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China Economy 11 January 2026 - 17 January 2026

Agricultural Bank of China A-shares slide again — 601288 investors eye Monday’s margin-rule reset

Agricultural Bank of China A-shares slide again — 601288 investors eye Monday’s margin-rule reset

Agricultural Bank of China’s Shanghai A shares fell 1.6% to 7.21 yuan Friday, capping a 5% slide over three sessions as trading volume reached 372 million shares. Mainland exchanges will raise margin requirements to 100% on Monday, while the central bank cuts rates on targeted lending tools. Other major banks and the CSI 300 index also declined. Outstanding yuan loans hit 271.91 trillion yuan at year-end, up 6.4% from 2024.
17 January 2026
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Alibaba stock price slips 3% into weekend as Qwen AI rollout meets China data week

Alibaba stock price slips 3% into weekend as Qwen AI rollout meets China data week

Alibaba shares fell 3.2% to $165.40 Friday, ending a short rally before the U.S. market holiday. The company upgraded its Qwen AI app this week, adding food delivery and travel booking features now in public testing across China. China’s GDP and activity data will be released Monday, with markets watching for signs of slowing growth.
17 January 2026
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Glencore share price slides as Rio Tinto bid clock ticks and China scrutiny grows

Glencore share price slides as Rio Tinto bid clock ticks and China scrutiny grows

Glencore shares closed down 2.53% at 478.6 pence Friday amid takeover speculation involving Rio Tinto, which faces a Feb. 5 UK deadline to make a formal bid or walk away. Investors weighed China regulatory risks and awaited Glencore’s production update due Jan. 29. Trading volume reached about 61.9 million shares. BlackRock disclosed a 7.13% stake under UK takeover rules.
17 January 2026
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Lithium price whipsaws after China futures hit down-limit; Albemarle, SQM ease before U.S. open

Lithium price whipsaws after China futures hit down-limit; Albemarle, SQM ease before U.S. open

China’s top-traded lithium carbonate futures fell nearly 9% Friday, repeatedly hitting daily down-limits at 146,200 yuan per ton. Leading lithium miners Albemarle, SQM, and Lithium Americas slipped in U.S. premarket trading as policy shifts in Washington and Brazil fueled supply concerns. Brazil’s Labor Ministry ordered waste pile closures at Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo mine, citing safety risks.
16 January 2026
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Rio Tinto stock price in focus: China approval risk hangs over Glencore talks

Rio Tinto stock price in focus: China approval risk hangs over Glencore talks

Rio Tinto shares closed at 6,468 pence Thursday, up 1.78%, after a volatile session. Analysts warn China may require asset sales for any Rio-Glencore merger, citing concerns over copper market share. Rio announced a two-year copper supply deal with Amazon and signed a new collaboration plan with BHP on Pilbara iron ore. BlackRock disclosed stakes in Rio under UK takeover rules.
16 January 2026
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BHP share price slips after Pilbara tie-up with Rio Tinto as China iron ore signals stay mixed

BHP share price slips after Pilbara tie-up with Rio Tinto as China iron ore signals stay mixed

BHP shares fell 1.1% to A$48.85 in Sydney, reversing gains from the previous session. Rio Tinto and BHP announced a partnership to develop Pilbara iron ore deposits, targeting up to 200 million tonnes. Iron ore prices stayed volatile as China’s December imports hit a record 119.65 million tons. BHP’s operational review is scheduled for Jan. 20, with half-year earnings due Feb. 17.
16 January 2026
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Trip.com stock sinks nearly 18% after China antitrust probe notice — what investors watch now

Trip.com stock sinks nearly 18% after China antitrust probe notice — what investors watch now

Trip.com’s U.S.-listed shares plunged 17.7% to $62.26 after China’s market regulator opened an antitrust investigation into the company. The State Administration for Market Regulation is probing suspected abuse of market dominance but has not detailed the allegations. Trip.com said operations continue as normal and pledged cooperation. Hong Kong shares fell 6.5% earlier in the day.
14 January 2026
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NIO stock drops again as EU tariff rethink and China sales slowdown hit sentiment

