China's leaders vow economy help as US talks in limbo
At their summer economic planning meeting, the powerful politburo of the ruling Communist Party pledged to stabilise foreign trade and investment.
"We must assist foreign trade enterprises that have been severely impacted, strengthen financing support, and promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade," the official Xinhua News Agency said in reporting the closed-door meeting on Wednesday.
It mentioned export tax rebates and free trade pilot zones but gave no other specifics.
The inconclusive outcome of two days of trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden, leaves open the question of higher tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States.
Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng said the two sides had agreed to work on extending a deadline for higher tariffs.
The US side said the extension was discussed, but not decided.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters after the talks that President Donald Trump would decide whether to extend the August 12 deadline for an agreement or to let tariffs that have been paused for 90 days return to a higher level.
"We haven't given the sign-off," Bessent said, though he emphasised that the talks had been "very constructive".
China remains one of the biggest challenges for the Trump administration after it has struck deals over elevated tariff rates with other key trading partners, including Britain, Japan and the European Union.
Many analysts had expected the Stockholm talks to result in an extension of current tariff levels, which stand at a US tariff of 30 per cent on Chinese goods and a Chinese tariff of 10 per cent on US products, far lower than the triple-digit percentage rates raised in April.
The truce in the tariffs war to allow time for talks allowed exporters and other traders to ramp up shipments in hopes of beating any higher tariffs that might follow.
The meeting headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping mostly reiterated Beijing's priorities for the year, including a need to "unleash domestic demand", which has lagged, leading to a surge of exports by industries unable to find growth at home.
It also stressed the need to promote jobs and prevent a "large-scale relapse into poverty".
The economy "has demonstrated strong vitality and resilience", the Xinhua report said, but it acknowledged many risks and challenges.
That includes reining in brutal competition that has led to damaging price wars among auto makers and some other manufacturers and managing excess capacity in some industries, it said.
China's economy expanded at a 5.2 per cent annual pace in April-June, slowing slightly from the previous quarter.
Even with the hiatus in higher tariffs, companies are feeling a pinch.
Industrial profits in China fell 1.8 per cent in the first half of the year and 4.3 per cent in June, according to data released this week.
China's top leaders have pledged to help companies slammed by higher US tariffs but are holding back on major moves after trade talks with the US kept businesses and planners in limbo.
At their summer economic planning meeting, the powerful politburo of the ruling Communist Party pledged to stabilise foreign trade and investment.
"We must assist foreign trade enterprises that have been severely impacted, strengthen financing support, and promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade," the official Xinhua News Agency said in reporting the closed-door meeting on Wednesday.
It mentioned export tax rebates and free trade pilot zones but gave no other specifics.
The inconclusive outcome of two days of trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden, leaves open the question of higher tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States.
Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng said the two sides had agreed to work on extending a deadline for higher tariffs.
The US side said the extension was discussed, but not decided.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters after the talks that President Donald Trump would decide whether to extend the August 12 deadline for an agreement or to let tariffs that have been paused for 90 days return to a higher level.
"We haven't given the sign-off," Bessent said, though he emphasised that the talks had been "very constructive".
China remains one of the biggest challenges for the Trump administration after it has struck deals over elevated tariff rates with other key trading partners, including Britain, Japan and the European Union.
Many analysts had expected the Stockholm talks to result in an extension of current tariff levels, which stand at a US tariff of 30 per cent on Chinese goods and a Chinese tariff of 10 per cent on US products, far lower than the triple-digit percentage rates raised in April.
The truce in the tariffs war to allow time for talks allowed exporters and other traders to ramp up shipments in hopes of beating any higher tariffs that might follow.
The meeting headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping mostly reiterated Beijing's priorities for the year, including a need to "unleash domestic demand", which has lagged, leading to a surge of exports by industries unable to find growth at home.
It also stressed the need to promote jobs and prevent a "large-scale relapse into poverty".
The economy "has demonstrated strong vitality and resilience", the Xinhua report said, but it acknowledged many risks and challenges.
That includes reining in brutal competition that has led to damaging price wars among auto makers and some other manufacturers and managing excess capacity in some industries, it said.
China's economy expanded at a 5.2 per cent annual pace in April-June, slowing slightly from the previous quarter.
