Inflation fears are rippling through industrial metals. Here's where prices could go next
Industrial metals have been volatile this week as mounting inflation fears put further pressure on global bond markets.
· Chloe Taylor, Joseph Wilkins
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Newest first · UTC+11:00France seeks stronger UAE ties before investment event in Paris | The National
The UAE is an important market and an increasingly strategic economic partner, Business France chief executive Louis Margueritte has told The National.
· Clotilde Bigot
Indonesia's new export control rattles commodity buyers: 5 things to know
Indonesia, the world's largest exporter of thermal coal, palm oil and nickel, is set to take control of exports of these commodities and potentially "other strategic mineral resources" through newly-established Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
· ISMI DAMAYANTI
Critical nails global licence for battery cooling tech
Critical Resources has added a fresh layer to its battery technology ambitions after locking in a worldwide exclusive licence over battery cooling tech from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, through the university’s commercial arm NTUitive.
· Doug Bright
Budget: whopping subsidies, private health profiteering as waiting lists rise
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· Claudia Weisenberger
Treasury yields resume climb as traders monitor inflation risks
Treasury yields resumed their march higher on Thursday, with borrowing costs rising across the curve as investors' attention returned to the inflationary pressures facing the U.S. economy.
· Hugh Leask
Seoul shares rally over 8% on tech gains after Samsung wage deal, Nvidia outlook; won rises
South Korean stocks spiked more than 8 percent Thursday on tech gains, after Samsung Electronics averted a strike and strong earnings from Nvidia, along with optimism over its robotics business outlook, boosted investor sentiment. The local currency gained ground against the US dollar.
· Yonhap
No, the Iran War won’t ground your European holiday flight
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· Javier Blas
Where Inflation Is Highest In Europe In 2026
Inflation has eased from its recent peaks, but price growth remains stubbornly high across much of Europe.
· Tyler Durden
Seoul shares rally over 8 pct on tech gains after Samsung wage deal, Nvidia outlook; won rises
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks spiked more than 8 percent Thursday on tech gains, after Samsung Electronics averted a strike and strong earnings from Nvidia, along with optimism over its robotics business outlook, boosted investor sentiment. The local currency gained ground against the U.S. dollar.
· Kim Eun-jung
Japan’s megabanks post record profits, but analysts warn growth may slow as risks mount
Japan's largest banks posted record annual profits in their latest financial results, but earnings growth could slow as credit costs rise and geopolitical risks cloud the outlook, analysts say.
· Justina Lee
PTT pivots to LNG trading as Middle East turmoil drives price volatility
PTT CEO Kongkrapan Intarajang speaks at a news conference on May 20 in Bangkok as the state energy group shifts toward LNG trading to tap rising price volatility in global markets. (Photo by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat)
· APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT
Israel's defense industry races to develop defenses against Hezbollah's deadly fiber-optic drones
Israel Aerospace Industries and other defense companies in Israel have presented the Defense Ministry and the IDF with a range of solutions to address the threat of explosive drones operated via fiber optics.
· AVI ASHKENAZI
West Wits bags A$74.4M funding for South African gold push
West Wits Mining has bagged a major ZAR 875 million (A$74.4M) senior funding deal with two of South Africa’s most heavy-hitting financial institutions, Absa Bank and Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking.
· Murray Ward
S. Korea, IDB discuss bilateral cooperation building on AI
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) agreed to seek closer cooperation in carrying out development projects in Latin America using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, the finance ministry said Thursday.
· Kang Yoon-seung
Offshore retail investors to be allowed ETF trading via omnibus accounts: chief regulator
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the country's financial regulator said Thursday his agency will soon revise regulations for offshore retail investors so they can buy and sell exchange-traded funds (ETFs) via so-called omnibus accounts, a move aimed at attracting more foreign capital into the domestic stock ma…
· Park Sang-soo
Mum wins WFH rights, late start, for school drop off
A Sydney mother has beaten back an attempt to force her into the office twice a week, after the Fair Work Commission ruled she was allowed her to work from home all but one day a fortnight, when she is allowed to arrive late to let her drop her children at school.
