STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NYSE: EGLE) (“Eagle Bulk”, “Eagle”, or the “Company”), one of the world’s largest owner-operators within the midsize drybulk vessel segment, today announced that it has appointed A. Kate Blankenship to its Board of Directors, effective January 18, 2023.
Ms. Blankenship is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). In addition to having served in key senior management positions, Ms. Blankenship has served as a director at a number of U.S.-listed companies within the shipping and energy industries, including; Frontline, Golden Ocean, Golar LNG, International Seaways, and Seadrill.
Eagle’s Chairman, Paul Leand, commented, “Kate brings significant strategic, corporate governance, and financial oversight experience to our Board. We believe the Company will benefit tremendously from Kate’s deep industry knowledge and diverse global perspective, and we all look forward to working with her in driving the business forward and delivering superior results for all of our stakeholders.”
About Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc.
Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (“Eagle” or the “Company”) is a US-based, fully integrated shipowner-operator providing global transportation solutions to a diverse group of customers including miners, producers, traders, and end users. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, with offices in Singapore and Copenhagen, Eagle focuses exclusively on the versatile midsize drybulk vessel segment and owns one of the largest fleets of Supramax / Ultramax vessels in the world. The Company performs all management services in-house (including strategic, commercial, operational, technical, and administrative) and employs an active-management approach to fleet trading with the objective of optimizing revenue performance and maximizing earnings on a risk-managed basis. For further information, please visit our website: www.eagleships.com.
Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements reflect current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. These statements may include words such as “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events.
The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, Eagle cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Extraordinary Measures as Outlined by US Treasurer Janet Yellen
There’s no doubt, the US Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, has been working overtime to provide an austerity plan as the US debt ceiling has just been reached. In the absence of the legal ability to sell debt in excess of the current outstanding, going to the bond markets and issuing Treasury Bills/Notes/Bonds is off-limits to the US government. So what’s a Treasury Secretary to do? The government has bills and other liabilities that are coming due, and today’s higher interest rates create a larger discount and nets less for the Treasury when rolling over some securities. This can be very problematic if the US stops paying bills on time or if there is a risk of default on debt; the US dollar can tumble, interest rates can skyrocket, and faith in our economic engine can unravel. You can imagine what this has the potential to do to equity markets.
In a letter, Yellen wrote to Congress dated January 19, she outlines the Treasury Department’s contingency plan, while Congress is expected to develop its own more permanent financial solution.
In the letter, she says the Treasury will cease adding to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF) for those values not currently required to pay beneficiaries. Under ongoing business practices the CSRDF invests in special-issue Treasury securities specifically for its use. These securities count against the debt limit.
Similarly, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 provides that investments in the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund (PSRHBF) are made in the same manner as investments for the CSRDF. The treasury will suspend additional investments of amounts credited to the PSRHBF.
It is expected that the CSRDF and the PSRHBF will be made whole as part of the eventual solution.
She ends the letter by urging Congress to act swiftly as her measures will not provide a solution beyond late Spring.
Letter Dated January 19, 2023
Take Away
When the US bumps up against its debt limit it creates many problems. From a macro approach, if they raise the debt limit automatically may only serve to kick the spending can down the road. To have no upper limit long term can come back to hurt the US dollar and those that use it for purchases. Creating a strict upper limit serves to provide fiscal restraint but may stand in the way of economic stimulation. A government with its spending hands tied may find it problematic in times of war or other crises.
As the Secretary of the Treasury postpones payments or debt issuance, this has in the past not saved money, it has only delayed acquiring it through borrowing.
Depending on how intense the game of chicken becomes in the halls of Congress, the debt, equity, and Forex markets could become tumultuous.
Meme Stocks are Putting Up a Strong Offense – Is this a Positive Sign for the Broader Market?
During the first three weeks of 2023, meme stocks and crypto tokens, often viewed in the same category, have scored early. Have meme stock investors now come off the sidelines after the poor performance last year? In 2022 they completely failed to repeat their historic 2021 wins. So the current rally is a great sign.
Successful meme trading occurs when there is a mass movement by retail accounts. So far in 2023, like flipping a New Year’s switch, retail is again causing a commotion. And by looking at the trending hashtags and cashtags on Reddit and Twitter, fans are also making an increased volume of noise.
Looking at the 2023 performance chart above, the S&P 500 ($SPY) opened the year more positively than the prior year ended. While one obviously can not extrapolate out the current 1.59% return for the year, annualizing it helps bring the short period being measured into perspective. The overall market is running at a 30.50% pace this year. Wow.
The performance of GameStop ($GME), which was one of the original and among the most recognized meme stocks, is outperforming the overall market by double. While it is well off its high reached earlier this week, the above 3% return is running well ahead of the overall stock market.
The cryptocurrency in the group, the often maligned Dogecoin (DOGE.X), which is legendary as it started as a parody token, has been tracking Bitcoins (BTC.X) rise closely. DOGE is up over 18% on the year, averaging an increase near 1% per day.
AMC Entertainment ($AMC), which is off its high of almost 50% a few days ago, now has returned over 32% to those holding the stock. To put this in perspective, it has an annualized return in 2023, so far, of 628%. This likely has gotten ahead of itself, time will tell, but it is the clear MVP among the meme stocks to date.
Last year the overall market, despite being down near 20%,, trounced the meme stocks that have thus far put in a stellar showing in 2023.
Is Meme Rally a Reason for Optimism?
Retail dollars coming in off the sidelines and mounting enough of a drive to force values up so quickly indicates a mood change that may play out elsewhere in the financial markets. The average trade size of retail is so small that it indicates a large wave of willingness, if not outright optimism, that putting money in play will lead to gains. Similar forces are causing money to move into mutual funds and ETFs, which serves to put upward pressure on the overall market.