Even with the hiatus in higher tariffs, companies are feeling a pinch.
Industrial profits in China fell 1.8 per cent in the first half of the year and 4.3 per cent in June, according to data released this week.
China's top leaders have pledged to help companies slammed by higher US tariffs but are holding back on major moves after trade talks with the US kept businesses and planners in limbo.
At their summer economic planning meeting, the powerful politburo of the ruling Communist Party pledged to stabilise foreign trade and investment.
"We must assist foreign trade enterprises that have been severely impacted, strengthen financing support, and promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade," the official Xinhua News Agency said in reporting the closed-door meeting on Wednesday.
It mentioned export tax rebates and free trade pilot zones but gave no other specifics.
The inconclusive outcome of two days of trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden, leaves open the question of higher tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States.
Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng said the two sides had agreed to work on extending a deadline for higher tariffs.
The US side said the extension was discussed, but not decided.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters after the talks that President Donald Trump would decide whether to extend the August 12 deadline for an agreement or to let tariffs that have been paused for 90 days return to a higher level.
"We haven't given the sign-off," Bessent said, though he emphasised that the talks had been "very constructive".
China remains one of the biggest challenges for the Trump administration after it has struck deals over elevated tariff rates with other key trading partners, including Britain, Japan and the European Union.
Many analysts had expected the Stockholm talks to result in an extension of current tariff levels, which stand at a US tariff of 30 per cent on Chinese goods and a Chinese tariff of 10 per cent on US products, far lower than the triple-digit percentage rates raised in April.
The truce in the tariffs war to allow time for talks allowed exporters and other traders to ramp up shipments in hopes of beating any higher tariffs that might follow.
The meeting headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping mostly reiterated Beijing's priorities for the year, including a need to "unleash domestic demand", which has lagged, leading to a surge of exports by industries unable to find growth at home.
It also stressed the need to promote jobs and prevent a "large-scale relapse into poverty".
The economy "has demonstrated strong vitality and resilience", the Xinhua report said, but it acknowledged many risks and challenges.
That includes reining in brutal competition that has led to damaging price wars among auto makers and some other manufacturers and managing excess capacity in some industries, it said.
China's economy expanded at a 5.2 per cent annual pace in April-June, slowing slightly from the previous quarter.
Even with the hiatus in higher tariffs, companies are feeling a pinch.
Industrial profits in China fell 1.8 per cent in the first half of the year and 4.3 per cent in June, according to data released this week.
China's top leaders have pledged to help companies slammed by higher US tariffs but are holding back on major moves after trade talks with the US kept businesses and planners in limbo.
At their summer economic planning meeting, the powerful politburo of the ruling Communist Party pledged to stabilise foreign trade and investment.
"We must assist foreign trade enterprises that have been severely impacted, strengthen financing support, and promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade," the official Xinhua News Agency said in reporting the closed-door meeting on Wednesday.
It mentioned export tax rebates and free trade pilot zones but gave no other specifics.
The inconclusive outcome of two days of trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden, leaves open the question of higher tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States.
Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng said the two sides had agreed to work on extending a deadline for higher tariffs.
The US side said the extension was discussed, but not decided.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters after the talks that President Donald Trump would decide whether to extend the August 12 deadline for an agreement or to let tariffs that have been paused for 90 days return to a higher level.
"We haven't given the sign-off," Bessent said, though he emphasised that the talks had been "very constructive".
China remains one of the biggest challenges for the Trump administration after it has struck deals over elevated tariff rates with other key trading partners, including Britain, Japan and the European Union.
Many analysts had expected the Stockholm talks to result in an extension of current tariff levels, which stand at a US tariff of 30 per cent on Chinese goods and a Chinese tariff of 10 per cent on US products, far lower than the triple-digit percentage rates raised in April.
The truce in the tariffs war to allow time for talks allowed exporters and other traders to ramp up shipments in hopes of beating any higher tariffs that might follow.
The meeting headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping mostly reiterated Beijing's priorities for the year, including a need to "unleash domestic demand", which has lagged, leading to a surge of exports by industries unable to find growth at home.
It also stressed the need to promote jobs and prevent a "large-scale relapse into poverty".
The economy "has demonstrated strong vitality and resilience", the Xinhua report said, but it acknowledged many risks and challenges.
