The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.These include an increase in our copper mine disruption estimates, upgrades to our production outlook for Indonesian nickel pig iron (NPI), a smaller refined zinc surplus, and an upgrade to our zinc price forecasts.Aluminium: Big disconnect between price and fundamentalsAluminium has extended its uptrend on the London Metal...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.US market under pressureUS prices for welded pipe products were under pressure because market participants, especially distributors, have started to take steps to generate cash and were moving material if they were able to do so, even if it meant selling at low prices.We expect more such "fire sales" in the coming months, bu...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.August 2020 has seen the prices of most steel products move up in tandem around the world, in contrast to recent months when steel prices have moved in different directions depending on the market.This dynamic has been seen in most coated steel markets as well, with the prices for hot-dipped galvanized coil (HDG), pre-painted...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.US market at risk of slidingPrices for pipe products were at a floor in the United States in mid-August, and have been broadly stable at that level since the start of the second quarter, but they are at risk of declining further in the coming months.Drilling rig counts have yet to find a floor and have fallen below most esti...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key North American steel forecast highlights:US domestic prices for hot-rolled coil moved down in line with our expectations, averaging $461 per ton in July versus our forecast price of $460 per ton. Although domestic HRC prices slipped to less than $450 per ton in late July/early August, we maintain the view th...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.In the year 2020 to date in late August, the Fastmarkets 62% Fe iron ore benchmark has powered along and reached six-year highs, supported by Chinese demand, and despite the global economic uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Iron ore demand has weakened almost everywhere except in China, where it has continued to...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.There has been an increasing bullishness in Chinese steel market sentiment recently, with rising post-Covid-19 optimism about the country's economy for the second half of 2020, especially after the government announced an infrastructure spending boost. Although we believe that high prices are justified, they remain far from...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 3 points in pre-opening trade.Tesla starts trading today on a five for one stock split basis.Apple starts trading today on a four for one stock split basis.Changes in content of the Dow Jones Industrial Average become effective today. Added to the Average are Amgen, Salesforce.co and Honeywell. Deleted from the Average...Read More
Aluminium billet premiums inched higher in Germany, Spain and Brazil on Friday August 28 as demand in those countries improved, while premiums in the United States, Italy and Thailand were steady.Some European premiums rise ahead of Q4 talks Several billet premiums in Europe rose on Friday, with demand starting to increase and sentiment turning slightly more bullish as a result. The uptrend c...Read More
Three-month prices for all base metals on the London Metal Exchange except lead rose on Friday August 28, with nickel leading the rally.Fastmarkets analyst Andy Farida attributed Friday's rally to market reaction to a speech by US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday August 27. Powell signaled to the market that the US Federal Reserve will relax its inflation target of 2% in a bid to...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Europe, Asia and the United States for the week ended Friday August 28.China The low end of domestic prices moved up by 50 yuan ($7) per tonne on higher offers and tight spot availability, amid buoyed sentiment...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Europe, Asia and the United States for the week ended Friday August 28.China The seaborne manganese ore low-grade index was only slightly changed amid low liquidity while market participants had underlying concerns about growing inventories in China. The seaborne price for high-grade ore rose with one producer successfully raising prices, indicating less conce...Read More
Fastmarkets copper concentrates treatment charges and refining charges (TC/RC) index stayed largely flat at its multi-year low level from a week ago.The spot market has been relatively quiet this week with smelters buying a handful of clean concentrates parcels in the high $40s, while some deals, with tonnages extending into the fourth quarter this year and first quarter next year, are said to be...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More
The key global scrap markets improved in terms of both sentiment and prices in the week to Friday August 28, after Turkey resumed its deep-sea cargo purchases following a three-week hiatus.Turkey continues to book deep-sea cargoesUS sees liquid activity in spot export marketVietnamese buyers remain keen on bulk cargoes from US West CoastTaiwanese buyers see slowdown in price upswingIndia sentiment...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More
The European and United States battery-grade lithium carbonate price fell by 2.9% week on week on Thursday August 27 amid continued poor demand conditions, while the Chinese and seaborne Asian markets held.European, US battery-grade lithium carbonate market dropped 2.9%, ending six weeks of stability. China's battery-grade lithium prices held, with participants waiting for clues on market directio...Read More