Wall Street’s so-called “fear gauge,” the Volatility Index ($VIX) dropped on average 1% a day since the start of the year. This is a spectacular trend. It now stands near its long-term average of 21; a reading above 30 is considered bearish. The $VIX was last near these levels in April of last year. The overall market stood 15% higher back then compared to today.
The Volatility Index has applications across digital assets as well. On a scale of 1-100, where 100 is overly greedy, The Crypto Fear and Greed Index stands near neutral at 52. This is also the most optimistic reading since April. It may be considered even more positive since the digital asset market is still digesting the “unprecedented” bankruptcy of crypto exchange FTX.
Meme mania has never been about macro; more about crowd behavior, commitment, and momentum. But there are fundamentals that are viewed by stock investors of all varieties that likely have fed into the burst of interest. First, economic data suggests that inflation is trending lower. This deceleration lessens the need for the Federal Reserve to put the brakes on the economy. The enthusiasm is just more pronounced among this style of retail traders that are loud and proud. They serve as cheerleaders to captivate the imagination of more traditional investors.
Take Away
The overall financial markets opened with a sigh of relief in 2023. Meme stocks and crypto opened the year with extreme optimism. The optimism isn’t without cause; a number of factors point to a much better environment than the dismal returns of last year.
Will this contagion, led by many small accounts, inspire further the larger individual and institutional investors to commit investments in the broader markets, there are many signs that suggest the year is starting that way, fear of missing out will build with each day that the markets move in a positive direction.
The so-called Beige Book is receiving much more attention from market participants than it has in years as they seek insight into the near- and long-term economic direction. The report is published eight times yearly and released about two weeks before the FOMC scheduled meetings. It contains anecdotal trends and moods from each of the 12 Federal Reserve districts. The information is collected and summarized and is relied on as part of the discussion topics at the Fed policy meetings.
The report released on January 18th was collected on or before January 9th. While each Federal Reserve district may have different economic experiences, for example, manufacturing regions may have a very different perspective than agricultural areas or districts where service jobs are more prevalent.
30,000 Foot View
The first Beige Book of 2023 shows the US economy is holding steady. However, there are only small amounts of growth experienced in some regions, while others expect small pockets of expansion. This overall summary would be difficult to use as an argument for the Fed to alter course from its stated intention of additional tightening, including Fed Funds rate hikes. The next meeting will be held on January 31st and February 1st.
“On balance, contacts across districts said they expected future price growth to moderate further in the year ahead,” the survey said.
The report doesn’t contain many surprises and confirms current expectations that residential real estate activity is sluggish, the labor market is strong, and that inflation is running at a slower pace of growth.
There is very little in January’s Beige Book that would alter analysts’ expectations of what the next monetary policy adjustment might be. Those that are expecting a 0.50% increase are not likely to shift their thinking from the summaries, and those expecting a 0.25% hike are similarly not inclined to shift their thinking. Most analysts fall into one of these two categories.
A Sign the Markets Wanted
In a recent interview, Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester said the slowdown in inflation shows the Fed’s work raising rates is having the desired effect; she also suggested that further increases are still needed. “We’re beginning to see the kind of actions that we need to see,” Mester stated; these are “good signs that things are moving in the right direction. That’s important input into how we’re thinking about where policy needs to go.” This is heartening for those hoping for fewer rate hikes as Mester is considered one of the US central bank’s more hawkish members.
Take Away
The markets got a mixed bag with no clear change of direction from the summary of Federal reserve districts, otherwise known as the Beige Book. This could mean there will be few surprises at the close of the FOMC meeting on February 1st.
At least one Fed hawk is softening her rhetoric going into the meeting. If the trend continues, the prospect of fewer rate hikes should be viewed as positive for stocks and positive for bonds.
MELVILLE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–January 18, 2023–Comtech (NASDAQ: CMTL) is releasing a new logo and brand identity today that align with the company’s customer-centric focus and commitment to accelerating the global technology trajectories that will connect the unconnected, bridge the digital divide, and empower people by providing access to data and insight in new and unprecedented ways.
Comtech recently underwent a transformational change to unite the enterprise, build on its collective strengths, solidify foundations for its future, and energize transformation across the industry. Comtech’s new vision of “building connections that set ideas free” is an embodiment of the dedication and commitment to excellence in the company’s innovative culture and passion for customer success.
“Our global communications infrastructure is at the cusp of enormous change and Comtech is leading the way in the democratization of communications access for all, and we are doing it through radical change, starting with our new mission and vision,” said Ken Peterman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our new logo and brand represent Comtech’s move into its next chapter as a company and our unique ability to identify and deliver the technologies and services that will be needed to connect the unconnected, address our customers toughest challenges, and set new ideas free.”
At Comtech, we are in a relentless pursuit of a better way – empowering people by connecting everything and everyone. The company is committed to matching the extraordinary rate of change taking place across today’s communications infrastructure. With its unique culture of innovation and fluency in future technologies, Comtech will empower people and organizations through access to connectivity and help shape the landscape of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Visit Comtech Signals to learn more about the rebrand and other activities.
About Comtech
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is a leading global technology company providing terrestrial and wireless network solutions, next-generation 9-1-1 emergency services, satellite and space communications technologies, and cloud native capabilities to commercial and government customers around the world. Our unique culture of innovation and employee empowerment unleashes a relentless passion for customer success. With multiple facilities located in technology corridors throughout the United States and around the world, Comtech leverages our global presence, technology leadership, and decades of experience to create the world’s most innovative communications solutions.For more information, please visit www.comtech.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature and involve certain significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and performance could differ materially from such forward-looking information. The Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings identify many such risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking information in this press release is qualified in its entirety by the risks and uncertainties described in such Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2023 / Eskay Mining Corp. (“Eskay” or the “Company”) (TSXV:ESK)(OTCQX:ESKYF)(Frankfurt:KN7)(WKN:A0YDPM) is pleased to announce it has confirmed the presence of a precious metal-rich volcanogenic massive sulfide (“VMS”) mineralized system at Tarn Lake-Scarlet Knob in the northeastern part of its 100% controlled Consolidated Eskay Property in the Golden Triangle, British Columbia.
