The UK government is preparing to line up managers to take control of tycoon Sanjeev Gupta’s steelworks should they fall into liquidation https://t.co/yB56BzVPjs ...

Market Trends - Iron ore prices declined for six consecutive days [1] - Chinese production cuts in a major steelmaking hub are having less impact than anticipated [1]

Trade Policy - US Department of Commerce will increase tariffs on over 400 steel and aluminum derivative products [1] - The tariff increase affects steel and aluminum components in products like wind turbines, mobile cranes, bulldozers, railway vehicles, furniture, and other heavy equipment [1] - A 50% tariff will be imposed on any steel and aluminum components within the 407 product categories added to the list [1] - The tariffs will also affect steel-derived household appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators [2] - This is the second expansion of the list of derivative products affected by import tariffs since the initial increase in March [3] - The initial tariff on imported steel and aluminum was 25%, which is now being increased to 50% [3] - The new tariffs on steel-derived appliances will take effect from June 23 [2]

Mexico will propose reinstating a North American steel committee to improve trade ties with the US and reduce reliance on Asian steel imports, according to a top trade official. https://t.co/UrM81Vrse7 ...

The Trump administration said it will step up scrutiny of imports of steel, copper, lithium and other materials from China to enforce a US ban on goods allegedly made with forced labor in the country’s Xinjiang region https://t.co/gu7zlWXKMd ...

Core Insights - Warren Buffett was a net seller of stocks for the 11th consecutive quarter in Q2 2025, but he also invested $3.9 billion in 12 stocks, including three new positions [1][3] - Half of the purchases involved increasing existing positions, notably in Chevron and Lennar Class B [3][4] - New positions were initiated in Allegion, Lamar Advertising, and UnitedHealth Group [5] Investment Highlights - Heico is the biggest winner among Buffett's Q2 purchases, closely followed by Allegion and Nucor [6] - Lennar and D.R. Horton have the lowest valuations based on forward price-to-earnings ratios [6] - UnitedHealth Group has the most attractive price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio at 1.24 among the 12 stocks [7] Growth Projections - Nucor is projected to have nearly 32.5% earnings growth next year, with Chevron at around 24.4% [8] - Constellation Brands is favored by analysts, with a 12-month price target reflecting an upside potential of around 22% [9] Dividend Yields - Lamar Advertising has the highest forward dividend yield at 5.09%, followed by Chevron at 4.39% [10] Best Investment Choice - UnitedHealth Group is highlighted as the best investment among the 12 stocks, with a significant investment of approximately $1.57 billion from Buffett [11] - Despite challenges such as higher medical costs and investigations into Medicare billing practices, these issues are believed to be reflected in the current share price [12]

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway disclosed its equity holdings at the end of the second quarter, revealing significant investment moves and stock positions [1][2] Group 1: T-Mobile - Berkshire Hathaway completely exited its position in T-Mobile, which was valued at over $1 billion, after initiating the position in late 2020 [3] - T-Mobile's stock has increased over 120% in the past five years and was up about 16.5% as of August 15, 2023, with strong second-quarter earnings reported [5][6] - The company initiated a dividend in 2023, aiming for a 10% annual growth, but Berkshire may view the stock as fairly priced given its high forward price-to-earnings ratio above 23 [6] Group 2: Nucor - Berkshire Hathaway purchased Nucor, a steel company, in the first quarter, with a position valued at over $850 million by the end of the second quarter [7][8] - Nucor is gaining attention from AI investors due to its production of steel parts for data centers, with the stock up about 215% over the past five years and 27% this year [9] - Despite a significant decline in earnings compared to last year and lower third-quarter guidance, Nucor is expected to benefit from President Trump's 50% steel tariffs, which may allow for easier price increases [10][11]

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway made significant moves in Q2 2025, notably purchasing over 5 million shares in UnitedHealth Group, capitalizing on a 48% decline in the stock price during the quarter [1] - The firm also initiated positions in major homebuilders Lennar and D.R. Horton, as well as the largest steel producer Nucor, with these positions being kept confidential until now [2][3] Investment Moves - **New Positions**: Berkshire initiated positions in Lennar (approximately 7 million Class A shares worth $780 million), D.R. Horton (1.5 million shares worth $191 million), and Nucor (6.6 million shares worth $857 million) [3] - **Performance**: D.R. Horton reported strong earnings, contributing to a rally in homebuilding stocks, while Nucor benefited from steel tariffs, recovering from an 11% decline to a 25% increase by mid-August [4] Exits and Reductions - **Exit**: Berkshire fully exited its $1 billion stake in T-Mobile US, a move interpreted as profit-taking rather than a lack of confidence, with T-Mobile shares delivering a total return of approximately 114% since the initial investment [5][6] - **Reductions**: The firm reduced its stake in Apple by nearly 7%, marking the first reduction since Q3 2024, despite Apple shares experiencing a decline of over 7% in Q2 [8][9] - **Charter Communications**: Berkshire's shares in Charter dropped by over 46%, with the stock underperforming compared to the S&P 500 since the initial investment [9][10] Increased Holdings - **Pool Corporation**: Berkshire significantly increased its position in Pool from approximately 1.46 million to 3.46 million shares, a 137% increase, despite a 10% decline in the stock during Q2 [12][13] Cash Position - Berkshire Hathaway is holding a near-record cash position of $344 billion, indicating a cautious approach to investing in the current market [14]

Summary of China Basic Materials Monitor - August 2025 Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **China Basic Materials** industry, highlighting recent trends in commodity prices and demand dynamics. Key Points Demand and Supply Dynamics - End-user orderbooks remained stable month-over-month (MoM) as of mid-August, indicating a lack of inspiring demand, particularly in infrastructure and renewables sectors [1] - Current Chinese demand for cement and construction steel is estimated to be **3-7% lower year-over-year (YoY)**, while demand for copper and aluminum is **6-11% lower YoY**. Flat steel demand has increased by **5% YoY** [1] - The average prices of main commodities have increased by **2-13% sequentially** in August, marking the first broad price hikes since April 2021 [1] Price Trends - Significant price increases were noted in **lithium** and **met coal**, leading the price hikes in upstream commodities [1] - Improved margins in steel have delayed production cuts, while higher lithium prices are expected to enhance global supply flexibility [1] Supply Policies - New safety standards and controls on coal overproduction are being implemented, along with proposed technical specifications for monitoring cement production and clean-ups in lithium mining licenses [1] - Supply policies are still in early stages but indicate a positive direction for the industry [1] Producer Feedback - A proprietary survey indicated that **26%** of respondents in downstream sectors reported a MoM increase in orders, while **31%** in basic materials reported the same. Conversely, **17%** and **16%** indicated a lower MoM trend [2] Margins and Pricing Stability - Recent weeks have shown improved margins/pricing for steel, coal, and lithium, while cement, aluminum, and copper prices have remained mostly stable [1] Additional Insights - The report suggests that the current trends in the basic materials sector are influenced by both domestic demand fluctuations and regulatory changes aimed at stabilizing supply and prices [1][2] - The stability in downstream order books, despite the overall weak demand, may indicate a cautious optimism among producers regarding future market conditions [2] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the August 2025 China Basic Materials Monitor, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of the industry and its future outlook.

BlueScope Steel’s full-year underlying profit falls 51%, as a surplus of global steel capacity continued to weigh on prices and higher costs ate into margins https://t.co/AmGZSZVgrH ...