Basic materials stocks today: XLB ends 2025 lower as silver slumps, China PMI surprise in focus
Spot silver fell 7.1% and spot gold dropped 0.78% Wednesday as U.S. basic materials ETFs XLB and IYM lost 0.83% and 0.98%. Freeport-McMoRan slid 1.21%, Newmont 1.97%. China’s official PMI rose to 50.1 in December, signaling expansion for the first time in eight months. U.S. markets are closed Thursday for New Year’s Day.