China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices were mixed on Wednesday March 4, with those in the northern region displaying more strength on higher demand.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,510-3,530 yuan ($503-506) per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,300 yuan per tonne, narrowing upward by 20 yuan per tonneIn Shanghai, sellers started the day on a cautious note in response to...Read More
Copper futures on the London Metal Exchange rose in morning trading on Wednesday March 4, after fresh cancellations showed up in the 09:00am stock reporting.At $5,715 per tonne, the LME three-month copper contract is up by $55 on yesterday's 7pm closing price.Some 13,125 tonnes of copper was freshly cancelled, following 17,000 tonnes on Tuesday and a 61,175-tonne inflow on Wednesday February 26.St...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were mixed on Wednesday March 4, with those in the east of the country edging higher while those in the north moved down slightly on different trading activity.Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,420-3,440 yuan ($493-496) per tonne, narrowed upward by 20 yuan per tonne Northern China (Beijing): 3,280-3,320 yuan per tonne, down 10-20 yuan per tonneIn eastern China, some tradin...Read More
Broader markets are mixed this morning, Wednesday March 4, with markets in Asia generally weaker, while the London Metal Exchange base metals and western equities are recovering after having taken fright from the United States Federal Reserve's rate cut on Tuesday. The US central bank's emergency 50-basis-point rate cut led the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) to close down by 2.94% on Tuesday,...Read More
Cobalt trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Unless otherwise stated, all prices are per lb on an in-warehouse basis. Delivered prices are netted back. Fastmarkets prices Click here for Fastmarkets' price assessment for standard-grade cobalt, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb. Click here for Fastmarkets' price assessment for alloy-grade cobalt, in-whs Rotterdam, $/l...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons behind the latest price moves.Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday March 4. Key drivers: Prices move into March unchanged after four weeks, although participants report signs of renewed demand for second-quarter settlements from consumers in the steel sector.European suppliers expected to push...Read More
Production of nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) lithium-ion batteries at South Korean battery maker LG Chem is not being affected by supply disruptions at L&F, one of its local cathode materials suppliers, a company source told Fastmarkets."L&F is not a major supplier to LG Chem," the source said. "LG Chem's own battery cathode operations can make up for the disrupted feedstock supply at L&F."Located...Read More
The Chinese ferro-silicon price continued to fall in the week to Wednesday March 4 due to high stocks and worsening magnesium price performance. Fastmarkets' price assessment for ferro-silicon 75% Si min, in-whs China was 5,800-6,000 yuan ($837-866) per tonne on Wednesday, down by 7.6% at the midpoint from 6,300-6,400 in the previous week. "The price has fallen back to where it was before the...Read More
A buildup of manganese ore at Chinese ports is set to escalate in the coming weeks when a jump in fresh imports adds to a spillover of material into minor ports, manganese market sources predict. Manganese ore stocks in main Chinese ports stand at 4.64-4.85 million tonnes according to Fastmarkets' latest assessment on Monday March 2, compared with 4.52-4.64 million tonnes at the end of 2019....Read More
Broad-based government action to lower interest rates and make money available to the markets have helped underpin the financial system and confidence, and that has led to some risk-on in some sectors this morning, Thursday March 5. Following on from the United States Federal Reserve’s emergency 50-basis-point rate cut on Tuesday, Wednesday saw the US House of Representatives approve an emerg...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 76 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of economic news at 8:30 AM EST. Consensus for Weekly Jobless Claims was 212,000 versus 219,000 last week. Actual was 216,000. Consensus for Fourth Quarter Non-farm Productivity was growth at an annualized rate of 1.4% versus a de...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday March 3 that are worth another look.Chinese steel company Hebei Jingye Group will complete the acquisition of British Steel on Monday March 9, the UK steel trade union Community said on March 3.Copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) rose at the end of February, having stalled in the previous week.Brazil's iron o...Read More
The US Midwest aluminium premium fell in the week ended Tuesday March 3 to its lowest since February 2018, but other global premiums remained well supported by the contango in nearby spreads on the London Metal Exchange.Canadian rail situation resolvedEyes on April-May spreads in RotterdamMJP second-quarter negotiations begin.US Midwest premium at 2-year lowIn the United States, the Midwest alumin...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday March 3.Click on...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday March 3 that are worth another look.Chinese steel company Hebei Jingye Group will complete the acquisition of British Steel on Monday March 9, the UK steel trade union Community said on March 3.Copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) rose at the end of February, having stalled in the previous week.Brazil's iron o...Read More
A buildup of manganese ore at Chinese ports is set to escalate in the coming weeks when a jump in fresh imports adds to a spillover of material into minor ports, manganese market sources predict. Manganese ore stocks in main Chinese ports stand at 4.64-4.85 million tonnes according to Fastmarkets' latest assessment on Monday March 2, compared with 4.52-4.64 million tonnes at the end of 2019....Read More
Copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) rose at the end of February, having stalled in the previous week. Fastmarkets' copper concentrates TC/RC index, cif Asia Pacific came in at $66.80 per tonne / 6.68 cents per lb on Friday February 28, reaching an 11-month high. The index is up from $65.80 / 6.58 cents the week prior and $65.80 / 6.58 cents a fortnight ago. Chinese smel...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday March 3 that are worth another look.Chinese steel company Hebei Jingye Group will complete the acquisition of British Steel on Monday March 9, the UK steel trade union Community said on March 3.Copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) rose at the end of February, having stalled in the previous week.Brazil's iron o...Read More
Germanium demand has surged thanks to its use in infrared thermometers for fever screening which have been installed at airports, railway stations, long-distance bus stations and ferry terminals across China as part of measures to control the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).Infrared optics, including heat detectors, account for about 30% of total demand for germanium, according to data...Read More