Episode Details

New Hope and Malabar Agree a Binding All-Scrip Coal Merger: First, Australia, where two coal producers have signed a binding deal. In an ASX release dated October 19, New Hope Corporation and Malabar Resources said they entered a scheme implementation deed under which New Hope will acquire all the Malabar shares it does not already own. Copper Supply: South32 Holds Guidance, Freeport Leans on Leaching: Meanwhile, two copper producers reported on how they plan to find more metal. First, South32. Reuters reports its first-quarter copper production rose 2 percent on higher planned ore grades, slightly below market expectations. In its September quarter report, South32 said FY27 production guidance is unchanged across all operations, and that Sierra Gorda payable copper equivalent production rose 11 percent on higher grades. China Growth Beats at 4.5%, but Investment Keeps Falling: Next, the demand side. Reuters reports China's economy grew 4.5 percent year on year in the third quarter, beating the 4.4 percent forecast and rebounding from three-year lows. Growth for the first nine months was 4.6 percent, against a government target of 4.5 to 5 percent for 2026, which analysts expect Beijing to reach without additional stimulus. Lithium Slides to Year Lows as Zimbabwe Producers Lobby on Tax: Finally, lithium. Shanghai Metals Market reports the most-traded lithium carbonate futures contract fell 11.79 percent in a single day on October 12, to 104,680 yuan a tonne, breaking below 110,000 yuan for the first time this year. By October 14 it was 100,900 yuan, nearly half the May high of 209,900 yuan. Sources: - New Hope and Malabar ASX release — New Hope and Malabar Agree a Binding All-Scrip Coal Merger: https://malabarresources.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/New-Hope-and-Malabar-to-Combine-Through-Recommended-Scheme-of-Arrangement-19.10.26.pdf - Reuters via Mining Weekly — New Hope and Malabar Agree a Binding All-Scrip Coal Merger: https://www.miningweekly.com/article/australias-new-hope-to-fold-malabar-resources-into-439bn-coal-group-in-all-scrip-deal-2026-10-19 - South32 Quarterly Report September 2026 — Copper Supply: South32 Holds Guidance, Freeport Leans on Leaching: https://investorpa.com/announcement/358670/ - Reuters via Mining Weekly (South32) — Copper Supply: South32 Holds Guidance, Freeport Leans on Leaching: https://www.miningweekly.com/page/latest-news/feed - Reuters via Fidelity (Freeport) — Copper Supply: South32 Holds Guidance, Freeport Leans on Leaching: https://www.fidelity.com/news/article/default/202610190100RTRSNEWSCOMBINED_L1N46014I_1 - Reuters — China Growth Beats at 4.5%, but Investment Keeps Falling: https://www.reuters.com/5f374b32b07b/world/china/chinas-economic-growth-picks-up-third-quarter-beating-expectations-2026-10-19/ - ABC News Australia markets blog — China Growth Beats at 4.5%, but Investment Keeps Falling: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-19/asx-markets-business-live-news/107280976 - Shanghai Metals Market — Lithium Slides to Year Lows as Zimbabwe Producers Lobby on Tax: https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104160467-smm-cobalt-lithium-morning-meeting-summary-supply-demand-expectations-diverge-material-prices-under-pressure-industry-chain-prosperity-diverges - Zimbabwe Situation (Business Reporter) — Lithium Slides to Year Lows as Zimbabwe Producers Lobby on Tax: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/lithium-producers-push-for-tax-reforms-royalty-overhaul/ - Anglo American investor calendar — Tomorrow's Flashpoint: https://www.angloamerican.com/investors/investor-calendar