EU, US near critical minerals pact to counter China’s grip

The European Union and the US are nearing a deal to coordinate critical minerals production and supply chains, aiming to reduce reliance on China. The proposed agreement, reported by Bloomberg News on Friday, would introduce incentives such as minimum pricing mechanisms to support non-Chinese suppliers, according to a draft action plan seen by the news outlet.  The plan also calls for cooperation …

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Oil Prices Surge Again – What It Means For Gold, Silver, And Crypto

Brent crude recently surged past the $100 threshold before a fleeting de-escalation pulled prices back toward $94. However, the respite proved temporary. Crude is once again on an upward trajectory, with Brent trading at $97.71 and WTI closely trailing at $97.40. This renewed momentum suggests that market participants remain deeply skeptical regarding the resolution of supply-side risks. With the Strait of Hormuz …

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Can Philippines become critical minerals powerhouse with help from US, Japan?

To curb China’s dominance in the sector, Manila has to cut red tape and fight corruption to draw US and Japanese investors. The US and Japan have an ambition to transform the Philippines into a critical minerals powerhouse and cut their reliance on China as part of a broader economic partnership, but analysts warn that a lack of commitment by Manila to introduce comprehensive reforms and tackle …

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Copper: From laggard to potential outperformer – Commerzbank

Commerzbank’s Thu Lan Nguyen notes Copper has turned into a top performer after being one of the weakest metals, pressured by rising LME stocks and mixed supply news. Possible stock sales and a Panama mine restart could cap prices near term, but sharply lower Chilean output suggests supply worries may dominate once growth fears ease, supporting higher Copper prices longer term. …

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Why Gold Is Surging With Silver and Why Experts Predict $7,000 Price in 2026

Gold surged to $4,850 per ounce today (Wednesday), April 8, 2026, gaining over 3% as the US-Iran two-week ceasefire triggered a sharp reversal in the dollar and oil markets. Silver outperformed with a nearly 7% rally to $77 per ounce, its highest level since March 18. The ceasefire announcement followed President Trump’s acceptance of a 10-point Iranian proposal as a …

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Rare earths need $60bn financing overhaul as China threat looms: IEA

International Energy Agency warns that China’s continued dominance of rare earth material supply chains is putting up to $6.5tr of global economic activity at risk every year. Around $60bn of investment is needed over the next decade to develop more diversified rare earth supply chains for clean and digital technologies, as China’s continuing dominance of these critical markets. Chinese export …

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Critical Minerals Become a Campaign Weapon in Brazil’s 2026 Presidential Race

Brazil critical minerals were a technical policy topic six months ago. Now they are a presidential campaign issue — with each major candidate staking out a position that reveals how they would manage the country’s most consequential foreign policy question: alignment with Washington, Beijing, or neither. The global race for the minerals that power electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, and …

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Goldman warns on copper as war threatens global economy

Copper is vulnerable to further declines if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, Goldman Sachs Group warned as metals markets brace for President Donald Trump‘s deadline for Iran to agree a deal or face sweeping attacks on civilian infrastructure. “We see the near-term risks as skewed to the downside if strait flows remain disrupted for longer than our base case, which would keep energy prices …

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Aluminium and War: Gulf outages tighten global balance – ING

Chinese exporters of aluminium products are now expected to have a much better year as the Iran war tightens global supply and boosts margins, with some earlier forecasts for flat shipments revised sharply higher. The Gulf accounted for roughly 9% of global supply before the war but most of that has been trapped by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Moreover, …

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