Proactive investors

With chunky economic numbers from China boosting commodity prices we take a brief look at the country's position in different market places - while noting also that hopes for a recovery in global trade appear to be borne out by freight rates.

Right now, the world relies almost completely on China for its rare-earth supply. The Chinese have made it clear that they want to keep more supply for themselves as they try to be the world leader in green technology

The latest economic figures from China have put pressure on the dollar and boosted a number of high-yielding currencies, including the Australian dollar and the South African rand.