Among the 11 market sectors, consumer staples is in the lead today, up 0.9%, while materials is down a hefty 3%.

Materials have been dragged lower by the major iron ore miners, including BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), down 3.2% to $62.81.

Let's take a look at some new ratings for three ASX shares.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The Goodman share price is $31.13, down 1.9% on Thursday and up 6% over six months.

Morgans has a buy rating and $36 price target on the market's largest ASX 200 real estate share.

The broker said: 

GMG's 3Q26 update reinforced a deliberate strategy: deploy balance-sheet capital ahead of customer commitments to win the race for power-enabled metro data centre (DC) capacity.

The structurally important note was management's view that industry DC capex requirements likely exceed global capital market funding capacity, a backdrop that favours those with secured power, sites and locked-in capital partners.

We partially reverse the discretionary discount applied in our March sector update (-10% to -5%) reflecting growing conviction in the capital-scarcity moat and peer pre-commit validation, noting that GMG's own leading indicators have not yet inflected.

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is 28 cents, down 1.1% today and up 3% over six months.

Philippe Bui from Medallion Financial Group has a hold rating on this ASX 300 rare earths share. 

Bui said (courtesy The Bull):

The rare earths company is developing the Nolans Project in the Northern Territory — Australia's first fully integrated ore-to-oxide NdPr (Neodymium-Praseodymium) operation, producing the critical input for electric vehicle motors and wind turbines.

With China controlling about 85 per cent of global processing and restricting exports, projects like Nolans are rare and strategically valuable.

The company just reached its final investment decision and recently received commitments under an institutional placement to raise $350 million.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

The Elders share price is $5.33, up 0.1% today and down 27% over six months.

John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities has a sell rating on this ASX 200 agriculture share.

Athanasiou said: 

The company's exposure to agriculture, livestock and rural services make it highly sensitive to seasonal and commodity-driven swings.

While expansion through acquisitions has supported scale, it has also increased leverage, which, in our view, reduces balance sheet flexibility.

Without a clear cyclical upswing, the outlook remains challenging. Elders is exposed to elevated diesel prices, which remains a risk to the company's cost base.

In our opinion, the stock offers limited defensive characteristics, making it more suitable as a sell than a hold at this stage of the cycle.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Goodman, Arafura Rare Earths, Elders shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what they are saying about these stocks this week:

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The team at Medallion Financial Group thinks Arafura Rare Earths is an ASX mining stock to hold.

While positive on its Nolans Project in the Northern Territory, it doesn't appear to see enough value in its shares to recommend it as a buy. It said:

The rare earths company is developing the Nolans Project in the Northern Territory — Australia's first fully integrated ore-to-oxide NdPr (Neodymium-Praseodymium) operation, producing the critical input for electric vehicle motors and wind turbines. With China controlling about 85 per cent of global processing and restricting exports, projects like Nolans are rare and strategically valuable. The company just reached its final investment decision and recently received commitments under an institutional placement to raise $350 million.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

Over at Catapult Wealth, it has named lithium giant PLS (formerly known as Pilbara Minerals) as a hold this week.

There is a lot to like about this ASX mining stock. However, it still isn't quite enough for Catapult Wealth to give it a more positive recommendation. It said:

PLS is an Australian lithium producer, with its primary operation in Western Australia. PLS has a solid balance sheet. Revenue of $624 million in the first half of 2026 was up 47 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Driving growth is a combination of increasing demand for lithium and near term supply constraints. Demand is fuelled by growing battery and electric vehicle adoption, which has been boosted by the conflict in Iran and crude oil disruptions. The strong balance sheet and free cash flow should enable PLS to fund its expansion plans.

Unico Silver Ltd (ASX: USL)

Medallion Financial Group is more positive on this silver developer and has named it as an ASX mining stock to buy this week.

It likes the company due to its growing resource and exposure to a rising commodity. It explains:

This silver explorer is advancing high grade deposits in Argentina's Santa Cruz province. The Joaquin project recently delivered a 143 per cent resource increase to 167 million ounces of silver equivalent since acquiring it in October 2024. The latest update was achieved from just 27,723 metres of drilling at a discovery cost of US11 cents per ounce. Silver demand is structurally supported by solar, electrification and green technology, giving USL direct leverage to a rising commodity. With the resource growing rapidly and development progressing, the investment case is building.

The post Buy, hold, sell: 3 very popular ASX mining stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are falling:

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is down 11% to 27.5 cents. The catalyst for this has been news that the rare earths developer has raised $350 million through an institutional placement. The company is raising the funds at a 16.1% discount to its last close price. Arafura's CEO and managing director, Darryl Cuzzubbo, said: "The strong support received for this capital raising is a clear endorsement of the Nolans Rare Earths Project and Arafura's role in building a diversified, Western rare earths supply chain. With this successful result and the Board's recent Final Investment Decision, we look forward to commencing construction of this nationally significant project, which we are targeting in around September 2026."

Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: DBI)

The Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure share price is down almost 2% to $5.50. This has been driven by the terminal infrastructure and services provider's shares going ex-dividend this morning. Earlier this month, the company declared a quarterly dividend of 6.75 cents per share. This will be paid to eligible shareholders next month on 12 June.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

The Tuas share price is down a further 4% to $2.22. Last week, this Singapore-based telco terminated its proposed acquisition of M1 Limited. This followed news that authorities had suspended the review of the deal after Tuas' Simba business allegedly used spectrum it did not own. It said: "Simba continues to co-operate with the investigation being undertaken by the Infocomm Media Development Authority into potential breaches of the Telecommunications Act and the conditions of Simba's Facilities-Based Operator Licence. Tuas will keep shareholders updated in relation to that investigation."

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside Energy share price is down 4% to $30.84. Investors have been selling this energy producer's shares following a pullback in oil prices on Monday. Traders have been selling oil amid optimism that the US and Iran will soon sign a peace deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It isn't just Woodside shares that are falling on the news. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is down 2% at the time of writing.

The post Why Arafura Rare Earths, Dalrymple Bay, Tuas, and Woodside shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX rare earths stock was placed in a trading halt on Friday after unveiling a major funding update for its Nolans project in the Northern Territory.

Arafura shares last changed hands at 31 cents, leaving the stock up around 15% in 2026 and almost 90% over the past year.

After such a strong run, investors now have a major capital raising to weigh up.

Let's take a closer look.

A big raise at a discount

According to the release, Arafura has launched a $350 million institutional placement and a $25 million share purchase plan (SPP).

The placement will be priced at 26 cents per new share.

That is a 16.1% discount to the company's last closing price of 31 cents and a 15.5% discount to its 5-day volume weighted average price.

The placement will be split into 2 tranches. The first is expected to raise $175.5 million, while the second is expected to raise $174.5 million.

Existing eligible shareholders will also be able to apply through the SPP at the same 26 cents price.

Arafura's largest shareholder, Hancock Prospecting, has committed to subscribe for about $85 million under the placement.

After the raising, Hancock is expected to hold around 17.5% of the company.

What the money is funding

The money is aimed at pushing the Nolans Project in the Northern Territory closer to construction.

Arafura says the placement, together with existing cash and other funding commitments, will fully fund the equity component needed for the project.

Once the placement is settled, the company expects to have a pro forma cash balance of about $911 million.

The update follows Arafura's final investment decision (FID) on Nolans, which the company describes as the world's third fully integrated rare earth ore-to-oxide operation outside mainland China.

Rare earths are used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, defence, robotics, phones, medical imaging, and other technology.

Arafura says Nolans is construction-ready, has approvals in place, and has a mine life of more than 38 years.

The company is targeting the start of construction around September 2026.

Funding support takes shape

Arafura says the raising will also help satisfy equity conditions linked to government-backed funding support in Australia and Germany.

The company also pointed to further progress with offtake, saying it has now secured about 93% of its binding offtake target.

This includes agreements and support involving customers and agencies across Europe, Korea, Australia, and the United States.

Still, Nolans is a big project to deliver.

It will require major capital spending, careful construction, and higher rare earths prices that support development.

The post This ASX rare earths stock is halted after a monster 12-month run appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the ASX rare earths stock is up 14% to 33.5 cents.

Why is this ASX rare earths stock in the spotlight?

This morning, Gina Rinehart-backed Arafura Rare Earths revealed that its board has made a final investment decision (FID) for the Nolans Rare Earths Project.

According to the release, the decision is to proceed with the development and follows a number of key recent developments under the company's comprehensive, multi-year financing and offtake strategy.

This includes binding commitments from sovereign-backed institutions across four nations and binding offtake agreements with leading manufacturers across the globe.

The ASX rare earths stock will now turn its focus to construction of the Nolans Project, targeting commencement from September 2026.

Once operational, the company notes that the Nolans Project has the potential to be among the most consequential contributions to Australian industrial productivity in the Northern Territory's modern history.

It highlights that independent economic analysis commissioned ahead of FID concludes that the project will deliver a forecast economic benefit of $25.2 billion to gross territory product over the planned initial 38-year life of mine.

'A long-awaited milestone'

Commenting on the news, Arafura Rare Earths' chair, Mark Southey, said:

The Board's decision today marks the delivery of a long-awaited milestone for Arafura and its stakeholders. It is the culmination of a deliberate and patient strategy. We have always believed that the right partners would define the quality and durability of the Nolans supply chain. Together with our customers, investment partners and financiers across Europe, Korea, Canada, the United States and Australia, we are now ready to deliver our transformational Project.

This sentiment was echoed by the company's CEO and managing director, Darryl Cuzzubbo. He said:

The achievement of FID reflects years of disciplined execution and partnership building. The offtake relationships we have established with Hyundai, Kia, Siemens Gamesa, Traxys and the various types of economic support provided by the Australian Government are not transactional arrangements. They reflect a shared recognition that the diversification of global rare earth supply chains is an imperative, not merely an opportunity.

The Australian Government has taken a decisive and proactive approach, developing an economic toolkit that supports the rare earths sector in the near term that will deliver independent and functional markets into the future. On behalf of the Board, I extend my thanks to all our stakeholders for your continued support and for entrusting us to build a company that will play a defining role in the world's technology and energy transition for decades to come.

