The US Department of Defense is buying lithium for its strategic stockpiles as the nation ramps up efforts to reduce supply risks for critical minerals. The Defense Logistics Agency is seeking offers for almost 36 million pounds, about 16,000 tons, of battery-grade lithium carbonate over the next five years in a contract worth as much as $300 million, according to a tender document published on a ...
The US Department of Defense is buying lithium for its strategic stockpiles as the nation ramps up efforts to reduce supply risks for critical minerals. The Defense Logistics Agency is seeking offers for almost 36 million pounds, about 16,000 tons, of battery-grade lithium carbonate over the next five years in a contract worth as much as $300 million, according to a tender document published on a US government website dated July 2. The metal is a key ingredient for batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Lithium carbonate prices have surged by more than a third so far this year on optimism over demand and supply uncertainties from major production hubs including China and Zimbabwe. The DLA, responsible for managing the National Defense Stockpile that secures metals for US military needs, had sought information for the potential stockpiling of critical minerals including lithium in March. Critical minerals have become a political priority for the US in order to slash reliance on China. Most recently, the US Army struck deals with several companies to build processing plants for the materials on military bases around the country. Earlier this year, the White House launched Project Vault, a $12 billion critical minerals stockpiling initiative for the private sector . In its tender documents, the DLA asked suppliers to propose fixed prices for the supplies over five years. It stated that the government was intending to spend a minimum of $1 million and a maximum of $300 million on the contract. The deadline for proposals is July 17.
China has purchased more US soybeans, extending a wave of buying as agricultural trade between the world’s two largest economies gathers pace. State-owned trading firm Cofco Corp. booked at least another five cargoes overnight for loading mainly between September and October, according to people familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as they weren’t authorized to speak to the media. Th...
China has purchased more US soybeans, extending a wave of buying as agricultural trade between the world’s two largest economies gathers pace. State-owned trading firm Cofco Corp. booked at least another five cargoes overnight for loading mainly between September and October, according to people familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as they weren’t authorized to speak to the media. The purchases follow at least six cargoes booked earlier in the week. Cofco couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. A soybean cargo is typically around 60,000 tons. As of the end of last month, the US Department of Agriculture reported that Chinese buyers had committed to 200,000 tons of new crop American beans. The pick up in trade comes after the summit held between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in May, and will help bolster expectations that Beijing will increase imports of US farm goods as both sides work on their commitments made under their broader trade trace. The White House has said China agreed to purchase at least $17 billion of US agricultural products, in addition to at least 25 million tons of soybeans annually through 2028, although Beijing hasn’t publicly confirmed those figures. Chinese officials have said the two sides are working to ease tariffs on certain agricultural products and preserve the truce reached last year. Additional buying from China would provide support for US exporters and farmers ahead of the new marketing season, which runs from September. Soybean futures in Chicago have strengthened in recent days on expectations of stronger Chinese demand, while traders continue to watch for any additional policy signals from Washington and Beijing before an expected meeting between Trump and Xi later this year. US soybeans currently incur an additional 10% tariff compared to rivals, which has kept private crushers on the sidelines. Even without the extra duty, soybeans from Brazil’s recently concluded harvest are cheaper than American shi...
(RTTNews) - Indian shares fell in early trade on Wednesday, as a global tech sell-off deepened and the United States launched a major new wave of air strikes against Iran, targeting more than 80 military sites in response to Tehran's latest attacks on commercial shipping in the S
(RTTNews) - Indian shares fell in early trade on Wednesday, as a global tech sell-off deepened and the United States launched a major new wave of air strikes against Iran, targeting more than 80 military sites in response to Tehran's latest attacks on commercial shipping in the S
Joab Jorge runs Dream Latte Cafe, a speciality coffee shop and small-batch roastery, with his mother Ces out of their old ancestral home in Pilar, a town in Bataan province some 180km (112 miles) northwest of Manila. Rising electricity costs and frequent blackouts have put a strain on the business, which has already had to raise prices by 10 per cent to cover higher costs for goods and imported co...
Joab Jorge runs Dream Latte Cafe, a speciality coffee shop and small-batch roastery, with his mother Ces out of their old ancestral home in Pilar, a town in Bataan province some 180km (112 miles) northwest of Manila. Rising electricity costs and frequent blackouts have put a strain on the business, which has already had to raise prices by 10 per cent to cover higher costs for goods and imported coffee beans since the energy crisis triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in February. The...
