"I think anyone who buys quality mining stocks or mining services stocks now
Is going to have a hell of a year"
i think you are on the money there.
base metal prices are breaking out of a 5 year pattern. there are still plenty of midcap stage miners trading at microcap prices, and of them, more than a handful with quality management, projects, and backing.
but it's more of a buy and hold time for these sort of companies. meanwhile, i think there seems to be a few more short term squeezes available in the bio's, even though the sector and XHJ seem to have run their course.
anything sub $20m with phase 2s or marketed products still has room for a safe and rewarding trade.
all up it could be a phenomenal year if people play the right approachs to the right sectors.