That includes reining in brutal competition that has led to damaging price wars among auto makers and some other manufacturers and managing excess capacity in some industries, it said.
China's economy expanded at a 5.2 per cent annual pace in April-June, slowing slightly from the previous quarter.
Even with the hiatus in higher tariffs, companies are feeling a pinch.
Industrial profits in China fell 1.8 per cent in the first half of the year and 4.3 per cent in June, according to data released this week.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Cupra Born VZ: EV hot hatch coming early 2026, more affordable options could follow
Cupra Australia will finally bring the 240kW Born VZ electric hot hatch early in 2026, though customers eager for less powerful variants will have to wait a little longer. Speaking with CarExpert, head of product for Cupra Australia – Jeff Shafer – said the high-performance Born will arrive at the beginning of next year (despite being earmarked for late-2025 as recently as March), while lesser variants may arrive with an incoming mid-life facelift. "We're in the process of planning the rest of the Born range beyond the VZ – even for the VZ we're still locking in a couple of final details," Mr Shafer said. "There's a facelift coming soon, so we're looking at the timing in terms of whether it makes sense to bring [lower variants] back in the shorter term, or wait for the [mid-life update]." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Asked about how the ever-changing EV market has impacted Cupra's approach, particularly with regards to re-introducing the Born, Mr Shafer said the Spanish brand will focus on driver enjoyment and value to stand out from increasing competition from the likes of emerging Chinese brands. "Cupra doesn't aspire to be all things to all people… so we really want to make sure that we're bringing cars that are appealing to people's emotions, and are above all fun to drive," Mr Shafer said. "With the Born, we got a lot of positive feedback on the ride and handling, and how there was a feeling of quality. I think these aspects take the VZ up to another level in terms of the responsiveness. "Bringing Tavascan into the market, in the EV space just making sure you've got a product that doesn't follow the others [is important]. "[Pricing] is always a challenge, and we don't take anything for granted in the Australian market. It did move very quickly, so we're trying to make sure we're bringing a product that has the right positioning, offers value that customers can see. "But also, making sure that the points of difference that we believe we have in design, ride and handling, and calibration of our assistance systems is also communicated so that people understand what they're getting for their money," Mr Shafer continued. "It's important that people feel like they have value. So we're not always chasing the cheapest price point, I don't think that's ever our position, but you definitely have to have a value that people can see and appreciate." The Cupra Born VZ features a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 240kW of power and 545Nm of torque, increases of 70kW and 235Nm over the standard 170kW Born that is now sold out in Australia. As a result, the Born VZ can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 200km/h. Other changes under the skin of the VZ include a slightly larger 79kWh battery pack and a new DCC Sport chassis setup that includes revised dampers, anti-roll bars and rear springs. Exterior upgrades are limited to wider tyres and a choice of two 20-inch alloy wheel designs (globally): either forged or with 3D copper inserts. Two new colours join the palette: Midnight Black and Dark Forest green. Inside the cabin, the VZ is ready for the racetrack with bucket seats finished in recycled materials. The tech has also been improved over the base car, with the fitment of an upsized 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen that features Cupra's latest operating system. The early 2026 launch timing is yet another delay for the flagship Born, which was originally due in May 2025, then pushed back to late 2025 as recently as March. This means when it arrives, it will be almost a year late. No doubt one reason for the delay is the Spanish brand's local strategy of giving each new model "the right time in the sun", as communicated by Cupra Australia's former director Ben Wilks earlier this year. "It's important to really roll these out responsibly in terms of timing. Each of these models needs the right time in the sun," Mr Wilks told CarExpert in March. "These are not necessarily delays from a factory perspective, but rather structure and order from our perspective." However, since Mr Wilks' comments launch timings for several new models have changed again. The facelifted Formentor and hotter Born VZ electric hatch were both initially due on sale here before the end of 2025, and now both are coming early next year. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest Cupra Born updates MORE: Explore the Cupra Born showroom Content originally sourced from: Cupra Australia will finally bring the 240kW Born VZ electric hot hatch early in 2026, though customers eager for less powerful variants will have to wait a little longer. Speaking with CarExpert, head of product for Cupra Australia – Jeff Shafer – said the high-performance Born will arrive at the beginning of next year (despite being earmarked for late-2025 as recently as March), while lesser variants may arrive with an incoming mid-life facelift. "We're in the process of planning the rest of the Born range beyond the VZ – even for the VZ we're still locking in a couple of final details," Mr Shafer said. "There's a facelift coming soon, so we're looking at the timing in terms of whether it makes sense to bring [lower variants] back in the shorter term, or wait for the [mid-life update]." