As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 8,860.10 on Friday, down 0.27% in the past 5 days. 1. $EVOLUTION MINING LTD(EVN.AU)$ +13.26% The company reported record quarterly gold production of 191,000 ounces for the period ending December, driven by better performance at its Cowal and Mungari mines. This contributed to record group operating mine cash flow. Rising global gold prices (which were historically high) directly boosted the company's realized gold price to A$6,206 per ounce, significantly improving its financials and cash flow. EVN achieved a sector-leading all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$1,275 per ounce and reported a significant increase in cash flow. This strong cos

As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 8,903.90 on Friday, up 1.95% in the past 5 days.1. $Light & Wonder Inc(LNW.AU)$ +16.70%Light & Wonder's settlement of long-standing IP litigation removes a major uncertainty, with the market viewing the one-time payment as manageable. The deal reinforces the strength of its proprietary intellectual property and clears the way for the company to fully focus on its core growth and product innovation pipeline.The company secured an increased $1 billion revolving credit facility and received positive analyst ratings (e.g., from Citi and UBS), which boosted market confidence in its financial stability and growth momentum.2.

As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 8,717.80 on Friday, down 0.09% in the past 5 days.1. $BLUESCOPE STEEL LTD(BSL.AU)$ +24.28%Takeover bid received: On Jan 5, 2026, BlueScope got a non-binding all-cash offer of A$30/share from $SGH Ltd(SGH.AU)$ + $Steel Dynamics(STLD)$ , valuing the company at ~A$13.2bn.Premium, but rejected: The offer implied a 27% premium, but the board rejected it as significantly undervaluing BlueScope given strong standalone growth.Clear strategic logic: Proposal splits assets — SGH takes ANZ operations; Steel Dynamics acquires the North American business (incl. No

As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 8,697.30 on Friday, up 1.18% in the past 5 days.1. $Vault Minerals Ltd(VAU.AU)$ +8.74% & $NEWMONT CORP-CDI(NEM.AU)$ +8.58% & $EVOLUTION MINING LTD(EVN.AU)$ +6.33%Common Reasons：Gold prices surged above A$6,400/oz (equivalent to ~US$4,200+ globally) in early December, driven by expectations of US Fed rate cuts and geopolitical factors, boosting all ASX gold miners including VAU and NEM.Broader ASX 200 gains, particularly in mining and gold stocks, with the index up ~1.2% on December 11 and gold miners leading, amplifying VAU & NEM's upward

As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 8,634.60 on Friday, up 0.24% in the past 5 days.1. $Capstone Copper Corp(CSC.AU)$ +9.02%Record Copper Price: Benchmark copper hit new record highs on the LME, lifting all major producers including Capstone.Strong Broker Sentiment: A bullish analyst note released around this time prompted renewed investor buying interest.Operational Momentum: Successful ramp-up of key mines toward full capacity showcased strong execution.Market Outperformance: The stock’s dramatic ~90% rise since mid-2025 attracted momentum investors.2. $SOUTH32 LTD(S32.AU)$ +8.39%Australian resource stocks, including South32, ar

$PILBARA MINERALS LTD(PLS.AU)$ jumped 5.28% today, leading the XAO, as China’s lithium prices surged after Ganfeng Lithium chairman Li Liangbin said he expects battery-metal demand to grow 30% in 2026.Other major lithium names also rallied sharply: $LIONTOWN RESOURCES LTD(LTR.AU)$ +9.56, $MINERAL RESOURCES LTD(MIN.AU)$ +4.51%, $IGO LTD(IGO.AU)$ +4.06, $VULCAN ENERGY RESOURCES LTD(VUL.AU)$ +3.45%, and $Rio Tinto Ltd(RIO.AU)$ +2.22%.Across the U.S., Hong Kong, and Australia, lithium miners have been on a strong run this week,

As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 8,634.50 on Friday, down 1.79% in the past 5 days. 1. $PILBARA MINERALS LTD(PLS.AU)$ +30.38%The price of Lithium has risen significantly, increasing by about 21% over the past month to approximately US$1,001 per tonne, directly boosting the company's revenue prospects .The company's latest quarterly results showed exceptional cost control, with mining costs falling 13% and a 20% increase in the average realised sales price, leading to a 30% jump in quarterly revenue .China's new royalty framework for lithium has increased production costs for local miners, lifting the global cost floor for lithium and benefiting established Australian spod

The U.S. and Australia have signed a massive $8.5 billion rare-earth and critical-minerals deal, under which 30 key metals will flow from Australia to the United States. 🔥Companies listed by either the Australian government or the U.S. Export-Import Bank (US EXIM) in the first-round $8.5 billion financing list saw strong moves after the Oct 21 announcement.Each has clear 6–12 month catalysts such as final investment decisions (FID), offtake agreements, or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) approvals.Follow these ASX tickers directly 👇1️⃣ $ARAFURA RARE EARTHS LTD(ARU.AU)$ – Flagship Nolans NdPr ProjectGovernment + US EXIM commitments: > US$300 millionOutput: 4,400 tpa NdPr, 470 tpa mid/heavy REEs; mine life 38 yrsCatalyst: FID by Q4 2025, co

After months of uneasy calm, the U.S.–China trade tensions have flared up again.Former President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 100% tariffs on all Chinese goods, citing Beijing’s tightened controls over rare earth exports. In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce accused the U.S. of “double standards” and warned it would “not yield under threats.”Behind the diplomatic language lies a familiar geopolitical truth: rare earths have become the new battleground in the tech and trade war.Why Rare Earths MatterRare earths are not actually “rare” — they’re relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, but rarely found in economically viable concentrations. What makes them crucial is their unique magnetic and conductive properties, powering everything from EV motors and wind turbines to smart