The post This ASX rare earths stock is rocketing 14% on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is up 11% to 36.75 cents. This morning, this rare earths developer announced a binding offtake term sheet with Traxys North America. This will see Arafura supply 500 tonnes per annum of NdPr oxide from the Nolans project. Arafura's managing director, Darryl Cuzzubbo, said: "We have long believed that the right partners would define the quality and durability of Arafura. The offtake relationships we have established are not just transactional arrangements. They reflect growing alignment between industry participants and government-supported initiatives aimed at establishing resilient critical minerals ecosystems as an imperative, not merely an opportunity."

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL)

The Aristocrat Leisure share price is up 12% to $51.51. This morning, the gaming technology company released its half-year results and revealed normalised revenue of $3.03 billion. This was up 6.4% in constant currency. Normalised EBITA increased 6.2% to $1.12 billion, or 14% in constant currency. Another positive is that the company has increased its on-market share buy-back program by $1 billion (up to $2.5 billion in aggregate) and extended it through to 12 May 2027. Aristocrat's CEO and managing director, Trevor Croker, said: "Aristocrat delivered a strong first half, with clear progress across the business and market share gains in key segments. Our earnings growth reflects disciplined execution, strong revenue momentum throughout our portfolio, and a continued focus on efficiency and extracting operating leverage."

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price is up a further 3% to $61.78. This follows yet another strong rise in the copper price overnight, taking the base metal to a record high. In other news, this morning BHP announced the appointment of Mark Vassella as a non-executive director. Vassella has over 40 years' experience in the global steel industry and materials value chain. He was the CEO and managing director of BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) from January 2018 to January 2026.

Perenti Ltd (ASX: PRN)

The Perenti share price is up 7% to $2.17. This morning, the mining services company announced that its Barminco business has been awarded an $850 million four-year contract by Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL). The company's CEO, Mark Norwell, said: "This contract award reinforces Barminco as a global leader in underground mining, further strengthening Barminco's underground mining portfolio and earnings in Australia."

The post Why Arafura, Aristocrat, BHP, and Perenti shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Arafura shares closed yesterday trading for 33 cents. In early morning trade on Wednesday, shares are swapping hands for 35 cents apiece, up 6.1%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.6% at this same time.

With today's intraday gains factored in, Arafura Rare Earths shares are now up 105.9% in 12 months, smashing the 4.1% one-year gains delivered by the benchmark index.

Here's what's catching investor interest today.

ASX 300 rare earths stock leaps on offtake agreement

Arafura Rare Earths shares are in the green today after the company announced that it had signed a binding offtake term sheet with Traxys North America.

Traxys is a global physical trader and merchant in the metals and natural resources sectors.

Under the agreement, Arafura Nolans Project (a wholly owned subsidiary of the ASX 300 rare earths stock) will supply Traxys with 500 tonnes a year of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide.

The supply agreement is for five years, with the companies having the option to extend this by two years if they both agree to do so.

The price Arafura Rare Earths receives for its NdPr oxide will be linked to an independent and transparent global seaborne index. Traxys will make payment in US dollars, leaving total revenue in Aussie dollars subject to foreign exchange moves.

What did Arafura management say?

Commenting on the offtake agreement helping boost the ASX 300 rare earths stock today, Arafura managing director Darryl Cuzzubbo said, "We have long believed that the right partners would define the quality and durability of Arafura."

Cuzzubbo added:

The offtake relationships we have established are not just transactional arrangements. They reflect growing alignment between industry participants and government-supported initiatives aimed at establishing resilient critical minerals ecosystems as an imperative, not merely an opportunity.

As we advance this strategic agreement, we achieve another milestone in delivering the company's broader long-term offtake objectives and financing strategy in support of a future investment decision.

The ASX 300 rare earths stock said it expects to finalise and execute a long form offtake agreement prior to the sunset date, which is six months from the execution of the term sheet.

The agreement remains subject to customary conditions, which include Arafura undertaking a Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Nolans Project.

Nolans is planned to be among Australia's first ore-to-oxide rare earths processing facilities. Located in the Northern Territory, Nolans would provide a critical source of rare earths outside of China.

The post Up 106% in a year, why is this ASX 300 rare earths stock leaping higher again today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are climbing:

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is up almost 10% to 30.7 cents. This morning, this rare earths developer announced binding agreements with two cornerstone investors which secure equity subscriptions totalling approximately $230 million. Commenting on the equity subscriptions, Arafura's managing director, Darryl Cuzzubbo, said: "Today marks a transformational milestone for Arafura and the Nolans Project. The execution of binding equity subscriptions from these two government agencies is a powerful endorsement of the strategic importance of Nolans to western supply chains."

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

The Eagers Automotive share price is up 8% to $24.38. This follows the release of an update from the automotive retailer this morning. Eagers Automotive revealed that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet with the owners of Grand Motors Group to acquire 49% of their interest in a portfolio of dealerships located on the Gold Coast and in Metro Sydney. It is a multi-brand dealership group generating consolidated revenue of approximately $490 million for the 12 months ended December 2025.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is up 6% to $19.91. Investors have been buying this family safety technology company's shares on Wednesday following a strong rise by its NASDAQ-listed shares overnight. This was driven by improving investor sentiment amid optimism that the war in the Middle East could soon end. The technology sector is having a particularly strong session. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Technology Index rise 3% today.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is up 3.8% to $121.36. As well as benefiting from a rebound in the tech sector today, this health imaging technology company's shares have been boosted by an announcement. Pro Medicus revealed that it is undertaking an on-market share buy-back. The maximum number of shares that the company can buy back is 10.45 million, according to the notice. However, due to its current share price, the actual figure will almost certainly be lower than this.