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Asked about how the ever-changing EV market has impacted Cupra's approach, particularly with regards to re-introducing the Born, Mr Shafer said the Spanish brand will focus on driver enjoyment and value to stand out from increasing competition from the likes of emerging Chinese brands. "Cupra doesn't aspire to be all things to all people… so we really want to make sure that we're bringing cars that are appealing to people's emotions, and are above all fun to drive," Mr Shafer said. "With the Born, we got a lot of positive feedback on the ride and handling, and how there was a feeling of quality. I think these aspects take the VZ up to another level in terms of the responsiveness. "Bringing Tavascan into the market, in the EV space just making sure you've got a product that doesn't follow the others [is important]. "[Pricing] is always a challenge, and we don't take anything for granted in the Australian market. It did move very quickly, so we're trying to make sure we're bringing a product that has the right positioning, offers value that customers can see. "But also, making sure that the points of difference that we believe we have in design, ride and handling, and calibration of our assistance systems is also communicated so that people understand what they're getting for their money," Mr Shafer continued. "It's important that people feel like they have value. So we're not always chasing the cheapest price point, I don't think that's ever our position, but you definitely have to have a value that people can see and appreciate." The Cupra Born VZ features a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 240kW of power and 545Nm of torque, increases of 70kW and 235Nm over the standard 170kW Born that is now sold out in Australia. As a result, the Born VZ can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 200km/h. Other changes under the skin of the VZ include a slightly larger 79kWh battery pack and a new DCC Sport chassis setup that includes revised dampers, anti-roll bars and rear springs. Exterior upgrades are limited to wider tyres and a choice of two 20-inch alloy wheel designs (globally): either forged or with 3D copper inserts. Two new colours join the palette: Midnight Black and Dark Forest green. Inside the cabin, the VZ is ready for the racetrack with bucket seats finished in recycled materials. The tech has also been improved over the base car, with the fitment of an upsized 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen that features Cupra's latest operating system. The early 2026 launch timing is yet another delay for the flagship Born, which was originally due in May 2025, then pushed back to late 2025 as recently as March. This means when it arrives, it will be almost a year late. No doubt one reason for the delay is the Spanish brand's local strategy of giving each new model "the right time in the sun", as communicated by Cupra Australia's former director Ben Wilks earlier this year. "It's important to really roll these out responsibly in terms of timing. Each of these models needs the right time in the sun," Mr Wilks told CarExpert in March. "These are not necessarily delays from a factory perspective, but rather structure and order from our perspective." However, since Mr Wilks' comments launch timings for several new models have changed again. The facelifted Formentor and hotter Born VZ electric hatch were both initially due on sale here before the end of 2025, and now both are coming early next year. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest Cupra Born updates MORE: Explore the Cupra Born showroom Content originally sourced from: Cupra Australia will finally bring the 240kW Born VZ electric hot hatch early in 2026, though customers eager for less powerful variants will have to wait a little longer. Speaking with CarExpert, head of product for Cupra Australia – Jeff Shafer – said the high-performance Born will arrive at the beginning of next year (despite being earmarked for late-2025 as recently as March), while lesser variants may arrive with an incoming mid-life facelift. "We're in the process of planning the rest of the Born range beyond the VZ – even for the VZ we're still locking in a couple of final details," Mr Shafer said. "There's a facelift coming soon, so we're looking at the timing in terms of whether it makes sense to bring [lower variants] back in the shorter term, or wait for the [mid-life update]." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Asked about how the ever-changing EV market has impacted Cupra's approach, particularly with regards to re-introducing the Born, Mr Shafer said the Spanish brand will focus on driver enjoyment and value to stand out from increasing competition from the likes of emerging Chinese brands. "Cupra doesn't aspire to be all things to all people… so we really want to make sure that we're bringing cars that are appealing to people's emotions, and are above all fun to drive," Mr Shafer said. "With the Born, we got a lot of positive feedback on the ride and handling, and how there was a feeling of quality. I think these aspects take the VZ up to another level in terms of the responsiveness. "Bringing Tavascan into the market, in the EV space just making sure you've got a product that doesn't follow the others [is important]. "[Pricing] is always a challenge, and we don't take anything for granted in the Australian market. It did move very quickly, so we're trying to make sure we're bringing a product that has the right positioning, offers value that customers can see. "But also, making sure that the points of difference that we believe we have in design, ride and handling, and calibration of our assistance systems is also communicated so that people understand what they're getting for their money," Mr Shafer continued. "It's important that people feel like they have value. So we're not always chasing the cheapest price point, I don't think that's ever our position, but you definitely have to have a value that people can see and appreciate." The Cupra Born VZ features a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 240kW of power and 545Nm of torque, increases of 70kW and 235Nm over the standard 170kW Born that is now sold out in Australia. As a result, the Born VZ can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 200km/h. Other changes under the skin of the VZ include a slightly larger 79kWh battery pack and a new DCC Sport chassis setup that includes revised dampers, anti-roll bars and rear springs. Exterior upgrades are limited to wider tyres and a choice of two 20-inch alloy wheel designs (globally): either forged or with 3D copper inserts. Two new colours join the palette: Midnight Black and Dark Forest green. Inside the cabin, the VZ is ready for the racetrack with bucket seats finished in recycled materials. The tech has also been improved over the base car, with the fitment of an upsized 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen that features Cupra's latest operating system. The early 2026 launch timing is yet another delay for the flagship Born, which was originally due in May 2025, then pushed back to late 2025 as recently as March. This means when it arrives, it will be almost a year late. No doubt one reason for the delay is the Spanish brand's local strategy of giving each new model "the right time in the sun", as communicated by Cupra Australia's former director Ben Wilks earlier this year. "It's important to really roll these out responsibly in terms of timing. Each of these models needs the right time in the sun," Mr Wilks told CarExpert in March. "These are not necessarily delays from a factory perspective, but rather structure and order from our perspective." However, since Mr Wilks' comments launch timings for several new models have changed again. The facelifted Formentor and hotter Born VZ electric hatch were both initially due on sale here before the end of 2025, and now both are coming early next year. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest Cupra Born updates MORE: Explore the Cupra Born showroom Content originally sourced from: Cupra Australia will finally bring the 240kW Born VZ electric hot hatch early in 2026, though customers eager for less powerful variants will have to wait a little longer. Speaking with CarExpert, head of product for Cupra Australia – Jeff Shafer – said the high-performance Born will arrive at the beginning of next year (despite being earmarked for late-2025 as recently as March), while lesser variants may arrive with an incoming mid-life facelift. "We're in the process of planning the rest of the Born range beyond the VZ – even for the VZ we're still locking in a couple of final details," Mr Shafer said. "There's a facelift coming soon, so we're looking at the timing in terms of whether it makes sense to bring [lower variants] back in the shorter term, or wait for the [mid-life update]." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Asked about how the ever-changing EV market has impacted Cupra's approach, particularly with regards to re-introducing the Born, Mr Shafer said the Spanish brand will focus on driver enjoyment and value to stand out from increasing competition from the likes of emerging Chinese brands. "Cupra doesn't aspire to be all things to all people… so we really want to make sure that we're bringing cars that are appealing to people's emotions, and are above all fun to drive," Mr Shafer said. "With the Born, we got a lot of positive feedback on the ride and handling, and how there was a feeling of quality. I think these aspects take the VZ up to another level in terms of the responsiveness. "Bringing Tavascan into the market, in the EV space just making sure you've got a product that doesn't follow the others [is important]. "[Pricing] is always a challenge, and we don't take anything for granted in the Australian market. It did move very quickly, so we're trying to make sure we're bringing a product that has the right positioning, offers value that customers can see. "But also, making sure that the points of difference that we believe we have in design, ride and handling, and calibration of our assistance systems is also communicated so that people understand what they're getting for their money," Mr Shafer continued. "It's important that people feel like they have value. So we're not always chasing the cheapest price point, I don't think