Group 1: Market Overview - The year 2025 is notable for gold and silver reaching new highs, marking one of their best years on record [1] - Industrial metals such as copper, aluminum, steel, and lithium have also seen significant price increases driven by the AI build-out and energy transition [2] Group 2: Price Movements - Copper prices have increased by over 34% year to date, while hot-rolled coil steel and aluminum have risen by 27% and 14%, respectively; lithium prices have also surged by 30% [4] Group 3: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The demand for industrial metals is being driven by the AI revolution and energy transition, while supply pressures have also contributed to rising prices [5] - Environmental disasters have hampered global copper supply, including flooding at Ivanhoe's Kamoa-Kakula complex and incidents in Chile and Indonesia [6] - In the lithium market, a suspension of operations by the Chinese government at a major mining site has led to soaring prices [7] Group 4: Geopolitical Factors - Geopolitical risks and government actions, such as export bans, can directly benefit price appreciation in the metals market [8]