- China is ready to use rare earths to strike back in the U.S. trade war, the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily warned overnight, saying in a strongly worded commentary "don't say we didn't warn you."
- Rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements used in everything from high-tech consumer electronics to military equipment.
- U.S. stock index futures slipped further on the news, with the DJIA pointing to a 193-point loss, while the Shanghai Composite rose as much as 0.9% during the session, boosted by shares of rare earth miners in Asia Pacific.
- ETFs: SPY, QQQ, DIA, FXI, KWEB, ASHR, YINN, CAF, EWH, CQQQ, YANG, MCHI, GXC, CYB, FXP, PGJ, CN, KBA, TAO, CHIQ, HAO, CHIX