Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insightsASX today – Good morning, and welcome to HotCopper‘s Market Open on Wednesday, Week 14, I’m Isaac McIntyre. Australian shares are heading for a rocket, with a 101-point advance on the horizon for investors after Washington and Tehran both signalled their Middle East conflict may soon end.Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and m ...

Core Viewpoint - American Rare Earths has engaged Tetra Tech to conduct an Oxides to Metals study for its heavy rare earths stream, aiming to enhance the U.S. domestic supply chain for rare earth metals and permanent magnets [1][2][3]. Group 1: Study Objectives and Importance - The study will evaluate options to convert separated heavy rare earth oxides from the Halleck Creek Project in Wyoming into metals, a crucial step before manufacturing permanent magnets for defense and advanced technology sectors [2][3]. - American Rare Earths aims to be part of the solution to reduce U.S. reliance on China, which currently dominates the midstream of the rare earth value chain [3][5]. - The Halleck Creek project is the largest known deposit of total contained rare earth oxides in North America, positioning the company strategically within the U.S. rare earth supply chain [6][10]. Group 2: Technological and Strategic Focus - The study will identify and evaluate technologies for converting heavy rare earth oxides to metals, including molten salt electrolysis and calciothermic reduction, focusing on essential elements like samarium, gadolinium, terbium, and dysprosium [7]. - A preferred technology will be selected, and a process flow diagram, mass balance, major equipment list, and preliminary capital and operating cost estimates will be developed [7]. - The integration of oxide to metal capabilities with planned refining operations in Wyoming is expected to provide strategic and operational benefits [7][8]. Group 3: Alignment with U.S. Policy and Market Needs - The initiative aligns with U.S. policy priorities that frame rare earths as a national security imperative, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains [8]. - By offering a U.S.-based source of critical heavy rare earth metals, American Rare Earths seeks to attract potential partners and customers [8][10]. - The company is committed to environmentally responsible mining practices and is collaborating with U.S. Government-supported R&D programs to innovate extraction and processing technologies [10].

Geopolitical Impact on Energy Sector - The Middle East is experiencing intense military confrontations, particularly following Iranian strikes on U.S. interests, leading to a paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical for global oil and LNG supply [2][9] - Shipping rates in the Strait of Hormuz have tripled, with tankers clustering on both sides of the chokepoint [2] - TotalEnergies reported significant profits due to surging crude prices, which are now above $90 per barrel, despite a 15% production loss from shutdowns in Iraq and Qatar [3][9] Market Reactions - Commodities and equities have reacted sharply, with platinum prices rising to $1,919.64 per ounce as investors seek safe-haven assets [4][9] - The Philippine stock index fell by 2.5% to 5,823.49 points, and India's NSE index opened down 1.18% [4][9] Industrial and Consumer Sector Effects - INEOS has warned of significant delays in its flagship project due to the maritime blockade [3][9] - Food companies are warning of renewed inflation as the war disrupts global logistics, prompting UK Ministers to explore targeted energy bill relief for vulnerable households [5][9] Corporate Strategy Shifts - SUMCO has indefinitely delayed its Saga wafer plant, shifting focus to AI-driven demand due to sluggish markets for smartphone and consumer electronics chips [6][9] - The U.S. government is investing $1.6 billion in USA Rare Earth to develop domestic mining and magnet facilities, aiming to reduce foreign dependencies [7][9] Healthcare Sector Developments - Eli Lilly is demanding higher drug prices from the NHS, seeking regular price increases and the phasing out of the rebate scheme as a condition for resuming investments in the UK [8][9] Macroeconomic Outlook - Analysts suggest the U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates by 25 basis points in both September and December despite geopolitical shocks [10] - Taiwan's central bank maintains about 5% of its foreign reserves in Chinese yuan, while Indian 10-year government bond yields have slightly decreased to 6.9051% [10]

Market Overview - US stock futures declined as Wall Street entered an Easter-shortened trading week, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures falling 0.5%, S&P 500 futures down 0.4%, and Nasdaq 100 futures also decreasing by 0.4% [1] - The Dow has entered correction territory, joining the Nasdaq, as market sentiment worsens due to ongoing geopolitical instability from the US-Israeli war with Iran [2] Corporate Earnings and Trends - The "Magnificent Seven" companies, which were previously favored for their AI focus, have collectively lost $850 billion in market value over the past week, primarily driven by significant losses from Meta and Google following a landmark lawsuit regarding their responsibilities in managing social media addiction [3] - Upcoming earnings reports from Nike may provide insights into consumer trends, while USA Rare Earth and Trilogy Metals will offer a health check on the minerals industry [5] Labor Market Indicators - Attention is focused on several labor market indicators, including the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and the ADP private payrolls report, with the March jobs report expected to be significant for investors seeking stability after recent fluctuations in job numbers [4]

