Group 1 - Apple plans to invest $500 million in MP Materials, the only operating rare earth mining company in the U.S., marking a strong support for the domestic critical mineral supply chain [1] - The agreement includes Apple's procurement of U.S.-made rare earth magnets from MP Materials' Texas facility, seen as a significant outcome of the current administration's strategy to strengthen domestic supply chains [1][2] - Following the announcement, MP Materials' stock surged by 12% in pre-market trading, building on a previous 48% increase, reaching a three-year high [1] Group 2 - The collaboration between Apple and MP Materials will involve constructing a new recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California, to process materials from old electronics for future Apple products [2] - Plans also include building a new factory in Fort Worth, Texas, to produce magnets for Apple products and other global electronic devices, aiming to reduce reliance on overseas suppliers [2] - A senior White House official stated that this investment is a significant victory for the administration, benefiting the nation and American workers while being a sound business move for Apple [2] Group 3 - Just days before Apple's investment announcement, the U.S. Department of Defense revealed a $400 million investment in MP Materials, acquiring a 15% stake and committing to purchase products at double the current market price for a 10-year period [2] - MP Materials described the government investment as a "transformative public-private partnership," initiating efforts to accelerate the construction of a domestic rare earth magnet supply chain and reduce foreign dependency [2] - Rare earth elements are crucial for manufacturing strong magnets used in defense technologies, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and smartphones [2]