Glencore and Rio Tinto restarted discussions about a possible merger that could create the world's largest mining company. ...

M&A Activity - Kerry Stokes' conglomerate is preparing another bid for BlueScope Steel (ASX:BSL) after a previous $13.2 billion approach was rejected by CEO Jane McAloon [4] - Glencore has restarted merger talks with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) to potentially create a $388 billion enterprise, with further details expected to unfold early this calendar year [5] Market Performance - ASX 200 futures gained +0.3%, influenced by a +0.5% advance in the Dow Jones, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down [2] - Australian market sentiments may shift mid-morning, as observed in previous Week 2 trading days [3] Economic Data - Upcoming global economic data includes China's consumer and price data and U.S. non-farm payrolls, which may impact market movements [3] Company Developments - NAB (ASX:NAB) plans to reintroduce local branches, envisioning "hubs" that will offer personal banking options alongside advisers, lawyers, and wealth managers [6] - Core Lithium (ASX:CXO) has seen a significant increase of +17% recently, reaching a two-year high, although it faced scrutiny for the rapid price increase [6] Commodity Prices - Iron Ore prices decreased by -0.7% to $108.25 per tonne, while Brent Crude rebounded by +5% to $62.81 per barrel [7] - Gold is priced at $4,486 per ounce, and U.S. natural gas futures fell by -3.5% to $3.40 per gigajoule [7]

The proposed merger of London-listed miner Anglo American and Canada's Teck Resources is heading for antitrust clearance in Europe after EU regulators signalled the absence of competition concerns, ac... ...

Glencore said on Thursday it was in early talks to be acquried by Rio Tinto , , in a combination that would potentially create the world's largest mining company. ...

Core Insights - The focus is on in-depth research of various companies across different sectors, particularly in commodities and technology, with a strong emphasis on metals and mining stocks [1] Group 1: Company Research - The company has over a decade of experience in researching industries such as oil, natural gas, gold, and copper [1] - The company has transitioned from writing a blog to creating a value investing-focused YouTube channel, indicating a shift in content delivery methods [1] - The company has researched hundreds of different companies, showcasing a broad scope of analysis [1] Group 2: Industry Focus - The company expresses a particular interest in metals and mining stocks, while also being comfortable with sectors like consumer discretionary/staples, REITs, and utilities [1]

Economic Indicators - US nonfarm payrolls are expected to increase by +70,000 in December, with the unemployment rate projected to decrease by -0.1% to 4.5% [1] - Average hourly earnings for December are anticipated to rise by 0.3% month-over-month and 3.6% year-over-year [1] - October housing starts are forecasted to increase by 1.8% month-over-month to 1.33 million, while building permits are expected to rise by 1.5% month-over-month to 1.35 million [1] Trade and Productivity - The US trade deficit unexpectedly shrank to -$29.4 billion in October, significantly better than the expected widening to -$58.7 billion, marking the smallest deficit in 16 years [2] - Q3 nonfarm productivity rose by +4.9%, close to expectations of +5.0%, representing the largest increase in two years [2] - Q3 unit labor costs fell by -1.9%, exceeding expectations of a -0.1% decline [2] Stock Market Performance - The S&P 500 Index is down -0.15%, while the Dow Jones is up +0.16%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index is down -0.67% [5] - Defense stocks are rallying following President Trump's announcement of plans to increase military spending to $1.5 trillion, with Northrop Grumman up more than +10% [4][14] - Chipmakers and software stocks are experiencing declines, with notable losses in companies like Sandisk and Autodesk, which are down more than -5% [11][12] International Markets - Overseas stock markets are generally lower, with the Euro Stoxx 50 down -0.22%, China's Shanghai Composite down -0.07%, and Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 down -1.63% [6] Earnings and Guidance - Helen of Troy Ltd has lowered its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $3.25-$3.75, below the consensus of $4.03, resulting in a decline of more than -12% in its stock [15] - Constellation Brands reported Q3 comparable net sales of $2.22 billion, exceeding the consensus of $2.16 billion, leading to a stock increase of more than +6% [17]

Core Viewpoint - Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims of potential securities fraud and unlawful business practices involving Ramaco Resources, Inc. and its officers and directors [1][2]. Group 1: Investigation Details - The investigation is prompted by allegations from Wolfpack Research that Ramaco's Brook Mine project is a "hoax" and that the company manipulated data to misrepresent its profitability [2]. - Following the allegations, Ramaco's stock price experienced a significant decline, falling by $3.81 per share, or 9.57%, closing at $36.01 per share on October 23, 2025 [2]. Group 2: Pomerantz LLP Background - Pomerantz LLP is recognized as a leading firm in corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation, with a history of over 85 years in fighting for victims of securities fraud and corporate misconduct [2]. - The firm has successfully recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards for class members [2].

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Core Viewpoint - Altius Minerals Corporation has reported an increase in the market value of its public junior equities portfolio, reflecting ongoing investment activities and a focus on project generation and exploration initiatives [1][2]. Portfolio Performance - The market value of Altius's equities portfolio rose to $49.3 million as of December 31, 2025, up from $44.0 million on September 30, 2025, with a net portfolio investment of approximately $1.3 million completed during the quarter [1]. Investment Activities - Altius participated in financing Centauri Minerals, increased its stake in Perseverance Metals Inc., and received shares from Altitude Minerals Ltd as part of the Firenze gold project transaction, retaining a 1.5% NSR royalty on the project [2]. - Shares in Eminent Gold Corp. were also received related to a previous sale of the Celts project, both projects stemming from an exploration alliance with Orogen Royalties Inc. [2]. Exploration Plans - Altius anticipates a busy exploration year with over 75,000 meters of planned discovery-oriented drilling across its portfolio companies, in addition to significant drilling at operating and development stage royalty projects [4]. Strategic Focus - The company continues to evaluate potential exploration alliances and junior equity investment opportunities to support royalty creation across various jurisdictions [5]. - Altius aims to create per share growth through a diversified portfolio of royalty assets aligned with sustainability trends, including the transition to renewable energy and increased demand for key commodities like copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and potash [7].

Company Overview - Proactive is a financial news publisher that provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company operates with a team of experienced and qualified news journalists, ensuring independent content production [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The news team delivers insights across various sectors, including biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all content is edited and authored by humans [5]