· Jessica Yun
Iran’s insurance, NATO intervention, and cables under threat: What’s going on in the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz – a critical chokepoint accounting for 20% of seaborne oil trade prior to the US-Israeli war against Iran – remains effectively blocked despite the tentative ceasefire. The traffic has ground to a halt due to the risks posed by mines, recurring attacks, and ship seizures, as well as insurers’ re…
· RT
READ MORE: Iran’s insurance, NATO intervention, and cables under threat: What’s going on in the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz – a critical chokepoint accounting for 20% of seaborne oil trade prior to the US-Israeli war against Iran – remains effectively blocked despite the tentative ceasefire. The traffic has ground to a halt due to the risks posed by mines, recurring attacks, and ship seizures, as well as insurers’ re…
· RT
Alibaba signals next phase of AI growth from investment to commercialisation
Chinese e-commerce and cloud computing giant forecasts 30 billion yuan AI revenue in 2026, with agents driving more than half of cloud sales
· Wency Chen
Alibaba signals next phase of AI growth from investment to commercialisation
Chinese e-commerce and cloud computing giant forecasts 30 billion yuan AI revenue in 2026, with agents driving more than half of cloud sales
· Wency Chen
Financial firms vow support for shippers hit by Middle East war
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the country's financial regulator said Thursday that local insurers and other financial firms will provide full support to small and mid-sized shipping companies hit by the war between the United States and Iran in the Middle East.
· Park Sang-soo
ABC chair hits back at News Corp’s ‘divisive’ antisemitism reporting
ABC chair Kim Williams has hit out at “inflammatory” and “divisive” media critics after News Corp published a piece attacking the national broadcaster’s coverage of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
· Calum Jaspan
Second mega-club in firing line over dirty cash claims
The financial crimes watchdog has ordered the state’s second most profitable club to appoint an external auditor to assess whether it has left itself open to criminal infiltration, as it broadens its crackdown on money laundering in suburban clubs.
· Harriet Alexander
Presidential office pledges active support for reasonable labor-management settlement
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office on Thursday pledged to provide active support for companies and labor unions to settle negotiations in a reasonable manner, emphasizing the impact that labor-management disputes can have on the economy.
· Park Boram
Cambodia raids buildings linked to Chen Zhi, Chinese billionaire accused of scam empire
104 people, including 82 Chinese nationals, detained in Phnom Penh raids as governments around world crack down on scam business
· Phoebe Zhang
Cambodia raids buildings linked to Chen Zhi, Chinese billionaire accused of scam empire
104 people, including 82 Chinese nationals, detained in Phnom Penh raids as governments around world crack down on scam business
· Phoebe Zhang
Iran studies US proposal, GCC trade deal with UK and prisoners pardoned for Eid | The National
In today's episode of Trending Middle East, Tehran receives Washington’s latest proposal to end the war and is reviewing its terms, Iranian media has reported.
· The National
Mazda bets on flagship CX-5 SUV, boosting sales amid rise of Chinese rivals
Mazda unveils the newest version of CX-5 SUV during a press conference in Tokyo on May 21. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
· Staff Writer
Religious Zionist Party crosses threshold, strengthening coalition even as Likud weakens - poll
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud continued to weaken in a new Maariv poll published Thursday, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party (RZP) crossed the electoral threshold for the first time in nearly six months.
· MOSHE COHEN
Ex-Trump chief says U.S. trade protectionism to continue even after Trump
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- Mick Mulvaney, former acting White House chief of staff during U.S. President Donald Trump's first administration, said Thursday that U.S. trade protectionism is likely to continue even after Trump's second term.
· Kim Han-joo
Today in Korean history
1882 -- Korea's Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and the United States reach a trade agreement.
· Kim Han-joo
AI frenzy sees these European stocks gain over 100% this year in blockbuster rally
The AI boom is dominated by companies from the U.S. and China, but a handful of European tech stocks have soared this year as investors pile money into the companies building the infrastructure needed to power the tech.
· Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Arafura Rare Earths mine gets green light to challenge China's dominance
Topic:Mining and Metals Industry
· Charles Geary
Samsung shares soar as strike averted, but bonuses of $416,000 for some stoke concern
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· Victor Barreiro Jr.
Chinese EV makers awaken Western rivals' zombie production lines
A Stellantis automobile plant in Poissy, near Paris, on May 4: The automaker has tightened ties with Chinese partners Leapmotor and Dongfeng, in part to address underused European capacity. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
James Murdoch, media scion, strikes deal for New York Magazine and Vox
NEW YORK — Promising a commitment to "ambitious journalism and agenda-setting conversations,” media scion James Murdoch has struck a deal with the Vox Media digital company to acquire New York magazine, the Vox Media Podcast Network and the Vox editorial brand.
· Associated Press
Two grandmothers, a mother and daughter, a doctor: What we know about the 11 Australians in an Israeli prison
Newcastle mother Joanne Jaworowski was informed by this masthead this morning that consular officials from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be visiting her son, who is detained in Israel, for a welfare check today.
· Bronte Gossling, Nick Newling
Locksley jags rich antimony beneath old Californian mine
Locksley Resources has delivered a major geological win at its Mojave project in California, with the maiden diamond drilling program at the historical Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) confirming high-grade mineralisation extends well below the old underground workings.
· Murray Ward
DA files complaints with Ombudsman vs Public Works officials, private contractors over ghost road projects in Davao Occidental
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has filed complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman against several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and private contractors over ghost farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in Davao Occidental.
· Giselle P. Jordan
From death threats to business success
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Google unveils smart glasses, taking on Meta
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California — Google on Tuesday unveiled the design of new smart glasses, returning to a market the tech giant tried — and failed — to crack more than a decade ago.
· Agence France-Presse
Samsung Electronics to ramp up share buybacks to fund chip bonus
Samsung Electronics is expected to accelerate its treasury share buyback to fund a special bonus for its chip employees under a tentative labor agreement reached to avert a planned strike, Herald Business reported on Thursday.
· Im Eun-byel
Viking uncovers hidden tungsten prize in Nevada stockpile
Viking Mines has added serious at-surface weight to its historic Linka tungsten project in Nevada, after discovering two previously unrecognised historical rock stockpiles sitting right on top of the ground next to the old Conquest mine.
· Murray Ward
HD Hyundai joins TerraPower’s Natrium reactor supply chain
HD Hyundai said Thursday that its shipbuilding arm HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a framework agreement with TerraPower to supply key components for next-generation sodium-cooled nuclear reactors, strengthening its push into the global small modular reactor market.
· Lee Han-gyoul
Advance goes all-in on emerging high-grade gold plays in Victoria
Fresh off a string of high-grade drill hits and stellar metallurgical results, Advance Metals has moved to consolidate its ownership of the high-grade Myrtleford and Beaufort gold projects in Victoria’s goldfields.
· Andrew Todd
Why the logic of trade must change | The National
For decades, globalisation rested on a comfortable assumption: goods would flow. Oil through Hormuz, containers through Suez, grain across the Black Sea and semiconductors out of East Asia. The system was imperfect but efficient, rewarding speed, scale and the cheapest route. That era is not ending — it has ended.
· Yasar Jarrar
'Very strong' El Niño expected late 2026 could worsen food, energy inflation, according to market study
MANILA, Philippines — The country could face renewed pressure on rice prices and food security as the risk of a very strong El Niño continued to rise, Metrobank Wealth Insights said, potentially disrupting agricultural output across major rice-exporting countries.
· Niña Myka Pauline Arceo
Australia’s unemployment rate jumps to 4.5% in ‘tentative signs labour market is buckling’
Surprise rise in jobless rate will give Reserve Bank more reason to delay another interest rate hike at June meeting
· Patrick Commins
DA sues DPWH officials over ‘ghost’ farm-to-market roads in Davao Occidental
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
· Iya Gozum