The post Why Arafura Rare Earths, Eagers Automotive, Life360, and Pro Medicus shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Government agencies taking a stake

In a statement lodged with the ASX on Wednesday, the company said that Export Finance Australia would subscribe for US$100 million in new equity in Arafura, which is developing the Nolans Rare Earths Project in the Northern Territory.

The German Raw Materials Fund (GRMF) would also subscribe for about $84 million in new equity.

Arafura said the new equity funding built on a "transformational" $481 million equity raising completed in the fourth quarter of 2025, and a binding term sheet signed with Australia's National Reconstruction Fund Corporation for $200m of convertible notes.

The company said further:

The execution of these binding cornerstone agreements is consistent with Arafura's previously announced equity funding strategy, targeting cornerstone investment from government-seeded critical minerals funds, customers and other strategic investors, and follows the previous announcement of non-binding arrangements with the German Raw Materials Fund and Export Finance Australia. This strategy, together with the binding $200 million commitment from the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC), significantly de-risks the equity funding required for the development of the Nolans Rare Earths Project.

The company said the new and existing funding commitments came to a total of $911 million.

New supply chains critical

Arafura said in its statement to the ASX that the investment from the German fund showed the strategic importance of countries diversifying their critical minerals supply.

Arafura added:

The Nolans Project has demonstrated clear alignment with the GRMF's objectives through its binding offtake agreement with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy for the supply of NdPr to be used in the manufacture of permanent magnets for offshore wind turbines assembled at their Cuxhaven facility in Germany. Arafura continues to engage with prospective European offtake partners regarding securing an additional 500tpa.

Arafura will call a general meeting of shareholders to ratify the new equity issuance.

Arafura Managing Director Darryl Cuzzubbo said regarding the new developments:

Today marks a transformational milestone for Arafura and the Nolans Project. The execution of binding equity subscriptions from these two government agencies is a powerful endorsement of the strategic importance of Nolans to western supply chains. This outcome is consistent with our long-stated equity funding strategy of partnering with government-seeded critical minerals funds, customers and strategic investors who share our vision for developing a reliable, and diversified source of rare earth supply. With the support of our shareholders and incoming cornerstone partners, we are now firmly positioned to finalise our equity funding package and deliver Australia's first fully integrated ore-to-oxide rare earths operation.

The issue price of the new equity will be 24.47 cents per share.

Arafura shares were 3.5% higher in early trade at 29 cents. The company is valued at $1.31 billion.

The post Which ASX rare earths company's shares are trading higher on new funding news? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Some commodities have risen by more than 25% and even up to 70% in just a month, and many miners hit multi-year highs last week.

They included the ASX 200's largest mining share, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), as well as fellow diversified miners, Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) and South32 Ltd (ASX: S32).

Others that hit multi-year highs included ASX 200 lithium major PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), gold large-cap Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM), copper pure-play Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR), and aluminium stock Alcoa Corporation CDI (ASX: AAI).

The broader market also had a strong week. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 2.13% to finish at 8,903.9 points.

Nine of the sectors finished the week in the green.

Let's review.

ASX 200 mining shares' unstoppable trajectory

The BHP share price reached a two-year high of $49.75 per share on Thursday.

BHP shares closed 2.66% higher for the week at $48.99 on Friday.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price rose 0.48% to $22.82 while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) lifted 3.63% to $148.25.

The Mineral Resources share price lifted 4.71% to $59.78 while South32 gained 8.05% to $4.16.

Among the ASX 200 pure-play copper stocks, Sandfire Resources shares ascended 2.68% to close at $19.15.

Capstone Copper Corp CDI (ASX: CSC) shares finished 7.72% higher at $15.63.

ASX 200 lithium shares also had a good week, with PLS Group shares lifting 0.65% to $4.68.

PLS Group shares hit a two-and-a-half-year high of $5.04 on Thursday, and profit-taking was apparent on Friday.

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price rose 4.88% to $2.15, while IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) increased 2.66% to $8.88.

ASX 200 gold shares benefited from another resetting of the gold price record at US$4,642.58 on Wednesday.

The ASX 200's largest gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), rose 8.54% to close at $26.83 on Friday.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price rose 2.34% to $13.12, and Newmont lifted 7.53% to $169.25.

Among ASX 200 ASX rare earths shares, Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) increased 9.79% to $15.48.

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) shares fell 5% to 28 cents per share.

Bauxite and alumina producer Alcoa rose 4.45% to $95.28 per share on Friday.

Soaring ASX 200 mining shares prompted many brokers to issue revised 12-month share price targets last week.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 materials sector outperforms as mining shares continue their ascent appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Reflecting the miners' dominance, the S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) rose 3.64% last week and the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) lifted 1.41%, while the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) weakened 0.11% to finish at 8,717.8 points.

