With the Federal Reserve pausing their rate hikes for now, awaiting developments for the economy although being somewhat surprised by the strength of it, expecting one more hike before year end but no quick pivot to rate cuts in 2024, general sentiment remains neutral, although a recession looms behind the scenes.

Just as gold is making a comeback from recent lows, Aztec Minerals (AZT: TSX-V, OTCQB: AZZTF) is in the midst of raising fresh cash for their upcoming exploration programs at Cervantes (Mexico) and Tombstone (Arizona). After announcing the non-brokered placement on August 8, 2023 for an amount up to C$1M, management closed a first tranche on August 29, 2023, and indicated the placement would be increased to C$1.2M due to additional interest from investors.

As Westward Gold Inc. (WG.CSE) is looking to expand, in order to be able to attract more financing, they are also building on their team, and the most recent hire reflects this in spades according to management. Incoming VP Exploration Robert Edie will be stepping up to the plate at the end of September, while transitioning to this position effective immediately.

After closing the C$950k non-brokered private placement in May (14c FT and 11c NFT with half 22c 3y warrant), completing an airborne magnetic survey, and interpreting lots of data in order to identify multiple targets for summer prospecting, EGR Exploration (EGR.V)

Ice drilling at Regnault target, Frotet project, Quebec

After experiencing the last rate hike by the Federal Reserve in July, it seems more and more likely that the world economy is heading into a soft landing, with inflation continuing to go down.

After raising C$2.7M in March and closing the South Timmins JV with Fancamp, Platinex (PTX:CSE)(9PX:FRA) has been busy doing reconnaissance exploration and further developing of exploration plans for their Shining Tree, Heenan and Mallard gold projects located in the Abitibi region, and near well-known assets like Coté (IAMGold/Sumitomo) and Juby (Aris Gold).

It has been quiet for a while, since Westward Gold Inc. (WG.CSE) released the results of their first deep confirmation hole at their flagship Toiyabe project in Nevada on May 23, 2023. The company used the positive outcomes (12.7m @ 1.01g/t Au from 556.4m aren’t economic in itself but are very important vectors for analogous deposits like Cortez Hills, being hosted in the same type of host rocks) to return to the markets, and raise fresh cash for a follow-up drill program.

Although the markets keep digesting mixed signals, with various indicators increasing so much in strength there is even talk of several rate hikes coming up now from the Fed, indicating a soft landing if executed carefully, in the end the rates should come down again when inflation closes in further on the 2% target.

In an increasingly uncertain market environment as a result of the Fed communicating their intentions for more rate hikes, and ever stronger signals of a looming recession, Omai Gold Mines (TSXV:OMG) continues to explore for more gold in addition to their 3.7Moz resources for Wenot and Gilt Creek.

It took a while, but Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU)(OTC:AVPMF) and JV partner Sandfire MATSA finally intercepted a substantial mineralized interval at Sesmarias, after the discovery hole from 2014 intersected 7.95m @ 2.21% Cu, 4.82% Zn, 3.05% Pb and 89.8g/t Ag from 150m.