China controls the rare minerals mining

Due to diplomatic spats, China has cut exports of 17 rare minerals to Japan. These minerals are used in many high tech industries and are irreplaceable. Due to low income, mines around the world stopped mining these metals and now China controls ninety five percent of this market. China is using it as a leverage, limiting exports and demanding that companies that want the raw materials will move to china. Due to the high demand of these minerals investors want to reopen some of the closed mines around the world. Five publically traded mining companies went up fifty percent and more.

China Accused of Artificially Controlling Currency

Gist: In the foreign exchange markets, the U.S. is accusing China of keeping their currency, the Yuan, artificially low contributing to the $250 billion trade gap between the two countries.

What advantage does China get undervaluing their currency?  Say a widget costs $18 to make in the US and 100 Yuan (currently $15) to make in China.  The US firm will have a tough time selling in China, all things being equal.  But if the Yuan were suddenly stronger, say 100 Yuan will now buy $20, then the US firm will have an easier time selling in China.  It works the other way, too.  The US dollar is artificially strong, so our dollar buys more Chinese goods.  This creates a big trade gap (we buy more from them than they buy from us).  US jobs are lost--at least in the short term.