Network Metals LLC

Lately on CNBC and some financial websites, rare earth metals and how they relate to China have become the hip topic of conversation. We have been talking about this for a while, but the news continues to emerge ever day and Chinese involvement in the sector is indeed a crucial factor in understanding how the rare earth market will unfold over the next several years (given their use in everything from hybrid cars to laptops to other high-technology developments). Today we have word out of Australia that a Chinese-owned group plans to take a further 25% stake in Arafura Resources (ASX:ARU), an Australia rare earth metals exploration and production company. Arafura has an enormous land package in Australia, and the Chinese have expressed even more interest than usual in Arafura given its close proximity to China (as opposed to the Canadian rare earth producers and exploration companies). We will keep you apprised of any further developments in this story and the sector in general, as we expect the Chinese interest in rare earths to grow exponentially.