Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed down 30.6 points, or 0.33%, at 9,134.00 on Wednesday, August 26.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said the world needs diplomacy more than ever.

1. After workers rejected BHP Billiton's proposed wage package, the union has submitted a counter-proposal, and the two sides will hold the next round of negotiations on September 8. The union stated that the previously rejected BHP Billiton proposal would perpetuate serious inequality among workers and plans to meet with the Australian Fair Work Commission on September 15. 2. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange stated that Argentina's corn planting area for 2026/27 is projected at 8.4 million hectares, unchanged from the previous year. Improved soil moisture due to El Niño is supporting planting, but pest risks and rising costs are putting pressure on farmers' planting plans. 3. Citigroup raised its price targets for corn, soybeans, and wheat on Tuesday, as the strengthening of the Super El Niño phenomenon is the biggest risk facing the agricultural sector in late 2026 and early 2027. 4. Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryoma Akazawa stated on Tuesday that Japan plans not to release additional national oil reserves in September and October. 5. If the ongoing global oil product crisis intensifies, it could pose significant risks to Mongolia's mining and industrial sectors. Therefore, the Mongolian government, within the framework of expanding oil product import channels, has set a target of increasing fuel imports from China to 30% of domestic consumption. 6. Three industry sources indicated that, with the ongoing fuel shortage in Russia and several refineries remaining shut down after multiple attacks by Ukrainian drones, Russia plans to extend its diesel export ban until the end of September. 7. According to Xinluo Lithium Battery, based on the assumption that Chocolate's battery swapping stations typically have 48 20# lithium batteries (52kWh ternary lithium) and Qiji's stations typically have 24 75# lithium batteries (171kWh), the lithium battery demand corresponding to CATL's newly added battery swapping stations in 2026 will reach 12.7GWh, roughly equivalent to a demand of 7,600 tons of lithium carbonate, equivalent to one month's production at Jianxiawo. 8. According to the latest investor relations activity record disclosed by Zhongkuang Resources, the company has actively overcome difficulties such as tight land transportation capacity and port congestion in Africa, and its transportation capacity has continued to improve. As of the date of this report, the transportation of lithium concentrate from Bikita has returned to normal, and the supply of lithium concentrate can meet the raw material needs of the company's domestic smelting capacity. 9. The Shanghai Municipal People's Government issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for Accelerating the Construction of Shanghai as an International Trade Center." The plan mentions accelerating the expansion of commodity categories in bulk transactions and expanding the trading scale of key metal categories such as copper and aluminum.