Only four of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.

Let's recap.

Scores of ASX 200 mining shares reach 52-week highs

Ongoing strength in commodity prices boosted ASX 200 mining shares last week.

At the time of writing, the iron ore price is up 0.45% for the week at US$107.65 per tonne.

This helped send several ASX 200 iron ore shares to 52-week highs.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares reached $48.49, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) $154.75, and Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) $58.64.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price didn't reach an annual high but increased 2.57% over the week to close at $22.71 on Friday.

Copper futures surged above US$6 per pound, a new record, which also supported BHP given it is now the world's largest producer.

Several ASX 200 copper shares also reached 52-week peaks, including the market's largest pure-play Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR).

The Sandfire Resources share price hit an all-time record of $19.43, as did Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) shares at $15.89.

Lithium prices also surged, with the carbonate price streaking 16% higher for the week and 49% over the past month.

Unsurprisingly, ASX 200 lithium shares ripped, with many also setting new 52-week price milestones last week.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares rose to $4.89 apiece, Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) hit $2.10, and IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) reached $8.95.

ASX 200 rare earths shares increased on news that China will limit exports of rare earths to Japan.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares shot the lights out, ripping 15.38% to close the week at $14.10.

The Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) share price flew 9.26% to close at 30 cents per share.

What about gold?

The gold price rose 3% last week to above US$4,467 per ounce in late trading on Friday Australian time.

The market's largest ASX 200 gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) rose 1.19% to close at $24.72 on Friday.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price rose 1.1% to close at $12.82.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares hit a record high of $162.45 apiece last week.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares hit a 52-week high of $5.80, as did Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) shares at $7.84.

Gold and copper miner, Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) lifted 9.09% over the week to close at $11.52.

The Greatland Resources share price reached a record high of $11.66 on Friday.

Silver continues its amazing run, up 5% over the week and 152% over the past 12 months.

This helped ASX 200 diversified miner South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) hit a 52-week high of $3.87 per share.

South32 is exposed to silver via its Cannington mine, which is one of the world's largest producers of silver and lead.

The rising aluminium price also supported South32 shares.

Aluminium gained 2.2% last week and is up 22% over the past year.

This also helped bauxite and alumina producer Alcoa Corporation CDI (ASX: AAI) hit a 52-week high of $94.31 last week.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

Final word on the week

Here at the Fool, we continued to dissect all the results of 2025 for your review last week.

We revealed the 5 best ASX 200 mining shares of 2025 for capital growth.

We also considered what $10,000 invested in the BetaShares Australian Resources Sector ETF (ASX: QRE) returned over the past year.

You might also be interested in the 5 top ASX 200 gold shares, the 12 best performing commodities, and the best sectors for dividends.

The post ASX 200 materials sector dominates as scores of mining shares hit new highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

During the Monday lunch hour, the All Ords is up a welcome 1%.

Now, here's how these leading ASX rare earths stocks are performing at this same time:

• Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares are up 5.3%
• Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) shares are up 3.9%
• Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX: NTU) shares are up 6.5%
• Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) shares are up 4%
• Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE) shares are up 2.7%

As you're likely aware, the rare earths miners have come under heavy selling pressure over the past month – with the above group tumbling anywhere between 15% to 37% – following on the blistering run higher from January.

Despite that past month's steep decline, here's how these miners' year-to-date performance stacks up to the 3.7% gains posted by the All Ords in 2025:

• Lynas Rare Earths shares have gained 136.1%
• Arafura Rare Earths shares have gained 120.8%
• Northern Minerals shares have gained 60%
• Iluka Resources shares have gained 27.8%
• Brazilian Rare Earths shares have gained 90%

Boom!

What's been stoking investor interest?

ASX rare earths stocks, and their shareholders, have been benefiting from the West's move to secure supplies outside of China's control.

Rare earths are critical elements in most modern technologies, including military defence equipment, phones, EVs, and wind turbines, to name a few. And as China has recently demonstrated, it is willing to use its dominance in rare earths to further its own political and trade ambitions.

In late October, this led to United States President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signing a multi-billion-dollar deal that granted the US more access to Australia's rare earths and other critical minerals.

Australia and the US both agreed to invest more than US$1 billion over six months to spur initial rare earths projects.

Why are ASX rare earths stocks surging today?

Today's big lift for Lynas shares and its rival ASX rare earths stocks appears to be driven by news out of the European Union.

As Reuters reports, the EU would like to directly invest in Australian critical minerals projects. On Friday, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the European trading block would reveal a list of projects it would like to support shortly.

Sefcovic engaged in discussions with Australian Resources Minister Madeleine King last week.

"We see how we are squeezed now on chips and some critical raw materials," he said, referring to China's stranglehold on crucial elements.

"We did the first such selection of the projects where we would declare our official interest," Sefcovic added. "That list should be published very, very soon."

Stay tuned!

The post How this new development could drive the next big boost for ASX rare earths stocks like Lynas appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Cooling investor sentiment, which followed the Reserve Bank's latest hold decision, dampened gains for Australian shares during the week. The weakest sector at the end of last week was technology, followed by financials. 

