Paul Tudor Jones sees potential market rally after late October
Investing.com-- Australian rare earth stocks rose on Tuesday, extending their recent rally as increased export controls by major producer China ramped up bets on tighter global rare earth supplies.
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:LYC), the biggest rare earths producer outside China, rose 3.4%, while Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX:ILU) and Northern Minerals (ASX:NTU) rallied 14.7% and 43%, respectively. Arafura Resources Ltd (ASX:ARU) jumped 18.3%, with the sector outpacing a flat performance in the ASX 200 index.
Rare earth stocks were on a tear this week after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened 100% trade tariffs against China over the country’s new export controls on rare earths.
Trump’s threat– which was rejected by Beijing– drove up concerns that China will further restrict its rare earth exports, in turn limiting global supplies. The country is the world’s biggest exporter of rare earths, and has consistently used them as a bargaining chip in its ongoing trade conflict with the United States.
China had earlier in October added several more rare earth elements to its list of controlled exports, while also adding equipment related to rare earth production.
Beijing issues licenses allowing local producers to export rare earth materials, and had stopped issuing licenses earlier this year during the height of a trade war with the United States.
While the country did reopen its rare earth exports after signing a framework trade deal with the U.S. in May, Trump has repeatedly called on Beijing to further loosen its hold on the sector.
The Trump administration was also seen investing in a host of non-Chinese rare earth producers to limit its dependence on China for the materials. Rare earths are used in a variety of applications, ranging from consumer electronics to defense equipment.
Chinese rare earth stocks had also risen sharply on Beijing’s new export controls, but faced some consolidation and profit-taking on Tuesday.
Chinese and U.S. officials were seen attempting some reconciliation, although China’s commerce ministry warned that the country will “fight to the end” in a trade war.