Highlights
During the 2022 exploration campaign, Eskay Mining’s geologic team confirmed the presence of a major new precious metal-rich VMS mineralized system at Scarlet Knob-Tarn Lake.
A spot rock chip sample collected at the Scarlet Knob VMS target on the eastern margin of Bruce Glacier has yielded 56.9 g/t Au and 154 g/t Ag. This sample displays sulfide mineralogy and textures indicative of a VMS origin and, importantly, is hosted by a stratigraphic unit that hosts the main Eskay Creek deposit located approximately 7km to the west.
Additional spot rock chip samples collected by Eskay’s exploration team at Scarlet Knob and Tarn Lake in 2022 as well as recently identified legacy sample data confirms the presence of robust Au- and Ag-rich VMS mineralization along a northeast trending zone approximately 500m long. Gold grades of these other samples range from less than 0.1 g/t up to 56.6 g/t and silver grades range from less than 1 g/t up to 142 g/t.
A spot rock chip sample collected along the western margin of Bruce Glacier at Tarn Lake yielded 9.2 g/t Au and 9.3 g/t Ag. Its visual appearance and mineralogy are nearly identical to that of the high-grade sample collected approximately 800m to the east at Scarlet Knob.
Additional spot rock chip samples collected by Eskay’s exploration team at Tarn Lake in 2022 as well as recently identified legacy sample data confirms the presence of significant Au- and Ag-rich VMS mineralization over an area approximately 300m across. Gold grades of these other samples range from less than 0.1 g/t up to 7.8 g/t and silver grades range from less than 1 g/t up to 174 g/t.
Preliminary results from the first ever drill holes completed at Tarn Lake include 4.10 g/t Au and 98.30 g/t Ag (5.39 g/t Au Eq) over 5.43m within 2.47 g/t Au and 72.20 g/t Ag (3.42 g/t Au Eq) over 11.34m within 0.80 g/t Au and 22.97 g/t Ag (1.10 g/t Au Eq) over 41.41m in hole TN22-10 providing drill confirmation of a significant new VMS discovery.
Eskay Mining’s geologic team think that mineralization at Tarn Lake and Scarlet Knob potentially connect under the rapidly receding terminus of Bruce Glacier. Previously reported BLEG (stream sediment) geochemical anomalism displayed by several samples in this region may be derived in part from the Scarlet Knob-Tarn Lake VMS system.
Given the Scarlet Knob-Tarn Lake VMS system shares strong similarities to the Eskay Creek deposit, Eskay Mining is planning to conduct first ever drilling at Scarlet Knob as well as aggressive follow up drilling at Tarn Lake in 2023.
“A major focus of Eskay Mining’s 2022 exploration program was identifying new precious metal-rich VMS mineralization in underexplored areas of the large Consolidated Eskay Property,” commented Dr. John DeDecker, VP of Exploration for Eskay Mining Corp. “At Scarlet Knob-Tarn Lake, our team has confirmed the presence of a second major trend of Au- and Ag-rich VMS mineralization at the northern end of the Eastern anticline which runs parallel to the Eskay anticline that hosts the world class Eskay Creek deposit located approximately seven km to the west. Our rock chip samples from this area, some of which returned bonanza gold grades, display a similar appearance to mineralization at Eskay Creek. Importantly, the host rock at Scarlet Knob-Tarn Lake is the Eskay rhyolite, the same stratigraphic host unit at Eskay Creek. Preliminary results from our maiden drill program at Tarn Lake confirm the discovery of a significant zone of Au- and Ag-rich VMS mineralization. We are particularly excited about the potential connectivity between Tarn Lake and Scarlet Knob. We are planning maiden drilling at Scarlet Knob and aggressive follow up drilling at Tarn Lake in 2023.”
“Over the past three years, our geological team has made extraordinary progress toward our mission of discovering new high-grade VMS deposits across the Consolidated Eskay Property,” commented Mac Balkam, CEO of Eskay Mining. “Our large property has the right geology to host deposits comparable to the original Eskay Creek Mine, and we all know that VMS deposits typically occur in clusters. Our team’s 2022 work in the Scarlet Ridge-Tarn Lake trend, 7 Kilometers due east of the original mine, shows very encouraging gold and silver results from both rock chip samples and drill core. A rock chip sample from Scarlet Knob returned 56.9 g/t gold and 154 g/t silver, has an appearance similar to high-grade mineralization at Eskay Creek and is hosted by the same rock units as those at Eskay Creek. When plotted with legacy results including a 56.6 g/t gold and 32 g/t silver sample, a 500m long high-grade trend is now evident, with additional samples ranging from 1-10 g/t Au extending a further 900 m to the northeast. Straight across Bruce Glacier and 800m to the west, rock chip samples have defined a 300m wide zone of gold- and silver-rich VMS mineralization. We were able to get a few widely spaced holes in this target before the end of season and were able to confirm this discovery with solid drill results. There are compelling signs that Scarlet Knob and Tarn Lake connect under the toe of Bruce Glacier. I am delighted that our 2022 results validate our thesis that Eskay Consolidated has multiple precious metal-rich VMS targets with potential like that of the original mine. The Eskay team is very excited about conducting follow up work at Scarlet Knob-Tarn Lake as well as at TV-Hexagon-Mercury and SIB-Lulu. The stage is set for an exciting 2023 exploration program.”
