US Stock Market Move | Rare earth stocks surged strongly, with USA Rare Earth (USAR.US) soaring over 28%.

On Wednesday, rare earth stocks on the US stock market performed strongly, with USA Rare Earth (USAR.US) soaring over 28%, doubling its stock price in the three trading days of the week; MP Materials (MP.US) surged by 15%. According to CCTV News, on April 15, US President Trump signed an executive order to investigate the national security risks of America's dependence on imported critical minerals and their derivatives. The above executive order covers a range of minerals identified by the US government as the "cornerstone of the defense industrial base," including rare earth elements, which are essential for manufacturing jet engines, missile guidance systems, advanced computers, as well as radar, optical, and communication equipment. Furthermore, uranium, minerals in processed forms, and their derivatives are also included in the scope of regulation. The White House stated that this latest investigation may cover all critical minerals defined by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS's list of 50 critical minerals includes lithium, nickel, zinc, tin, platinum, and a range of more niche metals, but the final decision on which minerals will be included in policy recommendations will still be flexibly determined by US government officials.