Fastmarkets proposes to change the publication time of the CIS export steel billet index, fob Black Sea ports, from 2pm to 4pm London time each day.The proposed change will allow the capture of a larger number of transactions during the day and therefore will help to increase the liquidity of the index.The deadline for data submissions to the CIS Billet Index will be changed from 1.30pm to 3p...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices fell on Tuesday November 6 after investor sentiment was dampened by Tangshan's "smaller-than-expected" capacity cuts, with trading sparse both domestically and in the export market.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,020-4,040 yuan ($581-584) per tonne, widening downward 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 4,000-4,010 yuan per tonne, down 30 yuan per tonneSell...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for steel billet, slab and bloom.Latest transaction: billetBillet Saudi Arabia, export, billet, offered at...Read More
Low-grade manganese ore prices got a boost in the week ended Friday November 2 after buyers were caught between the end of November's offers and the start of December's. Low-grade manganese ore prices rise in China amid a lack of offersHigh-grade manganese ore index slidesChinese manganese alloy prices largely steadySilico-manganese quotation drops in EuropeUS alloy price holds in quiet marketLow...Read More
Chrome ore and alloy prices dropped in China last week after tender price cuts for November continued to weigh on sentiment, while the US high-carbon ferro-chrome price halted recent declines on an uptick in inquiries. Chinese markets still reacting negatively to lower November tendersAlloy prices hold in JapanSouth Korean alloy prices inch lowerEuropean price drop on plentiful Indian supply ...Read More
Iron ore exports from Western Australia's Port Hedland fell year on year and month on month in October, leading to tighter supplies of Australian material in the seaborne market and pushing prices above $75 per tonne cfr China.The port shipped 40.18 million tonnes of the steelmaking raw material last month, down by 2% from October 2017, according to data released by the Pilbara Ports Authority on...Read More
China's ferrous futures tanked after morning open on Tuesday November 6, with losses narrowed later for contracts except rebar, amid stronger expectations that the country's winter steelmaking restrictions would be lighter than those a year earlier.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange January rebar: 3,973 yuan ($575) per tonne, down 79 yuan per tonne January hot-rolle...Read More
Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed during Asian morning trading on Tuesday November 6, with those of aluminium, nickel and zinc benefiting from President Xi's announcement of plans to add new free trade zones in Shanghai.President Xi said in an opening speech at the Shanghai Import and Export Expo on November 6 that China will keep expanding its importing business and r...Read More
Glencore-owned Katanga Mining will suspend the export and sale of cobalt from its Kamoto Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after finding excessive levels of uranium in the cobalt hydroxide produced there, the company said on Tuesday November 6.Uranium levels exceeded the limit allowed for export through the main African ports, the company said.To date, the volume of production affe...Read More
Some Chinese bismuth producers are likely to cut production on squeezed profit margins, market participants told Fastmarkets, adding that it is hard to forecast the resultant impact on spot prices in the near term. Domestic Chinese bismuth prices have fallen from highs of this year of 71,000-72,000 yuan ($10,303-10,448) per tonne in February and have been mostly under pressure so far in 2018, acco...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 20 points in pre-opening trade. The cannabis ETF (HMMJ $20.53 Cdn) is expected to open higher after Michigan voted to approve recreational use of cannabis and several states voted to legalize use of cannabis for medical use. Michael Kors dropped $6.58 to $50.87 after reporting less than consensus third quarter revenues...Read More
Traders and market participants are quietly waiting to hear results from today's midterm elections. In possibly one of the most important midterm elections held in recent history, the net results could have a profound impact. This election will determine whether or not the current administration and the Republican-led House and Senate will continue to have total control resulting in the ability to...Read More
(Kitco News) -Investors appear to be the clear winners in the ongoing fee war among gold-backed exchange traded funds.This past month has been a milestone for two low-cost gold-back ETFs. Last month, after celebrating its one-year anniversary, GraniteShares said its ETF (NYSE: BAR) has seen its assets under management surpass $350 million.The ETF offers the lowest cost investment product in the go...Read More
Nov 6 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday, driven by gains in shares of healthcare and material companies.* Better results announced by drugmaker Bausch Health lifted healthcare stocks, while materials companies rose on the back of higher metal and gold prices.* At 9:36 a.m. ET (1436 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index was up 60.65 points, or 0.4 percen...Read More
(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are moderately lower in early-afternoon U.S. trading Tuesday. A modest rebound in the U.S. dollar index today, as well as a rally in the U.S. stock market, put some downside pressure on the precious metals markets. Trading was choppy and two-sided as the world marketplace awaits the outcome of the U.S. mid-term elections. December gold futures were last down...Read More
(Kitco News) - Gold is due for a comeback even if the global equities space rallies following a recent correction, according to Wells Fargo, which projects to see the precious metal rise another 7% from current levels.“We suspect that gold could very well continue to rally as we exit 2018 and enter 2019, even if stocks do too. Our rolling 12-month gold target is $1,300—roughly 7% highe...Read More
(Kitco News) - The gold market could struggle through the rest of the year as there is a lack of fundamental reasons to push prices higher, according to one Australian Bank.It is difficult to be overly bullish on gold as there is no new catalyst that could dramatically drive prices higher, Macquarie precious metals analyst Matthew Turner told Kitco News on the sidelines of the London Bullion Marke...Read More
Image courtesy of Rob Crandall/Shutterstock.com (Kitco News) - American voters are heading to the polls today to cast their ballot in the much-anticipated midterm elections.Political pundits expect to see a split Congress with the Democratic Party taking control of the House and the Republican Party maintaining control of the Senate. While equity market and U.S. dollar investors appear to be...Read More
(Kitco News) - Gold holdings in global exchange-traded funds and similar products rose in October by 16.5 tonnes for the first monthly inflow in four months, the World Gold Council reported Tuesday.Holdings now stand at 2,345.6 tonnes. Still, they are down 25.8 tonnes for the year to date.“Global stock markets experienced their worst October since the 2008 financial crisis, with the MSCI All...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were predominantly lower at the close of trading on Monday November 5, topped by a continued downturn in lead's three-month price while aluminium was the only metal to trade in positive territory.Despite reaching an intraday high of $2,002.50 per tonne, the three-month lead price closed nearer to its October low of $1,915 per tonne, with last week's...Read More