By Jeb Handwerger
Resource Investor
We may have seen the bottom in the precious metals and the miners. A major uptrend could just be beginning in these oversold sectors. We are starting to see the major miners such as Barrick (ABX), Newmont (NEM) and Kinross (KGC) rebound off of historic 20-year lows as they raise cash and sell off higher cost assets. The market may have already priced in a worst case scenario. Gold and silver prices are rebounding strongly, which may cause a powerful move in the historically oversold sector. With stronger balance sheets, the majors will be able to focus on lower cost, more profitable and secure Nevada mines where they are producing gold below $400 an ounce.
The major miners will continue to focus on their low cost, low risk operations which made them so successful in the first place. I am closely following the highest quality juniors with attractive economic profiles in Nevada which the majors may find more attractive than some of the assets they are selling in Australia, Africa and/or South America. Look for increased M&A activity as the majors refocus their investments on low cost junior miners in Nevada, the best mining jurisdiction in the World. Marginal players in risky jurisdictions will struggle and lose market share to cash-rich juniors and mid-tiers in secure locations.