that's ever our position, but you definitely have to have a value that people can see and appreciate." The Cupra Born VZ features a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 240kW of power and 545Nm of torque, increases of 70kW and 235Nm over the standard 170kW Born that is now sold out in Australia. As a result, the Born VZ can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 200km/h. Other changes under the skin of the VZ include a slightly larger 79kWh battery pack and a new DCC Sport chassis setup that includes revised dampers, anti-roll bars and rear springs. Exterior upgrades are limited to wider tyres and a choice of two 20-inch alloy wheel designs (globally): either forged or with 3D copper inserts. Two new colours join the palette: Midnight Black and Dark Forest green. Inside the cabin, the VZ is ready for the racetrack with bucket seats finished in recycled materials. The tech has also been improved over the base car, with the fitment of an upsized 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen that features Cupra's latest operating system. The early 2026 launch timing is yet another delay for the flagship Born, which was originally due in May 2025, then pushed back to late 2025 as recently as March. This means when it arrives, it will be almost a year late. No doubt one reason for the delay is the Spanish brand's local strategy of giving each new model "the right time in the sun", as communicated by Cupra Australia's former director Ben Wilks earlier this year. "It's important to really roll these out responsibly in terms of timing. Each of these models needs the right time in the sun," Mr Wilks told CarExpert in March. "These are not necessarily delays from a factory perspective, but rather structure and order from our perspective." However, since Mr Wilks' comments launch timings for several new models have changed again. The facelifted Formentor and hotter Born VZ electric hatch were both initially due on sale here before the end of 2025, and now both are coming early next year. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest Cupra Born updates MORE: Explore the Cupra Born showroom Content originally sourced from:
Mercury
3 hours ago
- Mercury
Quarterlies: Canadian activity continuing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. Canada is rich in critical minerals, sought after for essential high-tech applications Government has made moves to boost investment in resources Australian companies have been progressing resource projects in the country Canada is well known for its mineral riches including sought-after rare earths, uranium, lithium and other critical minerals essential for running the modern economy. While the Trump administration continues to slap trade tariffs on friend and foe alike, Canada's proximity makes it infinitely valuable as a potential source of critical minerals with which to build supply chains that are independent of Chinese influence. This potential has been clearly recognised by the Canadian federal and provincial/territorial governments as evidenced by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) introducing a C$420,000 investment at the PDAC conference earlier this year to facilitate promotional efforts by the territorial governments of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Other steps include the removal of interprovincial trade barriers, streamlined project approvals through a new 'One Project, One Review' framework, the creation of a 'First Mile Fund' to boost early-stage investment, improved labour mobility across provinces and increased participation by indigenous communities. Here are some ASX juniors progressing their resource projects in Canada… During the June 2025 quarter, a power study completed by global engineering consultancy firm Hatch identified and quantified technical solutions for the supply of 100% renewable energy for the Iron Bear mining and concentrator complex and the adjacent city of Schefferville. This evaluated three staged power supply scenarios including with the first phase providing 120 megawatts for a concentrator complex with an operating capacity of 10Mtpa, Phase 2 providing 250MW for a 25Mtpa concentrator, and Phase 3 providing 500MW for a 50Mtpa concentrator. Phase 1 could be powered by a new 60MW hydropower plant at Menihek and a new 280MW windfarm. This will be supplemented by a 10MWh battery energy storage system and two 315 kilovolt power lines connected to the Churchill Falls hydroplant in Phase 2. A third power line from Churchill Falls will help meet energy requirements for Phase 3. Cyclone has also progressed the engineering workstreams for the scoping study and rail study, both of which are currently under review. Additionally, the company has completed Phase 4 of the metallurgical testwork, which confirmed the ability to produce a direct reduction concentrate grading 71% iron, a blast furnace concentrate at 69.1% iron and direct reduction pellets grading 68.4% iron. Critical flotation optimisation testwork also delivered recoveries of up to 89% mass yield, substantially higher than the previous 80% mass yield, while the first stage of terrestrial and hydrology field surveys in and around the Iron Bear project area have been completed. Meanwhile, assays from maiden drilling at the Danvers prospect within White Cliff's Rae project in Nunavut, have confirmed and validated the strategy to explore previously untested high-grade zones and