High volatility on the NASDAQ is increasingly driving speculative investors into chip and AI stocks. Meanwhile, precious metals markets are digesting several external factors at once. Gold is benefiting from persistent inflationary pressures, fragile financial systems and a growing flight into physical tangible assets. With gold prices above USD 4,000, strong cash flows are pouring into the coffers of producers such as Barrick Mining and B2Gold. Investors looking to invest early in tomorrow’s deposits should look at Kobo Resources: Project development is gaining noticeable momentum, and a resource estimate is planned for 2027.
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