The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, Nov. 5, edition that National Bank Financial analyst Mohamed Sidibe raised his rating for Nouveau Monde Graphite to "outperform" from "sector perform." The Globe's David Leeder writes in the Eye On Equities column that Mr. Sidibe gave his share target a $1.50 boost to $5. Analysts on average target the shares at $5.77. During the G7 energy and environment ministers' meeting in Toronto, Minister Tim Hodgson announced 26 new investments in strategic projects, including Montreal's Nouveau Monde, through the Critical Minerals Production Alliance. This agreement aims to combat market manipulation from China with purchase agreements, price floors and stockpiling. Mr. Sidibe says in a note: "These are expected to unlock $6.4-billion in critical minerals projects and underscore shifting geopolitical priorities and the growing importance of securing critical mineral supply chains, not just for the U.S., which has been making significant equity investments in the space, but for the broader Western world. It marks a decisive move from rhetoric to action. ... We raise our NAV target multiple from 0.80 times to 1.10 times to reflect the national priority premium."