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Abstract
This paper constructs a high-frequency, news-based measure of rare earth supply shocks to examine how disruptions in these critical inputs affect global firm valuations. Using news articles between 2021 and 2025, I identify exogenous rare earth supply events, distinguishing between Chinese trade-restriction and global production shocks. Using a sample of 5800 public firms, I show that negative rare earth supply shocks, which are expected to raise input prices, cause significant and persistent declines in the equity prices of rare earth-exposed firms, especially those in the battery, semiconductor, and motor vehicle industries. Both trade and production shocks depress valuations, though trade restrictions shocks are particularly impactful. These findings highlight a financial channel through which the weaponization of critical-material supply chains transmits across global markets.