The Week That’s Done: A Mega Lithium Merger
May 14, 2023It’s not every week that the largest ever lithium deal gets inked–and more consolidation could be on the horizon. Meanwhile, Argentina wants to be a copper major, Australia wants to ride the hydrogen commodity boom, and Canada is struggling to monitor mining investments. Plus: A look at Rockwell Automation’s China footprint.
The Week That’s Done: Can Europe de-risk its China ties?
April 9, 2023Europe says it's de-risking its relations with Beijing; Macron's China visit suggests otherwise. Meanwhile, Washington wants to build an anti-coercion coalition—but doing so demands a strong industrial base and there, trends aren't looking so hot. Plus, lithium is the new coal by one count, mineral M&A deals heat up, and the US still needs to refill the strategic petroleum reserve.
The Week That’s Done: December 25
December 25, 2022Geopolitics goes back to basics: Zimbabwe bans lithium exports, the EU imposes a(n easily evaded) gas price cap, China and India snap up cheap Russian fuels, and the US moves forward on a strategic uranium reserve. Plus Myanmar and Russia coordinate on nuclear energy, the Bank of Japan shocks investors, and the US turns to Africa.
The Week That’s Done: December 11
December 11, 2022China pivots on Zero COVID as the G7 price cap on Russian oil exports goes into effect. And that’s just one example of a new move to values-aligned trade blocs. Plus: The upward trajectory of lithium battery and tin prices, Russian coal exports, and Germany’s efforts to diversify away from China.
The Week That’s Done: November 20
November 20, 2022In the Indonesian new energy industry, the west risks financing China’s profit, and control. Plus, in factors: Enel builds a US solar panel plant; lithium stays hot; and the price cap on Russian oil nears. In markets: LNG prices resist demand, Japan’s economy shrinks, the UK does austerity – while stray missiles threaten to disrupt it all.
The Week That’s Done: October 9
October 9, 2022OPEC explicitly snubs Washington and the West, showing that productive beats consumptive power. Also not brilliant: US monetary tightening is cooling the economy, but in all the wrong places – and that ups recession risks. Plus: Maize malaise in Europe, the Mississippi’s dry spell, a US industrial policy stumble in lithium, and plunging global FX reserves.
The Week That’s Done: July 17
July 17, 2022Inflation hits a whopping 9.1, but if anything the supply picture is getting worse: Peloton gives up on production, Intel stalls in Ohio, the Texas grid sputters, and Biden strikes out with MBS. Plus: Europe might be headed for shut off, China is gobbling up lithium, and there’s political chaos on the horizon.
The Week That’s Done: July 10
July 10, 2022From disruption in personality politics to cascading social (and economic) disruption, this week has it all. Plus, natural gas soars even if oil shows relief; China doubles down on lithium; dollar-euro parity nears; and the US continues to waffle on tariffs.
Factors Briefing: Week of April 25
May 2, 2022With the Ukraine war disrupting global cooking oil supply, Indonesia decides to up the stakes; new challenges to Russia's lithium supply provide a cautionary tale for the West (or should); and Chinese conglomerates prepare to gobble up Shell's stake in a Russian LNG project
