One reason for the recent interest in all REE stocks--

From China's Ministry of Information Technology (Beijing; 17-Aug-09; as reported in Metal Pages).

According to the Rare Earths Industry Development Plan, 2009-2015 (the "REE Plan") released yesterday, the Chinese government intends to tighten its administration on the production of rare earths over the next six years. Beijing will also restrict the export of rare earths over this period, with the annual export quota for REE's to be contained to below 35,000 tpy.

Beijing has stipulated that the heavy rare earths (HREE's) dysprosium, terbium, thulium, lutetium and yttrium will not just be cut back, but will be fully prohibited from export under the new REE Plan.