vertical depth extension of mineralisation. All drillholes intersected significant mineralisation with notable results including 90m at 4% copper and 7.5g/t silver from surface and 58m at 3.08% copper and 13.3g/t silver from 52m. This led to the definition of Danvers as a 150m-long, thick and vertical, rectangular shaped structure with mineralisation from surface that is open both to the north and south. The company will start updating the historical non-JORC resource at Danvers to 2012 standards while further drilling will now focus on testing for mineralisation along a total of ±10km of prospective structure in both directions. White Cliff has also raised $12.4m using 'flow-through' provisions under Canadian tax law while its shares have commenced trading on the OTCQB Venture Market. During the quarter, Loyal Metals changed its name from Loyal Lithium to reflect its 'Ground to Grid' strategy to broaden its critical minerals and technology portfolio beyond hard rock lithium. It is also progressed evaluation of advancement strategies for each of its three North American lithium assets to maximise return and minimise shareholder dilution. These include the Hidden Lake lithium project in the North West Territories and the Trieste lithium project in Quebec. Trieste covers ~250km2 and hosts eight lithium mineralised pegmatite dykes that are notable for spodumene mega crystals, that predominantly occur within metasediments. A 3D model developed with the aid of mobile magnetotellurics highlighted three distinct high-resistivity metasediment-hosted trends extending over 300m below the surface. Geologists from the Quebec government are planning a structural geology study at the Trieste site to assess regional mineralization controls and potential lithium-bearing pegmatites. Hidden Lake is 65km from the mining city of Yellowknife and has a regional resource of 50.4Mt at 1% Li2O. It hosts seven mineralised spodumene dykes that span 3,250m, four of which have been drill tested to depths of 30-50m with all holes intersecting high-grade spodumene pegmatite intervals. During the June 2025 quarter, a Plan of Survey was started in preparation for conversion to mineral leases. During the June 2025 quarter, GT1 completed a $3.46m capital raising to support ongoing project development and submitted an application for Round 2 CMIF funding of C$5.5m to support indigenous consultation, further studies and early engineering works at its Seymour and Root lithium projects. Adding interest, EcoPro Innovation completed at its South Korean facility pilot lithium conversion testing of spodumene concentrate sourced from its Seymour project in Ontario, Canada. GT1 is carrying out a strategic review of its broader exploration portfolio after discovering a substantial rubidium resource at Seymour. It also submitted two additional mining lease applications during the quarter that complement the existing lease covering the core development area at Seymour. At Stockhead, we tell it like it is. While Cyclone Metals, White Cliff Minerals, Loyal Metals and Green Technology Metals are Stockhead advertisers, they did not sponsor this article. Originally published as ASX Resources Quarterly Wrap: These ASX plays are thriving in Canada
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Larvotto greenlights $140M NSW Hillgrove gold-antimony mine
A big day has dawned for Larvotto Resources after the company fired the starter's gun on the development of its $140 million flagship Hillgrove antimony-gold project in New South Wales through to first production. The final investment decision (FID) followed the completion of a US$105 million (A$161 million) senior secured bond issue and a fresh $60 million equity raising. Locking in FID 18 months after picking up Hillgrove from administrators for a bargain $8 million - including a $5 million environmental bond - is nothing short of remarkable. The textbook turnaround has arguably highlighted one of the savviest deals struck on the ASX in the past two years. Larvotto says it has now opened the door to one of Australia's most strategically important critical minerals projects, putting the company in the rare position of becoming the only new source of antimony outside China for the next four years. 'Approving this FID represents a landmark moment in the development of Hillgrove.' Larvotto Resources managing director Ron Heeks Antimony is listed as a critical mineral around the globe and was thrust into the headlines a year ago after China - the world's biggest producer - announced it would no longer allow exports. The news sent the metal price through the roof, quadrupling to more than $75,000 a tonne. Antimony is an essential element used in batteries, solar panels and military-grade applications. And the company's entry into the antimony market comes at a critical time, when western nations are scrambling to reduce their reliance on Chinese supply. Larvotto Resources managing director Ron Heeks said: 'Approving this FID represents a landmark moment in the development of Hillgrove. The project is also set to provide the mining industry in New South Wales with a new producing operation. We are grateful for the incredible support the project has continually received in the state from the respective NSW Resources and Planning Departments.' A definitive feasibility study released in May painted a blockbuster picture for Hillgrove, confirming it as a technically robust, high-margin powerhouse.
