Australia considers implementing floor prices for essential minerals ahead of Trump meeting.
Australia's Critical Minerals Strategy: The Australian government is considering implementing mandated floor prices for critical minerals and investing in rare earth projects as part of a deal with the U.S., with discussions already underway with miners regarding a A$1.2 billion strategic reserve.
Geopolitical Context: This initiative is in response to rising tensions over China's dominance in the rare earth market and follows President Trump's threats of tariffs against Beijing's export controls, ahead of a scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and Trump.
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Australia Maintains Interest Rate, Signals Inflation Concerns
Reserve Bank of Australia Decision: The Reserve Bank of Australia maintained its cash rate at 3.6% in its final meeting of 2025, reflecting market expectations and the lowest borrowing costs since April 2023.
Inflation and Economic Indicators: While inflation has eased since its peak in 2022, recent data indicates a potential rise in broader price pressures, prompting the bank to adopt a cautious approach in policy reassessment.
Market Reactions: Following the monetary policy decision, the Australian dollar increased to approximately $0.663, and government bond yields reached their highest level since November 2023.
Business Confidence Decline: The NAB Business Confidence Index fell to 1 in November 2025, the lowest since April, indicating weakening business sentiment amid a gradually rising unemployment rate and slowing employment growth.
Australia's Trade Surplus Expands to AUD 4.39B in October as Strong Exports Exceed Record Imports
Trade Surplus Growth: Australia's goods trade surplus increased to AUD 4.39 billion in October 2025, exceeding expectations and marking the largest surplus since July, driven by a 3.4% rise in exports, particularly in non-monetary gold.
Import Trends: Goods imports also rose by 2.0% to AUD 41.59 billion, reflecting strong domestic demand and early festive-season stocking, despite a decline in exports to the U.S. and China.
Market Performance: The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.27% to around 8,570, with losses in gold stocks and rate-sensitive sectors offsetting gains in mining, while the Australian dollar strengthened to $0.661.
Economic Indicators: Despite a softer-than-expected GDP in Q3, the Australian economy continues to show growth, with a rebound in the manufacturing PMI signaling a return to growth.