London, February 15, 2026, 11:37 (GMT) — The market is shut.
- Rio Tinto shares ended the session on Friday at 7,187 pence, slipping 0.33%.
- Iron ore futures slipped as traders pared back positions before China’s Lunar New Year break.
- Eyes are on Rio’s annual results coming up Feb 19, with dividend cues and cost outlook front and center.
Rio Tinto closed out Friday at 7,187 pence, slipping 0.33% after moving within a band from 7,020 to 7,241 pence. London now takes its weekend pause—trading action picks up again Monday. 1
Rio’s results land in the thick of a packed week for miners, rubbing shoulders with earnings from Glencore, Anglo American and Antofagasta. The company is a heavyweight—among the largest miners in Europe—and its moves ripple across the tape. UK jobs and inflation numbers are looming, too. 2
Awkward timing here. Metal prices surged in January, only to get skittish this month. Traders now are zeroing in on clues that China’s demand could be fading as the Lunar New Year slowdown approaches.
Iron ore futures lost ground Friday, with traders pulling back before the holiday. Dalian’s top-traded May contract dropped 1.51% to 752.5 yuan a tonne at 0322 GMT. Over in Singapore, the March benchmark slipped 1.24% to $98.35. “Hot metal” output—a key steel demand indicator—“has continued to pull back,” said Navigate Commodities’ Atilla Widnell. 3
Aluminium and copper slipped again. On the London Metal Exchange (LME), aluminium dropped 0.9% to $3,074 a tonne by 1700 GMT, after the Financial Times said U.S. President Donald Trump might roll back some steel and aluminium tariffs—those tariffs peaked at 50% last June. “Macro-driven risk-off sentiment and broad profit-taking continue to unwind the strong early-year rally,” ING’s Ewa Manthey said. Morgan Stanley’s Amy Gower noted that prices would see “downward pressure” only if tariff cuts reach primary metals. Shanghai futures will go on break from Feb. 15, returning Feb. 24. Meanwhile, copper inventories on exchanges climbed past 1 million tonnes. 4
Rio sticks to its bread and butter—bulk materials—but policy moves can shake things up. Iron ore remains the core profit engine. Copper and aluminium? They tend to grab the spotlight when tariffs flare up or supply chains start making news.
On Thursday, Feb. 19, the company plans to release its 2025 annual results around 05:30 GMT. Chief executive Simon Trott and finance chief Peter Cunningham will take the lead for the webcast, with a presentation and Q&A session lined up for later that morning. 5
Investors are set to dig into updates on production targets, cost trends, and what companies plan for cash returns. They’ll be tuned in to how executives describe demand after China’s holiday lull passes. Weather and shipping — still in focus, especially after cyclones rattled iron ore supply — remains part of the conversation.
The setup swings both directions. A sharper drop in iron ore during China’s lull—or even a hint of caution on steel demand—can drag shares down fast. A shift in tariff policy might also shake up aluminium trade flows and regional prices.
London trading picks up again Monday. Miners are back in the spotlight as the earnings calendar fills out this week. For Rio Tinto, eyes turn to Thursday—annual results drop around 05:30 GMT, marking the next major event for the stock.