Tarn Lake and Scarlet Knob
During the 2022 exploration campaign, a 300m wide zone of Au- and Ag-rich VMS mineralization was discovered by Eskay Mining’s geologic team at Tarn Lake (Figure 1). The highest-grade spot rock chip sample, collected along the western margin of Bruce Glacier, yielded 9.2 g/t Au and 9.3 g/t Ag (Figure 2). Additional spot rock chip samples collected at Tarn Lake in 2022 as well as recently identified legacy sample data bear gold grades ranging from less than 0.1 g/t up to 7.8 g/t and silver grades ranging from less than 1 g/t up to 174 g/t.
Near the end of the 2022 diamond drill program, Eskay Mining’s geologic team completed the first ever drilling at Tarn Lake, a series of widely spaced holes targeting areas underneath the location from which promising surface samples had recently been collected (Figure 3). Preliminary results from the first ever drill holes completed at Tarn Lake include:
4.10 g/t Au and 98.30 g/t Ag (5.39 g/t Au Eq) over 5.43m within 2.47 g/t Au and 72.20 g/t Ag (3.42 g/t Au Eq) over 11.34m within 0.80 g/t Au and 22.97 g/t Ag (1.10 g/t Au Eq) over 41.41m in hole TN22-10, and
3.96 g/t Au and 11.86 g/t Ag (4.12 g/t Au Eq) over 1.91m within 1.90 g/t Au and 7.94 g/t Ag (2.00 g/t Au Eq) over 6.95m in hole TN22-12.
A summary of significant preliminary assays from Tarn Lake is presented in a table below. Remaining assays from Tarn Lake drill holes will be reported once they have returned from the lab.
Mineralization at Tarn Lake is associated with sets of east-west trending andesite dikes, interpreted to represent VMS syn-volcanic feeder structures, and occurs as sub-seafloor sulfide replacement of favorable stratigraphic horizons (Figures 4 and 5). It is hosted by the Eskay rhyolite, one of the primary host rocks at the Eskay Creek mine. Assay results show that both the semi-massive and disseminated sulfide mineralization are Au- and Ag-bearing, an encouraging sign indicating that precious metal mineralization may be more extensive in this area.
Spot rock chip sampling at Scarlet Knob in 2022 yielded a notable high-grade sample grading 56.9 g/t Au and 154 g/t Ag. Additional spot rock chip samples collected by Eskay’s exploration team as well as recently identified legacy sample data bear gold grades ranging from less than 0.1 g/t up to 56.6 g/t and silver grades range from less than 1 g/t up to 142 g/t. These collectively define a northeast trending zone approximately 500m long.
Rock chip samples from Scarlet Knob, on the eastern flank of Bruce Glacier, bear a strong resemblance to those collected at Tarn Lake, on the western side, some 800m distant (Figures 6 and 7). Like Tarn Lake, mineralization at Scarlet Knob is hosted by the Eskay rhyolite. Eskay Mining’s geologic team thinks there is a likelihood that VMS mineralization connects between these two areas underneath the toe of the rapidly receding Bruce Glacier. Further exploration will focus on establishing connectivity along this ~1 km long east-west corridor. Ability to drill through ice in this area is being examined.
Scarlet Ridge and Scarlet Valley
In 2022, Eskay Mining’s geologic team identified zones of stockwork and replacement-style VMS mineralization at Scarlet Ridge and Scarlet Valley. Mineralization is associated with east-west trending andesite dikes interpreted to be syn-volcanic VMS feeder structures. Surface sampling and diamond drilling were conducted at both locations, both techniques yielding anomalous gold and silver grades (Figures 8, 9 and 10). Significant drill results are summarized in a table below.
Eskay Mining’s geologic team views the hydrothermal alteration and anomalous precious metal concentrations at Scarlet Ridge and Scarlet Valley to be distal components of the VMS system centered around Scarlet Knob-Tarn Lake. Therefore, emphasis will be placed on follow up exploration around the latter location in 2023. SkyTEM data indicates the presence of a significant conductive feature immediately southwest of Tarn Lake in need of field follow up examination (Figure 11).
2022 Exploration Program
The fundamental goal of the 2022 exploration program was to identify new precious metal-rich VMS deposits across the Consolidated Eskay Project through early-stage work including mapping and geochemical sampling, and more advanced work including widely spaced drilling. During the 2022 exploration season, Eskay Mining successfully completed 29,500m of diamond drilling along the TV-Jeff corridor and along the Scarlet Ridge-Tarn Lake trend.
Drill results discussed in this news release come from holes drilled along the Scarlet Ridge-Tarn Lake trend. Significant assays from fifteen drill holes that are part of this release are tabulated in a table below. Holes with no significant results are not listed in this table.
Further analytical data is expected back over the next few weeks. This includes assays from additional drill holes drilled along the Scarlet Ridge-Tarn Lake trend, holes drilled at the TV deposit and analyses from substantial numbers of soil, surface rock chip, and infill BLEG samples from across the project. These will be presented to the market as they become available.
Au Eq and Ag Eq Calculations and True Width:
Note on use of Au eq (Au eq=Au+Ag/76) and Ag eq (Ag eq=Au*76+Ag): Mineralization at the TV and Jeff deposits displays similar characteristics and mineralogy to the Eskay Creek deposit and therefore for Au eq, and Au:Ag, a ratio of 76:1 is used and Au eq and Ag eq values are deemed to be reasonable based on assumed gold recovery (84.2%) and silver recovery (87.3%) as reported in the Eskay Creek Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Prefeasibility Study, British Columbia, Canada, Effective Date: 22 July, 2021, Prepared for: Skeena Resources Ltd., Prepared by: Absence Engineering Canada Inc.
True widths of reported intercepts are not fully understood at this time but given the moderately dipping tabular nature of these deposits and the steep angle of drilling, Eskay geologists estimate true widths represent approximately 70-90% of the reported drill intercept lengths.
