USD Index fell 0.52% to 100.86 while AUD/USD rose 0.33%, yet critical minerals prices showed minimal movement except lithium hydroxide which gained 3.40% to 143750 CNY/t, reflecting muted macro pass-through amid flat readings across cobalt, nickel and rare earth oxides. The dominant overnight factor is the DRC customs system failure that blocks Glencore and CMOC from declaring first-half 2026 cobalt export quotas by the July 5 deadline, placing up to 20,000 metric tons valued at $1.1 billion at risk of reassignment to ARECOMS and tightening physical supply from the world’s largest producer. Glencore’s Katanga and Mutanda operations carry the largest direct quota exposure while any quota clawback would lift sentiment for non-DRC cobalt developers listed on the ASX and TSX.