NIO stock drops again as EU tariff rethink and China sales slowdown hit sentiment

Nio shares fell 1.6% to $4.61 in New York late Wednesday morning as the EU revived a “minimum price” tariff option for Chinese EVs. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers forecast vehicle sales growth will slow to 1% in 2026. Nio said it will continue its European expansion despite new trade conditions. EU tariffs on Chinese EVs can reach up to 35.3%.
14 January 2026
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PLS Group stock hits a 52-week high as China lithium surges — what investors watch next

PLS Group stock hits a 52-week high as China lithium surges — what investors watch next

PLS Group Limited shares rose 1.9% to A$4.86, nearing a 52-week high and valuing the company at about A$15.7 billion. The move followed a 7.2% jump in Chinese lithium carbonate futures after China announced plans to cut VAT export rebates on battery products. Investors are watching if the rally leads to sustained demand or a short-term spike. PLS will release its December-quarter report on Jan. 30.
13 January 2026
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Lithium prices spike 9% in China on tax-rebate shift, pushing SQM stock up before the bell

Lithium prices spike 9% in China on tax-rebate shift, pushing SQM stock up before the bell

Lithium prices in China jumped to a two-year high after Beijing cut export VAT rebates on batteries, sending the main futures contract up 9% to 156,060 yuan per ton. SQM rose 0.5% in U.S. premarket trading, while Albemarle gained and Lithium Americas fell. Chinese battery makers dropped, but upstream lithium producers advanced. SQM finalized a framework deal with Codelco, pending a Supreme Court ruling.
12 January 2026
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PLS Group (ASX:PLS) stock climbs as China lithium prices hit limit-up — what to watch next

PLS Group (ASX:PLS) stock climbs as China lithium prices hit limit-up — what to watch next

PLS Group shares rose 2.6% to A$4.77 Monday, tracking a sharp jump in China’s lithium carbonate prices, which climbed about 12,000 yuan to 148,000–156,000 yuan per ton. Liontown and Mineral Resources also advanced on the ASX. PLS will release its quarterly update in late January. Australia announced a A$1.2 billion critical minerals reserve, excluding lithium.
12 January 2026
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Fortescue share price drops as iron ore traders look to China data, quarterly update next

Fortescue share price drops as iron ore traders look to China data, quarterly update next

Fortescue shares fell 1.4% to A$22.40, underperforming the broader market as heavyweight miners dragged the index despite gains in energy and gold stocks. Company filings showed 272,520 new employee performance rights issued and 1,309 lapsed in December. About 4.7 million shares traded, up from Friday. Investors await Fortescue’s quarterly production report on Jan. 22.
12 January 2026
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China Mobile Limited Class A stock (600941) on watch: AI “infrastructure edge” talk meets China data week

China Mobile Limited Class A stock (600941) on watch: AI “infrastructure edge” talk meets China data week

China Mobile’s Class A shares closed flat at 100.12 yuan in Shanghai Monday. Weekend remarks from Chinese AI experts highlighted China’s edge in electricity and network infrastructure, drawing investor focus to telecom stocks. Key December trade and credit data are due later this week. China reported 4.83 million 5G base stations and 1.19 billion 5G users by November.
11 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • US Natural Gas Prices Fall on Warmer Weather Forecasts
    March 21, 2026, 12:07 PM EDT. April Nymex natural gas prices slid 2.24% amid forecasts of warmer temperatures across the western US, potentially reducing heating demand. The Commodity Weather Group projects above-average March temperatures, prompting bearish sentiment. However, supply disruptions in Qatar, where damage to 17% of the Ras Laffan LNG export plant could cut global liquefied natural gas supply for years, may constrain further price declines. US dry gas production rose 4.8% year-on-year, nearing record levels, while demand fell 22.9%. US natural gas inventories increased significantly, signaling ample supply. Electricity output gains in the US partially offset bearish factors. Active US gas rigs dropped slightly but remain near a 2.5-year high. The combined outlook balances lower demand and rising supply against global export risks and geopolitical tensions affecting gas markets.
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