Why helium is headed a lot higher

Shortages of key resources never last, but investors can profit with careful timing, writes Dominic Frisby

Every now and then, a niche commodity comes along: some rare yet essential substance that the world simply can’t get enough of. Small-cap natural resource companies (particularly Canadian ones), are quick to “pivot”, as the corporate jargon goes, and “focus” on said commodity. Word gets out that there is a shortage. Next thing you know, you have an investment mania. I’ve seen it happen with potash, graphite, rare earth metals, cobalt, vanadium, even marijuana (though quite how essential that is, I’m not so sure).

Such manias never last, but they can be very profitable if you get your timing right. And I think I’ve spotted the next one – helium. In fact, I’m quite pleased to have been early on this one, alerting readers at the start of 2019 that there was a looming supply-demand imbalance.

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Dominic Frisby

Dominic Frisby (“mercurially witty” – the Spectator) is as far as we know the world’s only financial writer and comedian. He is the author of the popular newsletter the Flying Frisby and is MoneyWeek’s main commentator on gold, commodities, currencies and cryptocurrencies. He has also taken several of his shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

His books are Daylight Robbery - How Tax Changed our Past and Will Shape our Future; Bitcoin: the Future of Money? and Life After the State - Why We Don't Need Government

Dominic was educated at St Paul's School, Manchester University and the Webber-Douglas Academy Of Dramatic Art. You can follow him on X @dominicfrisby