QA/QC, Methodology Statement:
Halved HQ drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistry in Terrace, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. ALS is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays. All analytical methods include quality control standards inserted at set frequencies. The entire sample interval is crushed and homogenized, 250 g of the homogenized sample is pulped. All samples were analyzed for gold, silver, mercury, and a suite of 48 major and trace elements. Analysis for gold is by fire assay fusion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) on 30 g of pulp. Analysis for silver is by fire assay and gravimetric analysis on 30 g of pulp. Mercury is analyzed using the trace Hg Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) method. All other major and trace elements are analyzed by four-acid digestion followed by ICP-MS.
Historical rock chip sample data is sourced from Assessment Report AR19675 by Granges dated February 7, 1990. Eskay Mining is unable to fully verify this data, and it should be treated as such by the reader.
Dr. Quinton Hennigh, P. Geo., a Director of the Company and its technical adviser, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.
About Eskay Mining Corp:
Eskay Mining Corp (TSX-V:ESK) is a TSX Venture Exchange listed company, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Eskay is an exploration company focused on the exploration and development of precious and base metals along the Eskay rift in a highly prolific region of northwest British Columbia known as the “Golden Triangle,” 70km northwest of Stewart, BC. The Company currently holds mineral tenures in this area comprised of 177 claims (52,600 hectares).
All material information on the Company may be found on its website at www.eskaymining.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such as actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Brings More than 20 Years of Deep Advertising Industry Insights and Expertise to the Company
HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRCT) (“Direct Digital Holdings” or the “Company”), a leading advertising and marketing technology platform operating through its companies Colossus Media, LLC (“Colossus SSP”), Huddled Masses LLC (“Huddled Masses”) and Orange142, LLC (“Orange142”), today announced advertising industry pioneer Misty Locke is joining its Board of Directors. Locke, an award-winning marketer, brings more than 20 years of experience in digital, performance and brand marketing. Her appointment was effective January 16, 2023.
Locke joins the Direct Digital Holdings Board of Directors following a successful tenure as Chief Marketing Officer for industry leader Dentsu Media. Prior to that, Locke served in several senior executive positions for iProspect, including President of iProspect Americas, Global Chief Client Officer and Global Chief Marketing Officer. Locke transformed iProspect, a company that she helped grow through a merger in 2008 with her company, Range Online Media, from an SEO brand into the largest and most innovative digital media and performance agency in the world scaled across more than 90 markets with more than 8,000 media and performance specialists.
In her career, Locke has worked with some of the world’s most iconic brands, including General Motors, Adidas, NIKE, The GAP Brands, Microsoft, Estée Lauder Companies, Accor Hotels, Burberry, Heineken and Kering. She also received the e-Microsoft Bing “Lifetime Achievement” award, for her contribution to the digital advertising industry, and Fast Company listed her on its list of “25 Top Women Business Builders.”
“Direct Digital Holdings is very pleased to welcome Misty to our Board of Directors,” said Mark D. Walker, Direct Digital Holdings Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Misty brings a tremendous amount of industry insight and expertise to our company and will be a valuable asset for the senior leadership team and our strategic decision-making. Direct Digital Holdings is a pioneering force in the programmatic ad industry, and with Misty’s contributions, along with the dynamic leadership and breadth of experience offered by my fellow directors Tonie Leatherberry, Keith Smith and Richard Cohen, I am pleased with our fortified Board of Directors. Such bench strength will enable Direct Digital Holdings to continue to lead with a dynamic and inclusive approach, come up with innovative solutions for brands of all sizes and use advanced technology solutions for our tailored digital strategies.”
“Direct Digital Holdings has seen strong and resilient growth in a time where the industry overall is facing significant disruption and headwinds,” added Locke. “I look forward to supporting the company’s continued expansion and joining a pioneering team delivering leading digital advertising solutions for clients and especially those in multicultural communities.”
Her appointment to the Direct Digital Holdings Board of Directors comes less than a year after the Company listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. She joins other outside board members, including Ms. Leatherberry and Mr. Cohen.
Locke graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate Communications.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and which are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties.
As used below, “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Direct Digital Holdings. We use words such as “could,” “would,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “expect,” “likely,” “believe,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project” and other similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, but not all forward-looking statements include these words. All statements contained in this release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements.
All of our forward-looking statements involve estimates and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our industry experience and our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, many factors could affect our actual operating and financial performance and cause our performance to differ materially from the performance expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: our dependence on the overall demand for advertising, which could be influenced by economic downturns; any slow-down or unanticipated development in the market for programmatic advertising campaigns; the effects of health epidemics, such as the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic; operational and performance issues with our platform, whether real or perceived, including a failure to respond to technological changes or to upgrade our technology systems; any significant inadvertent disclosure or breach of confidential and/or personal information we hold, or of the security of our or our customers’, suppliers’ or other partners’ computer systems; any unavailability or non-performance of the non-proprietary technology, software, products and services that we use; unfavorable publicity and negative public perception about our industry, particularly concerns regarding data privacy and security relating to our industry’s technology and practices, and any perceived failure to comply with laws and industry self-regulation; restrictions on the use of third-party “cookies,” mobile device IDs or other tracking technologies, which could diminish our platform’s effectiveness; any inability to compete in our intensely competitive market; any significant fluctuations caused by our high customer concentration; any violation of legal and regulatory requirements or any misconduct by our employees, subcontractors, agents or business partners; any strain on our resources, diversion of our management’s attention or impact on our ability to attract and retain qualified board members as a result of being a public company; our dependence, as a holding company, of receiving distributions from Direct Digital Holdings, LLC to pay our taxes, expenses and dividends; and other factors and assumptions discussed in the “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations” and other sections of our filings with the SEC that we make from time to time. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of these assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual operating and financial performance may vary in material respects from the performance projected in these forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances, and we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
About Direct Digital Holdings
Direct Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: DRCT), owner of operating companies Colossus SSP, Huddled Masses, and Orange 142, brings state-of-the-art sell- and buy-side advertising platforms together under one umbrella company. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell-side platform, Colossus SSP, offers advertisers of all sizes extensive reach within general market and multicultural media properties. The company’s subsidiaries Huddled Masses and Orange142 deliver significant ROI for middle market advertisers by providing data-optimized programmatic solutions at scale for businesses in sectors that range from energy to healthcare to travel to financial services. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell- and buy-side solutions manage approximately 90,000 clients monthly, generating over 100 billion impressions per month across display, CTV, in-app and other media channels. Direct Digital Holdings is the ninth black-owned company to go public in the U.S and was named a top minority-owned business by The Houston Business Journal.
