In the absence of any dominant themes at present the base metals and broader markets were mixed this morning, Friday September 11, but prices were generally on the back foot following the emergence of some weakness in recent days, especially in US tech shares.* Asian-Pacific equities and pre-market major western equity index futures were mixed following another down day in US equities on Thursday....Read More
General Electric (GE), an S&P 100 stock moved below $6.00 extending an intermediate downtrend. Pre-opening Comments for Friday September 11thEquity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 Futures advanced 17 points in pre-opening trade.Index futures eased slightly following release of the August U.S. Consumer Price Index at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus was an increase of 0.3% versus...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday September 9 that are worth another look.From learning early about the practicalities of running a business during summer-holiday work to her role as chief executive officer of Norwegian aluminium and energy company Norsk Hydro, Hilde Merete Aasheim has faced many challenges...Read More
Global tin premiums were stable in the two weeks to Tuesday September 8; a drop in the metal's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange did not drive spot buying, while volatile forward spreads, stagnant demand and supply concerns continued to limit business, Fastmarkets understands.US market sees little evidence of a demand increaseFalling LME price fails to drive European businessImport ar...Read More
Despite broad stability in global zinc premiums this week, and a sharp drop in the metal's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange, an opening of the import arbitrage window for material delivered into China sparked expectations for improved demand in the region. Zinc markets in the United States and Europe were also generally stagnant this week, while a steady recovery in the US econo...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday September 9 that are worth another look.From learning early about the practicalities of running a business during summer-holiday work to her role as chief executive officer of Norwegian aluminium and energy company Norsk Hydro, Hilde Merete Aasheim has faced many challenges...Read More
Brazilian alumina exports declined by 18.4% in August versus the same period last year due to reduced shipments from both the Alunorte and Alumar refineries during that period, according to data from the country's ministry of economy published this week.Brazil exported 572,708 tonnes of alumina last month compared with 701,743 tonnes in August 2019. Most of those volumes were shipped through the B...Read More
Benchmark alumina prices in the Pacific are under pressure due to quiet market conditions and weak demand, despite ongoing production restrictions at Hydro's Alunorte refinery in Brazil.Fastmarkets benchmark alumina index, fob Australia was at $273.44 per tonne on Wednesday September 9, down by 3.8% from a five-month high of $284.32 per tonne on August 21. "Prices are under pressure and...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday September 9 that are worth another look.From learning early about the practicalities of running a business during summer-holiday work to her role as chief executive officer of Norwegian aluminium and energy company Norsk Hydro, Hilde Merete Aasheim has faced many challenges...Read More
China's State Reserve Bureau (SRB) is going to start stockpiling cobalt metal in the near future, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday September 9.One producer source told Fastmarkets they had received a notice from the country's reserve authority late in the evening in China, informing them to collect a tender document the next day - Thursday September 10. It is still unknown, however, ho...Read More
Turkish steel mills have been busy in the deep-sea scrap market in recent weeks and booked four more cargoes totaling more than 150,000 tonnes on Wednesday September 9, sources told Fastmarkets.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a US cargo, comprising 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $301 per tonne cfr, 12,000 tonnes of shredded at $306 per tonne and 8,000 tonnes of bonus at $311 per ton...Read More
Japanese export steel scrap prices jumped on Wednesday September 9 following a strong increase in the Kanto auction for the second month running, market sources told Fastmarkets.Japan's Kanto Tetsugen, a monthly auction between a cooperative of scrap dealers in the Tokyo region, closed at ?29,370 ($276) per tonne fas on Wednesday, up by ?2,154 per tonne from the previous month.August's auction p...Read More
United States-based electric vehicle maker Tesla's failure to be listed as an S&P 500 company led to a 20% share price fall on Tuesday September 8, that in turn led to a 4% fall in the Nasdaq index - markets are wondering whether this will be a catalyst for a broader reality check? Or just provide another dip-buying opportunity?Base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futu...Read More
China's State Reserve Bureau (SRB) is going to start stockpiling cobalt metal in the near future, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday September 9.One producer source told Fastmarkets they had received a notice from the country's reserve authority late in the evening in China, informing them to collect a tender document the next day - Thursday September 10. It is still unknown, however, ho...Read More
The cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China, yuan/tonne trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday September 9 that are worth another look.From learning early about the practicalities of running a business during summer-holiday work to her role as chief executive officer of Norwegian aluminium and energy company Norsk Hydro, Hilde Merete Aasheim has faced many challenges...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil jumped day on day in Northern Europe on Wednesday September 9, supported by long lead times, reduced output from local mills and a lack of import offers, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was calculated at ?,?476.25 ($561.71) per tonne on Wednesday, up by ?,?8.30 per tonne from ?,?467.95...Read More
Novolipietsk Steel (NLMK), the largest steel producer in Russia, has stopped iron ore concentrate output at its Stoilensky mining and processing plant due to an accident, which occurred on September 7, Fastmarkets understands.NLMK receives all its required iron ore concentrate from the asset, which is why both its pig iron and steel production are under threat, sources told Fastmarkets. "On Septem...Read More
Egypt's biggest steelmaker, Ezz Steel, has announced changes in its management now that chairman Paul Chekaiban has departed the board, the company said on September 1.Mamdouh Fakhr El Din El Rouby has been appointed non-executive chairman and Hassan Ahmed Nouh has been appointed executive managing director representing El Ezz Group Holding for Industry...Read More
The prices of hollow steel sections in Europe were unchanged this week, despite feedstock costs continuing to rise, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday September 9.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?550-570 ($649-672) per tonne on Wednesday, as it was on September 2.The price of hot-rolled coil (HRC), the feedstock for se...Read More