Welcome in today’s deep dive into ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE: GWH) — a small-cap clean energy play centered on long-duration energy storage (LDES) using iron flow battery technology. For SCN’s retail investor base, we’ll cover what the company does, where it’s heading, the opportunities and risks, and how GWH might fit into a speculative or thematic portfolio.

U.S. equity markets took a modest step back on Thursday, coming off recent highs and digesting mixed signals across macro, policy, and valuation domains. The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow all slipped about 0.2% to 0.4% intraday, with volatility creeping into names that dominated earlier runs. euronews+3AP News+3Investors+3

Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (ticker: XBIO) is a small-cap biotech / immuno-oncology company pushing into a specialized niche of cancer therapy. Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.+2StockAnalysis+2 The core of its strategy is the development of a DNase-based oncology platform — specifically, the use of recombinant DNase I to target neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the tumor microenvironment. Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.+3Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.+3Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.+3

When most investors think about smartphones, their minds go straight to mainstream consumer devices like Apple’s iPhone or Samsung’s Galaxy line. But there’s another side of the market that doesn’t get as much attention: rugged smartphones.

Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC | NYSE: LAC) made waves on October 1 after confirmation that the U.S. government will acquire a 5% equity stake in the company and in its flagship Thacker Pass lithium-project joint venture.