Deep sea sponges and other creatures live on and among valuable manganese nodules like this one that could be mined from the seafloor. (GEOMAR)
Deep Seabed Mining Plans Pit Renewable Energy Demand Against Ocean Life in a Largely Unexplored Frontier
As companies race to expand renewable energy and the batteries to store it, finding sufficient amounts of rare earth metals to build the technology is no easy feat. That’s leading mining companies to take a closer look at a largely unexplored frontier – the deep ocean seabed.
A wealth of these metals can be found in manganese nodules that look like cobblestones scattered across wide areas of deep ocean seabed. But the fragile ecosystems deep in the oceans are little understood, and the mining codes to sustainably mine these areas are in their infancy.
A fierce debate is now playing out as a Canadian company makes plans to launch the first commercial deep sea mining operation in the Pacific Ocean.
The Metals Company completed an exploratory project in the Pacific Ocean in fall 2022. Under a treaty governing the deep sea floor, the international agency overseeing these areas could be forced to approve provisional mining there as soon as spring 2023, but several countries and companies are urging a delay until more research can be done. France and New Zealand have called for a ban on deep sea mining.
As scholars who have long focused on the economic, political and legal challenges posed by deep seabed mining, we have each studied and written on this economic frontier with concern for the regulatory and ecological challenges it poses.
Manganese nodules on the seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, between Hawaii and Mexico, . (GEOMAR)
What’s Down There, and Why Should We Care?
A curious journey began in the summer of 1974. Sailing from Long Beach, California, a revolutionary ship funded by eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes set course for the Pacific to open a new frontier — deep seabed mining.
Widespread media coverage of the expedition helped to focus the attention of businesses and policymakers on the promise of deep seabed mining, which is notable given that the expedition was actually an elaborate cover for a CIA operation.
The real target was a Soviet ballistic missile submarine that had sunk in 1968 with all hands and what was believed to be a treasure trove of Soviet state secrets and tech onboard.
The expedition, called Project Azorian by the CIA, recovered at least part of the submarine – and it also brought up several manganese nodules from the seafloor.
Manganese nodules are roughly the size of potatoes and can be found across vast areas of seafloor in parts of the Pacific and Indian oceans and deep abyssal plains in the Atlantic. They are valuable because they are exceptionally rich in 37 metals, including nickel, cobalt and copper, which are essential for most large batteries and several renewable energy technologies.
Manganese nodules form as metals accumulate around a shell or part of another nodule. (GEOMAR)
These nodules form over millennia as metals nucleate around shells or broken nodules. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone, between Mexico and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, where the mining test took place, has been estimated to have over 21 billion metric tons of nodules that could provide twice as much nickel and three times more cobalt than all the reserves on land.
Mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone could be some 10 times richer than comparable mineral deposits on land. All told, estimates place the value of this new industry at some US$30 billion annually by 2030. It could be instrumental in feeding the surging global demand for cobalt that lies at the heart of lithium-ion batteries.
Yet, as several scientists have noted, we still know more about the surface of the moon than what lies at the bottom of the deep seabed.
Deep Seabed Ecology
Less than 10% of the deep seabed has been mapped thoroughly enough to understand even the basic features of the structure and contents of the ocean floor, let alone the life and ecosystems therein.
Even the most thoroughly studied region, the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, is still best characterized by the persistent novelty of what is found there.
Brightly colored sea cucumbers and many other unusual deep sea creatures live among the nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (GEOMAR)
Brightly colored sea cucumbers and many other unusual deep sea creatures live among the nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. (GEOMAR)
Between 70% and 90% of living things collected in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone have never been seen before, leaving scientists to speculate about what percentage of all living species in the region has never been seen or collected. Exploratory expeditions regularly return with images or samples of creatures that would richly animate science fiction stories, like a 6-foot-long bioluminescent shark.
Also unknown is the impact that deep sea mining would have on these creatures.
An experiment in 2021 in water about 3 miles (5 kilometers) deep off Mexico found that seabed mining equipment created sediment plumes of up to about 6.5 feet (2 meters) high. But the project authors stressed that they didn’t study the ecological impact. A similar earlier experiment was conducted off Peru in 1989. When scientists returned to that site in 2015, they found some species still hadn’t fully recovered.
Environmentalists have questioned whether seafloor creatures could be smothered by sediment plumes and whether the sediment in the water column could effect island communities that rely on healthy oceanic ecosystems. The Metals Company has argued that its impact is less than terrestrial mining.
Given humanity’s lack of knowledge of the ocean, it is not currently possible to set environmental baselines for oceanic health that could be used to weigh the economic benefits against the environmental harms of seabed mining.
Scarcity and the Economic Case for Mining
The economic case for deep seabed mining reflects both possibility and uncertainty.
On the positive side, it could displace some highly destructive terrestrial mining and augment the global supply of minerals used in clean energy sources such as wind turbines, photovoltaic cells and electric vehicles.
Terrestrial mining imposes significant environmental damage and costs to human health of both the miners themselves and the surrounding communities. Additionally, mines are sometimes located in politically unstable regions. The Democratic Republic of Congo produces 60% of the global supply of cobalt, for example, and China owns or finances 80% of industrial mines in that country. China also accounts for 60% of the global supply of rare earth element production and much of its processing. Having one nation able to exert such control over a critical resource has raised concerns.