格隆汇7月8日｜据澎湃，从腾讯相关负责人处获悉，OpenAI前研究员Yonglong Tian（田永龙）已于近期加入腾讯大语言模型部，后续将参与 VLM（视觉语言模型）相关研发。这也是腾讯再次挖角OpenAI。去年12月17日，腾讯宣布升级大模型研发架构，新成立AI Infra 部、AI Data 部、数据计算平台部，任命前OpenAI高级研究员姚顺雨为“CEO / 总裁办公室”首席AI科学家（向...
格隆汇7月8日｜据澎湃，从腾讯相关负责人处获悉，OpenAI前研究员Yonglong Tian（田永龙）已于近期加入腾讯大语言模型部，后续将参与 VLM（视觉语言模型）相关研发。这也是腾讯再次挖角OpenAI。去年12月17日，腾讯宣布升级大模型研发架构，新成立AI Infra 部、AI Data 部、数据计算平台部，任命前OpenAI高级研究员姚顺雨为“CEO / 总裁办公室”首席AI科学家（向刘炽平汇报），同时兼任AI Infra 部、大语言模型部负责人（向卢山汇报），此事一度在社交媒体引发广泛关注。
MF3d GPT-5.6 Sol, along with Terra and Luna, will launch publicly this Thursday, OpenAI ( OPENAI ) said in a X post . The company is currently expanding preview access globally, it said. The development comes as Axios Tuesday reported that the U.S. Department of Commerce has given OpenAI the green light for a broad launch of its advanced GPT-5.6 model. Last month, OpenAI said it was delaying a fu...
MF3d GPT-5.6 Sol, along with Terra and Luna, will launch publicly this Thursday, OpenAI ( OPENAI ) said in a X post . The company is currently expanding preview access globally, it said. The development comes as Axios Tuesday reported that the U.S. Department of Commerce has given OpenAI the green light for a broad launch of its advanced GPT-5.6 model. Last month, OpenAI said it was delaying a full public launch of GPT‑5.6 at the U.S. government's request, limiting the AI model's initial access to a small group of vetted partners whose details were shared with the authorities. More on OpenAI OpenAI IPO Delay: A Symptom Of A Tech Bubble? OpenAI: Mega IPO Faces Anthropic Claude Mythos Reckoning Wall Street Lunch: Hot Labor Market Defies Predictions Of AI-Led Job Losses SpaceXAI's Grok continues to lose market share; Meta AI climbs to fourth in US: analysis Google, Anthropic, OpenAI lead AI Safety Index; SpaceXAI receives F
UniSuper , one of Australia’s largest pension funds, is looking to buy any pullback in US technology stocks, shrugging off concerns over lofty valuations as it bets artificial intelligence will fuel years of earnings growth. The A$166 billion ($115 billion) fund is structurally overweight US tech companies because they sit in the “sweet spot” of the AI spending cycle, Chief Investment Officer John...
UniSuper , one of Australia’s largest pension funds, is looking to buy any pullback in US technology stocks, shrugging off concerns over lofty valuations as it bets artificial intelligence will fuel years of earnings growth. The A$166 billion ($115 billion) fund is structurally overweight US tech companies because they sit in the “sweet spot” of the AI spending cycle, Chief Investment Officer John Pearce said in an interview. If the sector were to fall 10%, “we’d be topping up,” he said. The bullish stance underscores a growing divide among investors over the long-term outlook for US hyperscalers as tech stocks retreat from record highs reached last month. While concerns are mounting over intensifying competition and whether Big Tech’s massive AI spending will deliver adequate returns, some investors see the generational technological shift as underpinning years of future growth. “Everyone talks about bubbles and, frankly, it’s just not reflected in valuations,” Pearce said. “We know they’re spending a lot in terms of capex, but they’re fundamentally sound companies with great growth prospects, so we’re very happy staying long.” UniSuper has maintained an overweight position in US tech stocks for months . International equities account for about 35% of its default investment strategy, with Nvidia Corp., Microsoft Corp. and Apple Inc. its largest holdings. The positioning helped UniSuper’s default option return 10.4% in the fiscal year ended June 30, its best result in five years, and outperforming the superannuation sector’s estimated median of about 9%. Over the same period, the Nasdaq 100 Index gained 34%, while a gauge of US semiconductor stocks surged almost 160%. Pearce said such outsized returns are unlikely to persist, with Australia’s pension funds having out performed in recent years relative to long-term expectations of about 7.5%. Pearce said markets face risks over the next 12 months. If inflation proves sticky, it may prompt traders to price in as many ...