Lithium’s sudden price rebound is injecting a measure of optimism, and breathing room, into Australia’s embattled mining sector after nearly two years of punishing declines. The upswing, driven by Chinese supply cuts, has given producers a reprieve from the cash burn that was pushing some to unload prized assets at distressed valuations.

Hard rock spodumene prices have climbed from a four-year low of about $610 a tonne in mid-June to around $880, still far from the 2022 highs above $6,000, but enough to shift strategic calculations. For companies like Mineral Resources (MinRes), IGO, and Chile’s SQM, all of which had explored partial sales or restructurings to shore up balance sheets, the rally could make such moves less urgent.

China’s decision to approve the construction of 10 new nuclear power generating units underscores the country’s strategic push to accelerate its clean energy transition, secure long-term energy independence, and reduce reliance on coal-fired power. With a total projected investment of 200 billion yuan (about $27.4 billion), the move is one of the largest single-year commitments to nuclear energy in China’s history, and it keeps pace with the country’s recent annual approvals of 10–11 new reactors.

The new reactors, all expansions at existing plants in Guangxi, Fujian, Shandong, Chongqing, and Guangdong, reflect a pragmatic expansion strategy leveraging current infrastructure and operational expertise. China’s goal is to have nuclear account for 10% of its total power generation by 2040, up from about 5% in 2024. While that remains modest compared to coal or renewables, the firm long-term commitment adds stability to China’s low-carbon transition.

The European Union is set to impose tariffs of up to 37.6% on imports of electric vehicles (EVs) made in China starting from Friday. This move, which represents Brussels’ largest trade case yet, is designed to counter what the EU perceives as a threat from heavily subsidized Chinese EVs flooding the market…