Deep seabed mining comes with significant uncertainties, however, particularly given the technology’s relatively early state.
First are the risks associated with commercializing a new technology. Until deep sea mining technology is demonstrated, discoveries cannot be listed as “reserves” in firms’ asset valuations. Without that value defined, it can be difficult to line up the significant financing needed to build mining infrastructure, which lessens the first-mover advantage and incentivizes firms to wait for someone else to take the lead.
Commodity prices are also difficult to predict. Technology innovation can reduce or even eliminate the projected demand for a mineral. New mineral deposits on land can also boost supply: Sweden announced in January 2023 that it had just discovered the largest deposit of rare earth oxides in Europe.
In all, embarking on deep seabed mining involves sinking significant costs into new technology for uncertain returns, while posing risks to a natural environment that is likely to rise in value.
Who Gets to Decide the Future of Seafloor Mining?
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into force in the early 1990s, provides the basic rules for ocean resources.
It allows countries to control economic activities, including any mining, within 200 miles of their coastlines, accounting for approximately 35% of the ocean. Beyond national waters, countries around the world established the International Seabed Authority, or ISA, based in Jamaica, to regulate deep seabed mining.
Critically, the ISA framework calls for some of the profits derived from commercial mining to be shared with the international community. In this way, even countries that did not have the resources to mine the deep seabed could share in its benefits. This part of the ISA’s mandate was controversial, and it was one reason that the United States did not join the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Where large numbers of manganese nodules are found. The areas with the greatest concentrations are circled. (GEOMAR)
Where large numbers of manganese nodules are found. The areas with the greatest concentrations are circled. (GEOMAR)
With little public attention, the ISA worked slowly for several decades to develop regulations for exploration of undersea minerals, and those rules still aren’t completed. More than a dozen companies and countries have received exploration contracts, including The Metals Company’s work under the sponsorship of the island nation of Nauru.
ISA’s work has started to draw criticism as companies have sought to initiate commercial mining. A recent New York Times investigation of internal ISA documents suggested the agency’s leadership has downplayed environmental concerns and shared confidential information with some of the companies that would be involved in seabed mining. The ISA hasn’t finalized environmental rules for mining.
Much of the coverage of deep seabed mining has been framed to highlight the climate benefits. But this overlooks the dangers this activity could pose for the Earth’s largest pristine ecology – the deep sea. We believe it would be wise to better understand this existing, fragile ecosystem better before rushing to mine it.
One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) designs and manufactures innovative AI Transportable edge computing modules and systems, including ruggedized servers, compute accelerators, expansion systems, flash storage arrays, and Ion Accelerator™ SAN, NAS, and data recording software for AI workflows. These products are used for AI data set capture, training, and large-scale inference in the defense, oil and gas, mining, autonomous vehicles, and rugged entertainment applications. OSS utilizes the power of PCI Express, the latest GPU accelerators and NVMe storage to build award-winning systems, including many industry firsts, for industrial OEMs and government customers. The company enables AI on the Fly® by bringing AI datacenter performance to ‘the edge,’ especially on mobile platforms, and by addressing the entire AI workflow, from high-speed data acquisition to deep learning, training, and inference. OSS products are available directly or through global distributors. For more information, go to www.onestopsystems.com.
Joe Gomes, Managing Director – Generalist Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
New Contract. One Stop Systems announced a new $3 million order from a prime military contractor. OSS commenced shipments in the fourth quarter of 2022, with the remaining units to be delivered in the first half of 2023. We view the announcement as further validation of OSS’s capabilities for military applications.
Details. Using its 4UV compute accelerator systems, OSS is upgrading a radar simulation system operated by the DoD Missile Defense Agency. The systems are being deployed in edge mobile radar systems and datacenters where they will be used for lab and field artificial intelligence training.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Mark Reichman, Senior Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Keeping an eye on Park Place. The Park Place Lithium Brine project, located 20 kilometers south of the company’s flagship Boardwalk project in Alberta, encompasses 1,602,209 acres of contiguous mineral permits that cover a significant portion of the highly prospective Leduc reef complex in this area. Unique to Park Place is the hydraulic connectivity between the Leduc and the Swan Hills Formations. Historical samples collected by multiple petroleum operators and donated to the Alberta Geological Survey, range from 76 milligrams per liter to 130 milligrams per liter lithium and are located within Park Place’s permitted area.
Assay results. The company released assay results from samples taken at Park Place. Three brine samples were collected from a 72-meter-thick interval at the top of the Leduc Formation and returned grades ranging from 71.2 to 82.0 milligrams per liter lithium with an overall average grade of 77.2 milligrams per liter lithium.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Engine Gaming and Media, Inc. (NASDAQ:GAME) (TSX-V:GAME) provides premium social sports and esports gaming experiences, as well as unparalleled data analytics, marketing, advertising, and intellectual property to support its owned and operated direct-to-consumer properties, while also providing these services to enable its clients and partners. The company’s subsidiaries include Stream Hatchet, the global leader in gaming video distribution analytics; Sideqik, a social influencer marketing discovery, analytics, and activation platform; WinView Games, a social predictive play-along gaming platform for viewers to play while watching live events; and Frankly Media, a digital publishing platform used to create, distribute and monetize content across all digital channels. Engine Media generates revenue through a combination of direct-to-consumer fees, streaming technology and data SaaS-based offerings, and programmatic advertising. For more information, please visit www.enginegaming.com.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Patrick McCann, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Q1 results. The company reported revenue of $10.3 million, which beat our estimate of $9.8 million by 5%. Revenue was better than expected despite a decrease in advertising revenue due to changes in the algorithms that drive audience traffic. Adj. EBITDA for the quarter was a loss of $2.7 million, in line with our estimate.
