Rare Earth Metal Shortage Could Sink These Three ETFs

While most investors are relatively familiar with metals such as gold and copper, few know anything about an increasingly vital group of resources known as “rare earths.” As the name suggests, these metals are very scarce, but are needed for a variety of modern technologies ranging from alternative fuels to consumer electronics to defense and security systems. As demand for these modern goods has surged in recent years, it has put a strain on existing rare earth supplies. Historically, the chief supplier of rare earth metals to the U.S. was China, but that arrangement has been called into question as the Asian superpower continues to expand and Beijing has decided to keep more home grown resources within the confines of the Great Wall. A huge step in this policy came earlier this month as China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that foreign shipments of rare earth metals came in at just [...] Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com. Related Stories: Earth Day Special: Definitive Guide To Clean Energy ETFs China Export Ban Could Sting ETFs Aerospace & Defense ETFs Head-To-Head: ITA vs. PPA