Glencore's $2B payout, copper push offset earnings decline

Glencore announced on Wednesday that it would return $2 billion to shareholders, alongside reporting a slight dip in its 2025 core earnings. This news follows the recent failed takeover attempt by its larger competitor, Rio Tinto. Despite a reported decrease in full-year profit, Glencore shares were surging on Wednesday. Glencore's stock climbed over 3% following the report.  This surge was also driven by the company's ambitious copper production targets and commitment to shareholder returns, which successfully offset the reported year-on-year dip in profit. Glencore's share price has climbed approximately 19% since the beginning of the year. At the time of writing, the stock was at 498.45 GBp (pence sterling), up 2.6% from the previous close.  Financial overview and shareholder payout…