New data from CommSec reveals the Australian shares that were most traded by its clients last week, highlighting investor sentiment and market momentum.

Most traded Australian shares

CommSec's data shows that Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) was, once again, the most traded stock by its clients between 3rd November and 7th November. 

It's unsurprising that Droneshield shares made the top of the list for another week, given ASX defence stocks continue to sit in the spotlight. Over the course of last week, 70% of Droneshield activity was investors buying, but 30% was investors selling up and taking impressive gains earned over the past year.

At the time of writing, Droneshield shares have risen 1.69% for the day to $3.28 a piece. There has been a spike in investor interest after the company announced it has inked three new deals with the United States government to supply handheld counterdrone systems.

Next on CommSec's most traded Australian shares list are Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares.

There has been a surge in demand for rare earths, accompanied by heightened trade tensions between China and the US. In late October, the rare earths developer also received commitments to raise $475 million via a two-tranche institutional placement at a discount of 28 cents per new share. 

Macquarie previously told investors that it expects the rare earths market to remain tight for the remainder of 2025. It also expects a supply deficit for 2026 and 2027.

CSL suffered a brutal investor sell-off this year, but investors seem to be keeping a close eye on the stock. The company held a capital markets day on Wednesday last week, where it said its Seqirus division had grown revenue to a projected $2 billion in FY25, maintaining a 42% global market share in influenza vaccines.

What else were investors interested in last week?

CommSec clients were also interested in Mount Ridley Mines Ltd (ASX: MRD), Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS), Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares also made the list of the top 10 most traded shares during the course of the week, but the majority of activity (65% of activity in both stocks) was investor selling.

The post Top 10 most-traded Australian shares last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is down 19% to 30.5 cents. This has been driven by news that the rare earths developer has received commitments to raise $475 million via a two-tranche institutional placement at a discount of 28 cents per new share. Arafura's largest shareholder, Hancock Prospecting, has committed ~$125 million to the placement. Arafura's CEO, Darryl Cuzzubbo, said: "The strength of demand received for this capital raising has definitively validated the importance of Arafura's role in a diversified global supply chain. We have progressively delivered a funding solution that will support a final investment decision announcement early next year and see us commence construction of what will be an iconic project for Australia of global significance."

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

The Bank of Queensland share price is down 3% to $6.86. The catalyst for this has been the regional bank's shares going ex-dividend this morning for its latest dividend. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving a fully franked 20 cents per share dividend next month on 21 November.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is down 4% to $171.03. This biotechnology giant's shares have come under pressure this week after it downgraded its guidance for FY 2026. This was driven largely by softer than expected demand for influenza vaccines in the United States. For the same reason, the company has also trimmed its FY 2027 and FY 2028 earnings guidance. Morgans thinks it is a buying opportunity. It said: "Although it remains challenging to know when US influenza vaccination rates will stabilise, we believe the risk of a permanently lower base is being over-priced, with Seqirus and Vifor marked down, with even Behring trading below peers and well under its long-term average, which we see as unjustified. We lower FY26-28 net profit forecasts by up to 14.3%, with our PT decreasing to A$249.51 (from A$293.83). BUY."

Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX)

The Strike Energy share price is down 2.5% to 11.2 cents. This morning, this energy producer released its first quarter update and revealed an 8% decline in production. Despite this, the company still reported a 3% increase in sales revenue to $18.32 million for the three months.

The post Why Arafura Rare Earths, Bank of Queensland, CSL, and Strike shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The investment comes as part of a $475 million capital raise finalised by the company late on Tuesday, and will increase Ms Rinehart's stake in the business to about 15.7%, up from 10.01%.

Ararfura will raise $475 million in two tranches, with the second, $351.6 million tranche, requiring shareholder approval.

Existing shareholders in the company will also be able to subscribe for a total of $50 million in new shares at the placement issue price of 28 cents per share.

Arafura shares were in a trading halt on Tuesday, with the shares last changing hands at 37.5 cents.

Cashed up

Arafura said in a statement to the ASX late on Tuesday that following the settlement of the placement, it would be in a strong cash position with about $584 million in the bank.

Arafura managing director Darryl Cuzzubbo said the capital raise "marks a transformational milestone as we advance towards a final investment decision for the Nolans rare earths project''.

Mr Cuzzubbo added:

Combined with our conditional $200m equity-linked commitment from the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation and up to US$100 million conditional equity investment from Export Finance Australia, together with our US$775 million of conditional base senior debt, proceeds from this placement will substantially de-risk the total funding required for the development of Nolans. Following this placement, we will continue to advance discussions with strategic customers and partners, for the balance of the funding required including the German Raw Materials Fund which is in the appraisal phase for a potential equity investment of up to about €100 million.

Chinese dominance to be challenged

Arafura was one of the companies that won government support under a new critical minerals framework announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump last week.

That framework is designed to reduce the reliance on China for the supply of rare earths elements, which it currently dominates the market in.

Mr Cuzzubbo said the development of projects such as Nolans, in the Northern Territory, was crucial to meeting the supply needs of industries such as defence and renewables going forward.

