The behemoth will apparently add US$146 million to its ailing economy.

Others in global markets continue to await the US Fed meeting in Jackson Hole Friday for more visibility on the inflation battle.

Metals trading in Asia was generally positive for metals, albeit the gains were generally not much more than modest.

Leading stocks on the day included uranium names after the Japanese government said it was looking at the possibility of going back down the nuclear power route.

That's a volte face after the direction taken in the wake of Fukushima early last decade.

Uranium project re-developer Paladin was the main stock to prosper, with the gain by explorer NexGen coming on the back of typical (for it) weak volumes.

Gold stocks were also in demand ahead of Jackson Hole.

In the junior precinct, White Cliff Minerals (WCN) more than doubled intra-session after reporting a rare earths discovery in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.

White Cliff may need some cash sharpish given 900K in the kitty at the end of June.

Varisan Mines (VAR) was another with an intra-session doubling, with its news of high grade, wide zinc widths in Spain doing the trick.

For the record, Variscan had $1.9 million at the end of June.

Finally, Anson Resources (ASN) was up 27% in late trade on an MoU with a lithium plant developer.

Updated: 25-08-2022