China Rare Earth Group Co., Ltd., a state-owned enterprise, has made breakthroughs in mineral exploration, the group announced on Saturday.
The output of rare-earth oxides is projected to increase by 4.96 million tons, according to the group.
At a symposium and a midterm evaluation on the exploration, experts concluded that the search for rare-earth minerals in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of southwest China's Sichuan Province has made remarkable progress.
Rare earths consist of 17 elements that are widely used in high-tech products ranging from flat-screen TVs to lasers and hybrid cars.
China holds the world's largest reserves of rare earth mineral and is also its largest producer.
Chinese company makes breakthroughs in rare-earth exploration
Chinese company makes breakthroughs in rare-earth exploration
The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday slashed interest rates by 50 basis points amid cooling inflation and a weakening labor market, marking the first rate cut in over four years.
"The Committee has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance," the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the central bank's policy-setting body, said in a statement.
"In light of the progress on inflation and the balance of risks, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/2 percentage point to 4-3/4 to 5 percent," the FOMC said.
This signals the start of an easing cycle. Starting from March 2022, the Fed had raised rates consecutively for 11 times to combat inflation not seen in forty years, pushing the target range for the federal funds rate up to between 5.25 percent and 5.5 percent, the highest level in over two decades.
After maintaining rates at the high level for over a year, the Fed's tight monetary policy faced pressure to pivot due to the easing of inflationary pressures, signs of weakening in the job market, and slowing economic growth.
U.S. Fed slashes rates by 50 basis points, first rate cut in four years