The convergence of support from Australian and United States government agencies, announced under the landmark US-Australia Framework for Securing Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths, underscores the geopolitical significance of Western rare earth supply chains and the Nolans Project, being Australia's first fully integrated ore to oxide rare earths operation.

Shareholder approval for the second tranche of the capital raise is expected to be sought at an extraordinary general meeting to be held sometime in December.

The post Iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart sinks another $125 million into rare earths player appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

To be frank, it was a pretty good day to have a rare earths company's shares remaining untraded, with peers in the sector such as Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) trading down 12.4%, and Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE) off 3.5%.

This followed news that US President Donald Trump and Japan's newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had signed a framework agreement to increase the supply of rare earths minerals and reduce their reliance on China for the critical inputs to the defence and renewable energy sectors.

Arafura shares were untraded on Tuesday, last changing hands at Monday's close at 37.5 cents, valuing the company at $1.1 billion.

Capital to back new mine

The Australian's Dataroom column was reporting on Tuesday that Arafura had halted trade in its shares as it was looking to raise $475 million to fund its Nolans rare earths project in the Northern Territory.

Arafura shares have more than tripled in the past 12 months, up from lows of 10.5 cents, but have pulled back from recent highs around 62 cents.

Iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart owns 10.01% of the company.

Rare earths a hot topic

Interest in Australian rare earths stocks has been heightened in recent weeks by news that China had added another five rare earths elements to its list of elements under export controls.

Currently, 12 of the 17 rare earths elements are subject to export controls.

Soon after this was announced, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Mr Trump announced their own critical minerals framework agreement, under which each country will invest at least US$1 billion into the critical minerals sector over the next six months.

As part of this new deal, Arafura was one of two companies singled out for special treatment, with Mr Albanese saying that Australia would invest US$100 million in equity in the Nolans project.

As he said at the time:

Once operational, this project will produce 5% of global rare earths – essential for energy security and defence. The historic framework signed today will assist both countries in achieving resilience and security of critical minerals and rare earths supply chains, including mining, separation, and processing, through use of economic policy tools and coordinated investment.

While rare earths elements are relatively plentiful, despite the name, they are hard to mine economically, and Australia currently only has one major mine in Lynas' Mt Weld project in Western Australia.

Arafura's shares are expected to resume trading at or before the start of trading on Thursday, 30 October.

The post Why have shares in the Gina Rinehart-backed Arafura Rare Earths entered a trading halt? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Multiple news outlets have reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent now expects China to delay its proposed export restrictions on rare earths minerals by up to a year.

The reports appear to have eased fears of global supply constraints for the critical minerals, but have also rattled investors in ASX-listed rare earths miners, which are seen as an alternative supply source.

How ASX rare earths stocks are moving

At the time of writing:

• The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price is down 2.9% to $18.26
• The Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) share price has plunged 10.8% to $0.37
• The Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) share price is off 6.4% at $7.22
• The Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX: NTU) share price has dropped 19% to $0.05

Whilst these are sharp moves, they should be taken in context, as the Lynas share price, for example, is up a whopping 178% so far in 2025. Therefore, I doubt Lynas investors will be losing any sleep over a 2.9% drop.

What it means for ASX investors

Today's drop highlights just how sensitive the rare earths space remains to global headlines. Australian producers like Lynas and Arafura are among the few credible alternatives to China's dominance in rare earths supply, and so when geopolitical risk spikes, these names often rally; when it eases, they tend to retreat.

However, the long-term demand story for rare earths minerals remains intact. Rare earths are critical inputs in a range of industries, including electric vehicles and defence technologies. These are all sectors expected to grow significantly over the next decade. Short-term volatility aside, these stocks remain leveraged to the structural trends in these industries.

What to watch next

Investors should keep an eye on rare earths spot prices, quarterly updates from producers, and any policy follow-through from China's officials. The situation remains fluid, and another shift in tone from Beijing or Washington could easily reverse today's sentiment.

In the meantime, today's pullback may remind investors that rare earths remain a high-beta corner of the market, where politics and policy can move share prices. There will most likely be more twists and turns to come, and so after all is said and done, today is just another day in the rare earths space.

The post ASX rare earths stocks tumble with China expected to delay export controls appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese struck a deal to bolster rare earths and critical mineral supplies.

The US and Australia will boost investments to expand mining operations and processing of the minerals, reducing dependence on China's exports. 

The deal comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, which continues to pile pressure on the market. China controls around 70% of global rare earths trade. The US has been focused on reducing its reliance on China and building up its own sovereign supply chains for some time.

Investors started snapping up shares in rare earths producers after China announced plans to restrict the export of rare earths earlier this month. In response to the move, the US threatened to put 100% tariffs on China.

Recent developments have put ASX-listed rare earths stocks firmly in the spotlight.

ASX rare earths stocks in the hot seat

The Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) share price has surged 110% since early October, as investors scramble to get exposure to Australian rare earths stocks. At the time of writing on Thursday morning, Arafura shares are changing hands at 42 cents per share. The Australian mining company's flagship is the Nolans Rare Earths Project in Central Australia.

Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX: NTU) shares also surged this month, up 57.5%. At the time of writing, the mineral exploration company's shares are changing hands at 63 cents a piece. 

