Company Interview / the open: ASX to rebound slightly as oil surges 🛢️

Key points:

Jang focuses on critical minerals, particularly fluorspar, as central to the AI and semiconductor thematic Evion Group (ASX:EVG) highlighted as a key play on graphite and US fluorspar diversificationCSL (ASX:CSL) viewed as a continuing sell due to management concerns

Jimmy Jang from GBA Capital views the latest Wall Street records as being driven by renewed conviction in semiconductors, AI and energy, despite rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran. Jang notes that markets appear more focused on top‑down thematics and critical supply chains, particularly in energy and critical minerals, while remaining wary of upcoming Federal Reserve and FOMC decisions that could shift sentiment.

Jang states that this is a time to invest with caution, highlighting a strong preference for commodities and critical minerals such as fluorspar, which Jang regards as essential for semiconductors, electric vehicles, nuclear fuel and aerospace. Locally, Jang points to ongoing company downgrades and singles out CSL (ASX:CSL) as a long‑term sell due to management‑driven concerns, suggesting investors are punishing poor capital allocation more quickly in the current macro environment.

A key holding for Jang is Evion Group (ASX:EVG), described as a vertically integrated critical minerals play with graphite assets in Madagascar and a non‑Chinese graphite supply chain. Jang emphasises its capital raising to acquire a fluorspar asset in Nevada, set against US dependence on imported fluorspar and China’s dominant, tightening supply. Other preferred exposures include semiconductor‑linked PR1, energy names such as Viva Energy (ASX:VEA) and Korean Energy, and Bitcoin as a recovering, commodity‑style risk asset.