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Commodities

Today

The strategists saw Donald Trump’s new world order approaching.

Trump’s ‘Chuck Norris’ moment is about more than petrol prices

The US promises change in Venezuela and traders immediately think about the oil numbers. But there is a bigger message for us in Australia.

This Month

The ASX has started 2026 in

ASX makes firm start to 2026, snapping four-day losing streak

The Australian sharemarket shrugged off early losses to edge higher in the first session of 2026, buoyed by energy stocks.

SpaceX supplier buys into $3.6b Nickel Industries project

The ASX-listed nickel miner and processor says the deal with South Korea’s Sphere Corp could open up more opportunities to supply the US aerospace market.

A precious metal sell off may weigh on miners on Friday.

ASX set for soggy start to 2026 as inflation threat looms

A retreat in precious metals and crude prices is likely to weigh on resources stocks and the broader sharemarket on the first trading day of the year.

China’s beef imports have surged in recent years, along with rising incomes, but domestic production has also climbed as the government urged farmers to raise more cattle at home.

China imposes beef quotas, now all eyes on Australia’s EU trade deal

The Australian Meat Industry Council said it was “extremely disappointed” and warned beef exports to China could fall by about a third from recent levels.

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Market participants have suggested that the CME’s margin adjustments helped push prices lower this week, by prompting some bullish traders to reduce their positions.

CME lifts precious-metal margins again after price swings

The decision is an effort by the exchange to calm trading after an historic year-end surge in volatility across precious metals markets.

December 2025

The ASX opened on a firm note on the final day of trading this year.

ASX ends 2025 with a whimper for weakest annual rise in 3 years

The Australian sharemarket extended losses in a shortened final session, resulting in less than a 7 per cent gain for the year, lagging overseas peers.

One-ounce Britannia silver coins at a London bullion dealer.

Silver rises after biggest one-day drop in more than five years

A lingering supply shortage is helping to keep the metal on track for a 33 per cent monthly gain even after exchanges lifted margin requirements.

Local shares are set for a muted open amid a sharp sell-off in the precious metals’ complex.

ASX extends losing streak as BHP, gold miners fall

Australian shares nudged lower as declines for precious metals miners and real estate stocks cancelled gains by Santos and Origin.

The ASX ended lower on Monday in the final trading week of 2025.

ASX falls as tech weighs; DroneShield slumps but Star soars

The sharemarket fell 0.4 per cent, but Rio Tinto hit a record high, and Weebit Nano surged after signing a licence agreement with Texas Instruments.

Silver and gold continue their relentless rise.

ASX set to slip as record gold and silver prices to boost miners

Futures indicate that the S&P/ASX 200 will open slightly down on Monday, following a 1.6 per cent rise last week.

Donald Trump

Dump these 2 assets right now (and buy these surprise stocks)

The resilience in many assets in 2025 despite Donald Trump’s ructions means investors should offload some of their winning positions and diversify in 2026.

Retail demand remains high for gold and silver bullion.

Gold, silver and platinum prices hit record amid buying frenzy

Retail investors who recently queued up to buy physical gold in Sydney’s Market Place are now profitable following a stunning burst in prices.

Fortescue ships first product from Belinga iron ore project in Gabon.
History has been made in Gabon with Fortescue’s first product from its Belinga iron ore project ready for shipment, marking the first time the Company has exported iron ore from a port outside of Australia. 
Image Supplied by Fortescue

Fortescue aims for 2030 debut in African iron ore

The miner says it will liaise directly with the Gabonese president over development of the Belinga project to be shipping by 2030.

CATL’s massive Jianxiawo lithium mine has been shut since August.

Lithium markets hit fever pitch as China revokes more permits

Spodumene prices have rocketed from their June lows, but analysts are tipping even more explosive gains in the new year.

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Analysts expect the wave of fresh supply from Guinea will tip iron ore markets into a surplus next year.

Iron ore tipped to plunge into a bear market in 2026

Westpac expects prices of Australia’s key export to collapse by 20 per cent as China slashes its steel output. The federal government is even more bearish.

Rio Tinto has approved early work to begin at its prized Rhodes Ridge project in WA’s vast Pilbara.

Rio Tinto begins work on Pilbara’s ‘last crown jewel’

The mining giant has approved early work to begin on the mammoth Rhodes Ridge iron ore project in Western Australia.

Gold jewellery for sale in Shenzhen, China. The price of precious metals and copper has soared, pushing up returns at resources funds.

Mining funds declare new ‘commodity boom’ as returns explode

Some funds have doubled investors’ money over the past year amid a surge in precious metal and copper prices, which is even boosting industry laggards.

SG Hiscock’s Rory Hunter.

‘Let your winners run’: How this fundie returned 50pc in 2025

The planets aligned for small-cap investors thanks to bull market in commodities. The head of emerging companies at SG Hiscocks says the rally has just begun.

Copper

‘Harder to find’: Inside the growing global hunt for copper

Data centres and green grids are heavy users of the red metal, but mine supply is stagnating, and new discoveries are rare.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/commodities-5vv