Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed during the morning of Thursday May 27, as were broader markets – are these pauses, or early signs of a stall?* More US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members seem to be getting off the fence about talking about tapering* Chinese yuan continues to strengthen, is China using the yuan to reduce inflati...Read More
Nickel and aluminium were the stand-out metals during the afternoon session on Wednesday May 26 on the London Metal Exchange, with slight rises for the rest of the base metals - except for zinc - after a start of the week that saw lower prices across the complex. Nickel's price was up 1.5% to $17,288 per tonne on Wednesday, its highest in the past week following a bout of weakness triggered on the...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 8 points in pre-opening trade.U.S. equity index futures were quiet prior to release of economic news at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus for April Durable Goods Orders was an increase of 0.7% versus a gain of 1.0% in March. Excluding Transportation Orders, consensus for April Durable Goods Orders was an increase of 0.7% versus...Read More
Domestic prices for cold-rolled coil continued to increase across Europe in the week to Wednesday May 26 due to the persistent shortage of material, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel CRC, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?1,250-1,300 ($1,530-1,592) per tonne on May 26, compared with ?,?1,250-1,270 per tonne a week earlier.The assessment was based on achiev...Read More
Domestic prices for cold-rolled coil continued to increase across Europe in the week to Wednesday May 26 due to the persistent shortage of material, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel CRC, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?1,250-1,300 ($1,530-1,592) per tonne on May 26, compared with ?,?1,250-1,270 per tonne a week earlier.The assessment was based on achiev...Read More
Base metals prices on the LME and SHFE were mixed - albeit with a slight upward bias - this morning, Wednesday May 26. But the rebounds seem half-hearted, with some erring on the side of caution judging by the lower treasury yields and stronger gold price. While the United States Federal Reserve generally seems to be remaining dovish, the vice chair, Richard Clarida, spoke of a "soft landing"........Read More
An overview of the consumer electronics markets and their latest price moves.Ewa Manthey and Dalila Ouerghi...Read More
Domestic prices for European heavy steel plate increased again in the week to Wednesday May 26, supported by good demand, sources told Fastmarkets."Demand is definitely good but still missing the boost that would come from projects, especially in Italy," an Italian producer said.Market sources said that lead times from domestic suppliers have been getting longer. German mills have already started...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday May 26 that are worth another look.The Brazilian branch of Luxembourg-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal has scheduled the restart of primary steel production at its Barra Mansa site for the second half of 2021,...Read More
Bill Gates has a theory about green premiums: He wants to eliminate them entirely. The American business magnate and philanthropist calls green premiums the additional cost of choosing a clean technology over one that emits a greater amount of greenhouse gases.In other words, the price that metals and mining companies are starting to charge their customers for producing low-carbon produc...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday May 26. Please click...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday May 26 that are worth another look.The Brazilian branch of Luxembourg-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal has scheduled the restart of primary steel production at its Barra Mansa site for the second half of 2021,...Read More
Robust demand continued to support the high- and low-carbon ferro-chrome markets in Europe in the week ended Tuesday May 25.Fastmarkets' price assessment for ferro-chrome, high carbon, 6-8.5% C, basis 65-70% Cr, max 1.5% Si, delivered Europe, narrowed upward by 3 cents (+1.1%) to $1.23-1.50 per lb Cr on Tuesday, from $1.20-1.50 per lb Cr a week earlier.The market was supported by strength in the s...Read More
Nickel and aluminium were the stand-out metals during the afternoon session on Wednesday May 26 on the London Metal Exchange, with slight rises for the rest of the base metals - except for zinc - after a start of the week that saw lower prices across the complex. Nickel's price was up 1.5% to $17,288 per tonne on Wednesday, its highest in the past week following a bout of weakness triggered on the...Read More
Ford Motor Company is accelerating investments and increasing planned total spending on electrification to more than $30 billion by 2025, chief executive officer Jim Farley said.This will be achieved while deriving efficiencies from Ford's electric vehicle (EV) architecture and modular technologies, Farley said at the company's capital markets day.Ford is anticipating that 40% of its global vehicl...Read More
The Kamoa Kakula copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the latest greenfield copper project to come online, having started concentrate production on Tuesday May 25. Jointly owned by Zijin Mining and Ivanhoe Mines, the copper mine began concentrate production ahead of schedule when the first batch of copper ore containing 5-6% copper content was conveyed from the underground mine...Read More
Prices for steel hollow sections in Europe increased again on Wednesday May 26, with mills continuing to cite higher feedstock costs for raised prices, sources told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?1,250-1,320 ($1,530-1,616) per tonne on May 26, up from ?,?1,220-1,250 per tonne on May 19. Fastmarkets' weekly pri...Read More
The UK government has announced ?166 million funding to drive forward development of green technology and development as part of its Green Industrial Revolution, with UK steelmakers set to receive cash.The funding package will benefit energy-intensive businesses such as steelmaking and manufacturing and falls under the UK Prime Minister's 10 Point Plan for a green revolution, which includes remov...Read More
The United States is "deep in conversations" to determine how the federal government can support the growth of electric vehicles (EVs), the country's Secretary of Transportation said.The country's goal of reducing carbon emissions by at least 50% by 2030 is helping to drive this collaboration, according to Secretary Pete Buttigieg."We're deep in conversations about how to support the EV revolution...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday May 25 that are worth another look.Exports of iron ore from India's east coast could face minor disruptions after the key port of Paradip in the state of Odisha suspended operations on May 25...Read More