Gold prices surged across major Indian cities on August 20, 2026, as jewellers like Tanishq and Malabar raised 22k rates following a global precious metals rally driven by US Treasury liquidity support.
President Donald Trump has suspended planned 50% tariffs on Canadian goods after reaching a tentative trade deal with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The move averts duties on $20 billion worth of imports, including hockey sticks and wine.
Sunrise Energy Metals' shares rose 29% after the US Department of Defense committed $400M in debt financing for the development of the world's first primary scandium mine in Australia, aiming to reduce dependence on China for rare earth elements.
Sunrise Energy Metals shares surged up to 29% after securing a $400 million U.S. loan commitment to develop the world's first primary scandium mine in Australia, aiming to counter China's mineral dominance.
在五角大廈承諾投資4億美元後，澳洲Sunrise Energy Metals將在新南威爾斯州興建全球首座主要開採稀土「鈧」的礦場，旨在降低西方國家對中國供應的依賴。
Le Pentagone a promis un prêt de 400 millions de dollars pour financer la construction d'une mine de scandium en Australie par l'entreprise Sunrise Energy Metals, afin de sécuriser l'approvisionnement de l'Occident face au quasi-monopole de la Chine.
The White House added 43 Chinese companies to a blacklist under the Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act, citing alleged forced labor in Xinjiang. Beijing condemned the move as a "classic act of economic coercion," marking the third US measure against China this week.
Fast Metals, a startup, has raised $4.3M to develop a chemistry-based process to extract valuable minerals like titanium and rare-earth elements from red mud, a waste product of aluminum refining, making the process economically viable.
Chinese researchers create tantalum-based alloy retaining strength at 2,400°C, surpassing 2,000°C limit of most metals, with potential for aerospace, hypersonic vehicles, and nuclear reactors.
RMIT University scientists developed a reusable magnetic material that removes over 95% of micro- and nanoplastics, heavy metals, and drug residues from water within an hour. The cost-effective technology, showing early promise against PFAS, is being tested for commercial deployment in Australia, the US, and Europe.
Environmental groups and space experts warn that proposed orbital datacenters by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin could cause catastrophic pollution, altering Earth's atmosphere and ozone layer. A petition to the FCC demands a pause on new licenses, citing federal law violations and insufficient environmental impact assessments for millions of planned satellites.
Gold and silver have rallied recently after a period of selling pressure, but analysts are divided on their path back to all-time highs. ING attributes gains to bargain hunting, while Bank of America warns of further gold deterioration. UBS is skeptical of a silver rebound, but Hycroft Mining's CEO remains bullish on fundamentals.
CuspAI, a Cambridge-based AI startup, secured $450m (£330m) in Series B funding from investors including Jeff Bezos and the UK government, valuing it at $2.6bn. The company aims to develop AI-powered software to discover new materials, reducing research times and reliance on rare metals for chipmakers and other industries.
Precious metals are expected to remain under pressure due to geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, upcoming inflation data, and economic indicators influencing global interest rates. The US-Iran conflict, rising oil prices, and a stronger dollar are key factors.
South Korea and Mongolia will establish a ministerial committee on rare metals later this year to enhance cooperation on critical mineral supply chains. The move follows a meeting between Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and his Mongolian counterpart, Gongor Damdinnyam, in Ulaanbaatar.
A class-action lawsuit alleges Costco sold Orgain Organic Protein Powder containing toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic without warning consumers. Plaintiffs cite testing by Clean Label Project and Consumer Reports, claiming Costco knew or should have known about the contamination.
A class-action lawsuit accuses Costco of failing to disclose toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic in its Orgain protein powder, marketing it as clean and healthy. Consumers claim they were misled and seek compensation and disclosure.
Uzbekistan is implementing a multi-billion-dollar strategy to boost its export economy by processing more agricultural goods, metals, and minerals domestically. Key targets include $10bn in food processing by 2030 and significant investments in technological metals and steel localization, aiming to increase national revenue and economic security.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is auditing over Rs 124 crore spent by the Ram Temple Trust on major events, including the Jan 2024 consecration ceremony and Nov 2025 flag-hoisting. The probe scrutinizes financial records to ensure funds were utilized per Trust procedures.
India's IT and ER&D sectors are experiencing a structural slowdown, with EV capex cuts impacting companies like KPIT. Metals face supply-driven price pressure, though low inventories offer future potential. Mid-sized private banks present opportunities, while broking stocks face regulatory headwinds.
Former South Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee, already imprisoned for corruption, received an additional seven-year sentence for accepting "high-value precious metals" in exchange for favors in personnel appointments, with the court highlighting the rarity of such valuables.
Global markets saw a rebound Wednesday after a tech selloff on Tuesday. South Korea's Kospi jumped over 3% after a 10% plunge, while Asia's tech stocks recovered. MSCI kept South Korea as an emerging market, citing currency convertibility, and Indonesia faces downgrade risks.
The UK's Financial Reporting Council (FRC) fined King & King and its managing partner Milankumar Patel £378,184 for "egregious" failures in auditing companies within Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance. The firm, which relied heavily on GFG for revenue, failed to identify self-interest and meet key audit requirements, leading to severe restrictions.
Gold and silver prices dropped significantly on Tuesday, impacted by a broad sell-off in tech stocks driven by concerns over rising interest rates. The precious metals market is also facing pressure from a hawkish Federal Reserve stance and revised price forecasts from major banks.
