Uranium price is melting up

The price of uranium has hit an eight-year high after being in the doldrums for much of the past decade

Uranium prices have hit an eight-year high. The nuclear fuel was trading above $44 a pound this week for the first time since May 2013. The launch of a new investment trust by Canadian asset manager Sprott has spurred renewed interest in the commodity.

Shares in uranium-linked stocks, including UK-listed Yellow Cake and Aura Energy, have surged, says Will Horner in The Wall Street Journal. Investors are piling in. On WallStreetBets, the Reddit internet forum known for catalysing the surge in GameStop shares earlier this year, Canadian uranium business Cameco is “the third-most-discussed company”. 

The buying craze has become detached from fundamentals, says Jinjoo Lee in the same paper. Don’t expect to jump in and make a quick buck. Still, on a longer-term view there are reasons to be bullish. Uranium has been in the doldrums for much of the past decade. The 2011 Fukushima disaster cast a cloud over the market, says Myra Saefong in Barron’s.

Now the push to cut carbon emissions is brightening the outlook. China is betting big on the technology: “Over 60% of the new plants commissioned over the past decade” worldwide have been in the country. New reactors will continue to come online over the next few years, driving a steady increase in uranium demand. In 2019 The World Nuclear Association forecast “a 26% increase in uranium demand from 2020 to 2030”. 

Recommended

April price hikes - these are the bills going up in April
Personal finance

April price hikes - these are the bills going up in April

Households will be hit with a series of bill increases from April - here’s what they are and how you can save money.
31 Mar 2023
Where will house prices go in 2023?
House prices

Where will house prices go in 2023?

We explore what could happen to house prices in 2023 as the market continues to slow down.
31 Mar 2023
Investors flock to NS&I savings after SVB scare
Savings

Investors flock to NS&I savings after SVB scare

Investors are increasingly pumping their cash into the safety-net of NS&I - lured by increased rates and the security of a government-backed savings a…
31 Mar 2023
Nationwide: UK house prices decline at the fastest pace since 2009
House prices

Nationwide: UK house prices decline at the fastest pace since 2009

UK house prices fell for the seventh month in a row in March, Nationwide’s house price index showed.
31 Mar 2023

Most Popular

Will energy prices go down in 2023?
Personal finance

Will energy prices go down in 2023?

Ofgem’s price cap is now predicted to fall to around £2,000, based on average typical use, for the first time since 2022. We have all the details.
31 Mar 2023
Best areas for buy-to-let in the UK
Buy to let

Best areas for buy-to-let in the UK

If you’re thinking of getting a buy-to-let property you’ll want to know the areas in the country with the highest rental yields
29 Mar 2023
The best one-year fixed savings accounts - March 2023
Savings

The best one-year fixed savings accounts - March 2023

Earn over 4% on one-year fixed savings accounts.
30 Mar 2023