ASX 200 news from Wednesday 22nd October 2025: ASX falls; rare earths stocks plunge amid profit taking
ASX 200 Dips as Precious Metals Prices Correct Sharply
The Australian sharemarket pulled back from recent highs on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 index retreating 0.7% to 9030, driven mostly by a sharp correction in precious metals prices. After an impressive rally, the gold price experienced its largest single-day drop in 12 years, tumbling by up to 6.3%, pulling gold stocks and rare earth producers into negative territory.
This sudden contraction followed days of strong momentum fueled by geopolitical support — notably, the US-Australia $4.6 billion critical minerals investment deal announced just a day earlier. Despite this, profit taking quickly set in, reflecting investor caution at these elevated metal valuations.
Key Highlights in Metals Stocks
- Gold miners faced steep declines: Newmont dropped 9.6%, Bellevue Gold fell 9.8%, while Ramelius Resources and Genesis Minerals both shed more than 10%.
- Rare earth producers also plunged—Arafura fell 13.5%, Australian Strategic Materials lost 11.6%, and Australian Rare Earths declined 10.5%—despite the major bilateral investment deal.
Market analysts suggest the pullback represents a natural pause after a “spectacular run,” with volatility expected to rise as gold attempts to stabilize at these high levels. However, fundamental long-term drivers—such as geopolitical demand and supply constraints—remain intact, signaling potential investment opportunities after this correction.
Investment Outlook
While short-term profit taking unsettled metals stocks, the broader strategic significance of precious and rare earth metals in critical minerals supply chains reinforces their appeal. The recent US-Australia partnership underlines government-level commitment to securing supply, which may support prices over the medium term. Investors looking to enter or add exposure might consider this volatility as an attractive entry point into fundamentally strong mining companies poised to benefit from rising demand for strategic materials.
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