Favorable influencer analytics trends. Management noted that there is heightened demand for influencer marketing. Notably. influencer and gaming analytics software as a service (SaaS) revenue grew by 34.6% on a year over year basis, helping to offset a decline in advertising revenues.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral deposits containing metals and elements commonly used in the electric power market, defense industry, national security sector and in the production of green energy technologies, such as, rare earths magnets used in wind turbines and in permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles. Defense Metals owns 100% of the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol “DEFN” on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States, under “DFMTF” on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under “35D”.
Mark Reichman, Senior Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
2022 drill program. The 2022 resource delineation and pit slope geotechnical drill program comprised 18 core drill holes totaling 5,510 meters. Defense Metals recently released results from eight core drill holes, representing 2,104 meters of drilling, completed during 2022. To date, assay results have been announced for a total of 16 holes with results for the two remaining holes expected shortly.
Recent assay results. Recent results were from two exploration, three resource delineation, and three pit slope geotechnical core drill holes, one of which returned the second longest REE-mineralized intercept of the 2021 and 2022 Wicheeda drilling programs. Following receipt of remaining results, Defense Metals expects to update the Wicheeda mineral resource to include results from 10,859 meters of drilling in 47 core holes completed during the 2021 and 2022 drilling programs that were not included in the preliminary economic assessment (PEA).
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Why America Has a Debt Ceiling: Five Questions Answered
The Treasury Department on Jan. 13, 2023, said it expects the U.S. to hit the current debt limit of $31.38 trillion on Jan. 19. After that, the government would take “extraordinary measures” – which could extend the deadline until May or June – to avoid default. A default, even a risk of default would drive bond prices (interest rates) much higher than they currently are.
Is the debt ceiling still a good idea?
Economist Steve Pressman is a professor at The New School in Manhattan, below he explains the debt ceiling is and why we have it – and then shares his opinion on its usefulness.
What is the Debt Ceiling?
Like the rest of us, governments must borrow when they spend more money than they receive. They do so by issuing bonds, which are IOUs that promise to repay the money in the future and make regular interest payments. Government debt is the total sum of all this borrowed money.
The debt ceiling, which Congress established a century ago, is the maximum amount the government can borrow. It’s a limit on the national debt.
What’s the National Debt?
On Jan. 10, 2023, U.S. government debt was $30.92 trillion, about 22% more than the value of all goods and services that will be produced in the U.S. economy this year.
Around one-quarter of this money the government actually owes itself. The Social Security Administration has accumulated a surplus and invests the extra money, currently $2.8 trillion, in government bonds. And the Federal Reserve holds $5.5 trillion in U.S. Treasurys.
The rest is public debt. As of October 2022, foreign countries, companies and individuals owned $7.2 trillion of U.S. government debt. Japan and China are the largest holders, with around $1 trillion each. The rest is owed to U.S. citizens and businesses, as well as state and local governments.
Before 1917, Congress would authorize the government to borrow a fixed sum of money for a specified term. When loans were repaid, the government could not borrow again without asking Congress for approval.
The Second Liberty Bond Act of 1917, which created the debt ceiling, changed this. It allowed a continual rollover of debt without congressional approval.
Congress enacted this measure to let then-President Woodrow Wilson spend the money he deemed necessary to fight World War I without waiting for often-absent lawmakers to act. Congress, however, did not want to write the president a blank check, so it limited borrowing to $11.5 billion and required legislation for any increase.
The debt ceiling has been increased dozens of times since then and suspended on several occasions. The last change occurred in December 2021, when it was raised to $31.38 trillion.
Currently, the U.S. Treasury has under $400 billion cash on hand, and the U.S. government expects to borrow around $100 billion each month this year.
When the U.S. nears its debt limit, the Treasury secretary – currently Janet Yellen – can use “extraordinary measures” to conserve cash, which she indicated would begin on Jan. 19. One such measure is temporarily not funding retirement programs for government employees. The expectation will be that once the ceiling is raised, the government would make up the difference. But this will buy only a small amount of time.
If the debt ceiling isn’t raised before the Treasury Department exhausts its options, decisions will have to be made about who gets paid with daily tax revenues. Further borrowing will not be possible. Government employees or contractors may not be paid in full. Loans to small businesses or college students may stop.
When the government can’t pay all its bills, it is technically in default. Policymakers, economists and Wall Street are concerned about a calamitous financial and economic crisis. Many fear that a government default would have dire economic consequences – soaring interest rates, financial markets in panic and maybe an economic depression.
Under normal circumstances, once markets start panicking, Congress and the president usually act. This is what happened in 2013 when Republicans sought to use the debt ceiling to defund the Affordable Care Act.
But we no longer live in normal political times. The major political parties are more polarized than ever, and the concessions McCarthy gave Republicans may make it impossible to get a deal on the debt ceiling.
Is There a Better Way?
One possible solution is a legal loophole allowing the U.S. Treasury to mint platinum coins of any denomination. If the U.S. Treasury were to mint a $1 trillion coin and deposit it into its bank account at the Federal Reserve, the money could be used to pay for government programs or repay government bondholders. This could even be justified by appealing to Section 4 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “The validity of the public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned.”
Few countries even have a debt ceiling. Other governments operate effectively without it. America could too. A debt ceiling is dysfunctional and periodically puts the U.S. economy in jeopardy because of political grandstanding.
The best solution would be to scrap the debt ceiling altogether. Congress already approved the spending and the tax laws that require more debt. Why should it also have to approve the additional borrowing?
It should be remembered that the original debt ceiling was put in place because Congress couldn’t meet quickly and approve needed spending to fight a war. In 1917 cross-country travel was by rail, requiring days to get to Washington. This made some sense then. Today, when Congress can vote online from home, this is no longer the case.