Larger rare earths stocks like Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) and Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) are also benefitting from the surge in interest. 

Lynas shares are trading 9.69% higher than this time last month, at $18.12 per share at the time of writing. Meanwhile, Iluka shares are up 19.8% over the month and are trading at $7.34 each, at the time of writing.

What's next for the rare earths market?

Macquarie recently told investors that it expects a small deficit of NdPr (Neodymium and Praseodymium, two rare earths elements) for the remainder of the 2025 calendar year. 

The broker also said it expects that supply gap to widen slightly in 2026 and 2027 and then return to a tight balance through to 2030. 

There is limited analyst coverage or update on expectations for Arafura Rare Earths or Northern Minerals shares since the two saw their prices surge this month. 

But TradingView data on Lynas Rare Earths and Iluka show analysts are relatively divided about their forecast over the next 12 months. 

Out of 16 analysts which have rated Lynas shares, 3 have a buy or strong buy rating, 5 have a strong sell rating, and the remaining 8 have a hold rating. The maximum target price is $29.50, which represents a potential 64.4% upside at the time of writing, while the average target price is $15.13, which represents a potential 15.54% downside. 

It's a similar story for Iluka shares too. Out of 12 analysts which have rated the stock, the majority (8) have a hold rating. A further 3 have a buy or strong buy rating and 1 analyst holds a strong sell rating on the shares. 

The maximum target price for Iluka shares is $8.60, which represents a potential 16.29% upside at the time of writing. The average target price is $7.04, which is just below the trading price at the time of writing and therefore represents a potential 4.79% downside over the next 12 months.

The post Why are ASX rare earths stocks so hot right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is down 8% to 44 cents. This appears to have been driven by profit taking from investors after this rare earths developer's shares surged in recent weeks. In fact, the buzz around rare earths has seen Arafura Rare Earths shares more than double in value in the space of a month. On Tuesday, the company received conditional approval from the Australian Government for an equity investment of up to US$100 million. This is to progress its strategically significant Nolans Project in the Northern Territory.

Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)

The Bapcor share price is down a further 2% to $2.46. This auto parts retailer's shares have been sold off this week following the release of a trading update. Bapcor revealed that it expects its first half underlying profit to be in the range of $14 million to $18 million. This is down sharply from $45.5 million a year ago. And although management is expecting a stronger second half, and is guiding to full year statutory profit in the range of $40 million to $50 million, investors don't appear confident this will be achieved. In response to its trading update, Morgans retained its hold rating with a heavily reduced price target of $2.75 (from $3.90).

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

The Codan share price is down almost 2% to $33.50. This follows the release of an update at the electronic products company's annual general meeting. Management said: "The conditions observed at 30 June 2025 have largely continued into FY26, supporting Codan's growth outlook across both Communications and Minelab." It notes that the Communications business is expected to deliver 15% to 20% revenue growth in FY 2026. Whereas the Minelab business' "overall revenues for the first quarter of FY26 have exceeded the monthly average achieved in FY25 by 16%." However, with the gold price crashing overnight, investors may believe that metal detector demand could ease if the price of the precious metal doesn't rebound.

Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM)

The Newmont share price is down over 9% to $131.62. Investors have been selling Newmont and other ASX gold stocks on Wednesday following a sharp pullback in the gold price overnight. This has led to the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold index sinking a whopping 9% today. This may have been driven by a combination of profit taking from traders and easing demand for safe haven assets.

The post Why Arafura Rare Earths, Bapcor, Codan, and Newmont shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Thursday's index peak was driven by a flurry of trading activity, particularly in the defence, technology, and rare earths sectors. And now, new data from CommSec reveals the Australian shares that were most traded by its clients last week, highlighting investor sentiment and market momentum.

Most traded Australian shares

CommSec's data shows that Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) was the most traded stock by its clients between 13th October and 17th October. 

It's unsurprising that Droneshield shares made the top of the list, given ASX defence stocks are in the spotlight right now. At the time of writing, its share price has soared 11.52% higher for the day. The uptick follows an impressive third-quarter update, with the company an enormous 377.03% higher for the year.

Analysts expect a significant upside over the next 12 months, too. The counter-drone company is expected to build on its revenue growth and expand its sales pipeline. 

Next on CommSec's most traded Australian shares list are Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX) and Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) shares.

Novonix shares have likely benefited from a spike in interest in battery technology for electric vehicles. Meanwhile, there has been a boom in demand for rare earths and heightened trade tensions between China and the US. This has likely ignited interest in Arafura Rare Earths shares.

Macquarie recently told investors that it expects the rare earths market to remain tight for the remainder of 2025. It also expects a supply deficit for 2026 and 2027.

Investors have been snapping up shares in rare earths producers after China announced plans to restrict the export of rare earths and the US threatened to put 100% tariffs on China. 

CommSec clients were also interested in Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC), technology defence manufacturer Electro Optic System Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS), and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares during the course of the week. Investor confidence in CBA shares was reignited following its annual general meeting (AGM) last week. 

Elsewhere, CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), and Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX: RML) shares completed the top 10 most traded shares by CommSec clients for the week.

The post Top 10 most traded Australian shares revealed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.