Core Viewpoint - USA Rare Earth has experienced significant stock price fluctuations, initially doubling in January due to positive developments, but has since lost much of those gains, potentially finishing below $15 per share by the end of the month [1][7]. Company Developments - The company went public in late 2024 and gained attention due to geopolitical factors, particularly the U.S.-China trade dynamics, which highlighted the need for U.S. companies to reduce reliance on China for rare-earth elements [3]. - In January, the U.S. government committed $1.6 billion in funding and loans to USA Rare Earth, alongside $1.5 billion from private investors, allowing the company to advance its commercialization timeline to 2028, two years earlier than planned [5][6]. Financial Outlook - Despite recent stock price declines, USA Rare Earth is making progress, including an acquisition of Texas Mineral Resources for $73 million, which will provide an 18.6% interest in the Round Top rare-earth mining operation [8][9]. - Forecasts suggest that by 2030, the company could generate $2.6 billion in revenue, $1.2 billion in EBITDA, and $900 million in free cash flow, indicating significant upside potential given its current market cap of $3.8 billion [10]. Investment Considerations - The current stock price may be undervalued, presenting a potential long-term investment opportunity, although execution risks and the possibility of needing additional capital raises remain [11][12]. - A cautious approach is recommended for long-term investors, suggesting gradual accumulation of shares to capitalize on potential near-term weaknesses [13].

Industry Overview - Critical minerals, particularly rare-earth elements, are increasingly important amid escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China, with China dominating 70% of extraction and 90% of processing in this sector [1] - U.S. policymakers are responding to China's tightening of exports on key rare-earth elements by investing in domestic mining companies [2] Company: USA Rare Earth - USA Rare Earth has secured $3.1 billion in funding, including a $1.6 billion non-binding letter of intent from the U.S. Department of Commerce, which includes $1.3 billion in senior-secured loans and $277 million in direct funding, in exchange for a 10% equity stake [3] - The company plans to use this capital to expand its manufacturing facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma, focusing on producing sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets essential for various technologies [4] - USA Rare Earth has acquired Less Common Metals to secure feedstock for its Stillwater facility, aiming for commercial production in the first quarter of this year [6] - The company is also looking to develop the Round Top mine in Texas, which is rich in heavy rare-earth elements, with plans for commercial production starting in 2028 [7] Company: MP Materials - MP Materials operates the Mountain Pass rare-earth mine and processing facility in California, one of only two large-scale light rare-earth production facilities outside of China, and the only one in North America [8] - The company has entered a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, establishing a price floor of $110 per kilogram for its NdPr products over 10 years and granting the DoD a 15% ownership stake [9] - In the fourth quarter, MP Materials achieved a record production of 718 metric tons of NdPr oxide, a 74% year-over-year increase, and expects to expand its capacity to 3,000 metric tons of magnets annually [11] - The DoD has committed to purchasing 100% of the output from MP Materials' upcoming 10X facility, guaranteeing an annual minimum EBITDA of $140 million [12] Investment Comparison - Both USA Rare Earth and MP Materials are working to expand their mining and processing capabilities, with government funding supporting their efforts to establish a domestic supply chain for critical minerals [13] - MP Materials has a competitive advantage with its operational Mountain Pass mine and processing facility, while USA Rare Earth is still in the process of launching its Stillwater facility and developing the Round Top mine [14]

Core Viewpoint - MP Materials Corp is experiencing a decline in share price due to macroeconomic instability and internal selling pressure [1] Group 1: Market Conditions - Global markets are affected by escalating conflicts in the Middle East, including an attack on Iran's South Pars gas field and damage to Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility [2] - The Nasdaq has decreased by 0.72% and the S&P 500 has dropped by 0.58%, with the S&P 500 Materials sector falling by 2.4% [2] Group 2: Insider Selling - CFO Ryan Corbett sold $2.76 million in stock on March 17, reducing his total ownership by 26.28% [3] - General Counsel Elliot Hoops also sold shares in January and March, contributing to company-specific pressure [3] Group 3: Short Interest - Short interest has slightly declined from 24.79 million to 23.32 million shares, with 14.41% of the company's float sold short [4] - Based on average volume, it would take 4.85 days for shorts to cover their positions [4] Group 4: Technical Analysis - MP Materials is trading 11.3% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 12.2% below its 100-day SMA, indicating a pullback phase [5] - Despite the recent drop, shares are up 96.01% over the past 12 months and are closer to their 52-week low than high [5] - The RSI is at 45.71, indicating neutral territory, while the MACD is at -0.3727, below its signal line at -0.2347 [5] Group 5: Stock Price Activity - MP Materials shares were down 9.26% at $52.21 at the time of publication [6] - Key resistance level is at $61.50 and key support level is at $51.00 [6]

Core Viewpoint - Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. provides an update on the Virgin Mountain Rare Earth Property in Arizona, highlighting significant assay results from Lodestar Minerals Limited that indicate the presence of high-value heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) [1][4]. Group 1: Assay Results - Lodestar reported assay results from chip samples taken over the primary structural trend, with notable percentages of Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) and contained Heavy Rare Earth Oxides (HREO) [2]. - The samples showed varying TREO percentages, with the highest being 3.73% in sample CA050, and significant HREO content, particularly in samples CA052 and CA049 [2]. Group 2: Mineral Analysis - Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis confirmed xenotime as the dominant REE-bearing mineral, indicating the potential for heavy rare earth elements in the Virgin Mountain REE Project [3]. - The identification of xenotime is crucial as it contains a high proportion of valuable HREEs such as dysprosium, terbium, and lutetium, which are critically undersupplied in the USA [4]. Group 3: Geological Context - The samples with confirmed xenotime are from a mineralized shear zone within a mapped 5 km-long structure, hosted by Paleoproterozoic gneiss [5]. - A pie chart displaying the average REO distribution for all Lodestar Resources samples with TREO greater than 1% was included, illustrating the mineral composition [7].

Core Insights - Search Minerals Inc. has reported positive results from its 2025 channel sampling program at the Fox Run and three additional Critical Rare Earth Element (CREE) prospects in southeastern Labrador, indicating potential for additional mineralized zones [1][4][5]. Exploration Program Highlights - The 2025 program involved sampling at four prospects: Fox Run, Foxy Lady, Krazy Fox, and Silver Fox, with channel assay grades and widths comparable to the Foxtrot Open Pit Indicated Mineral Resource [2][3]. - The Fox Run Prospect is located approximately 2.5 km east of the Foxtrot Deposit and features CREE-enriched felsic peralkaline units, with channel samples showing widths ranging from 6.18m to 18.18m [7][10][17]. - The Foxy Lady Prospect confirmed the presence of two mineralized bands approximately 4m wide, with assay results similar to those of the Foxtrot Open Pit Indicated Mineral Resource [10][12]. - The Krazy Fox and Silver Fox Prospects are located within a continuous mineralized zone, with Krazy Fox showing higher values of Zr, Hf, and LREE compared to the Foxtrot deposit [13][16]. Assay Results - Channel sample highlights from the Fox Run Prospect include: - FRC-25-01: 164 ppm Dy, 1200 ppm Nd, 321 ppm Pr, 28.0 ppm Tb over 18.18m - FRC-25-03: 200 ppm Dy, 1476 ppm Nd, 402 ppm Pr, 33.7 ppm Tb over 7.08m - FLC-25-05: 194 ppm Dy, 1307 ppm Nd, 344 ppm Pr, 33.4 ppm Tb over 4.24m [10][11]. - The Silver Fox Prospect has been extended to over 1.6 km along strike, indicating a continuous mineralized trend [15][16]. Future Plans - The company plans to conduct additional excavator-supported channel sampling to further delineate the mineralized zones and advance the Fox Run Prospect toward "drill-ready" status [10][18]. - There are plans for excavator-supported trenching to evaluate the continuity and extent of mineralization at the Foxy Lady and Krazy Fox Prospects [12][14]. Company Overview - Search Minerals is focused on developing CREE, Zirconium (Zr), and Hafnium (Hf) resources in the Port Hope Simpson - St. Lewis CREE District, controlling a 63 km long and 2 km wide belt [22]. - The company has completed a preliminary economic assessment report with resource estimates for the Foxtrot and Deep Fox deposits and is optimizing its patented Direct Extraction Process technology [23].

Pilot plant will validate Aclara's proprietary rare earth separation technology, supporting production of separated rare earth oxides in the United States and accelerating the development of Aclara's industrial facility in Louisiana TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 19, 2026 / Aclara Resources Inc. ("Aclara" or the "Company") (TSX:ARA) is pleased to announce the inauguration of its rare earth separation pilot plant located at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. The facility represents a major milesto ...