If you are a producer or consumer, or are active in the physical markets, then you had better be aware of a new set of regulations that will make it all the more important for you to choose the right logistics partner from next year.The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has ruled that from January 1, 2020, the marine sector will have to reduce sulfur emissions by more than 80% by switching...Read More
Most major aluminium producers agree that tackling the carbon intensity of the smelting process is one of the biggest challenges facing their industry. What they cannot agree on is how to deal with the situation, as a lively panel hosted by Fastmarkets during LME Week at the end of October showed. Aluminium smelting is an energy-intensive business and the market is starting to differentiate b...Read More
Bearish macroeconomic signals and oversupply have put minor metals and ferro-alloys prices variously under pressure over 2019; the structure and terms of contracts agreed over the coming weeks will show how market participants are accounting for those signals ahead of 2020. A slowing global economy alongside uncertainty over the China-United States trade dispute and Brexit have slowed minor metals...Read More
Copper has attempted to rebound since early September following a marked sell-off in the summer months where macro and fundamental forces have been prevalent.On the macro front, copper has benefited from a slight easing in US-China trade tensions and more monetary policy easing across the globe - including China, where copper consumption is the most exposed - that has shored up investor sentiment....Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Friday November 22 that are worth another look.Prices in Southeast Asia's steel billet market rose in the week to November 22 as Chinese buyers continued to snap up material in the spot market, sources told Fastmarkets.Japanese and Korean copper smelters are likely to follow the contract for 2020 treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs)...Read More
Another wave of optimism regarding United States-China trade talks has boosted broader markets and weakened havens, but the base metals have not taken much notice yet. Asian equities are stronger led by a 1.3% rise in the Hang Seng.Base metalsThree-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Monday November 25. Nickel was the main mover with a 0.7% fall to $...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 2 points in pre-opening trade.Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS $75.80) is expected to open higher after reporting higher than consensus fiscal fourth quarter earnings.Best Buy advanced $3.05 to $77.30 after reporting higher than consensus third quarter earnings. The company also raised guidance. Dick's Sporting Goods gained $5...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 7 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures responded to news on U.S./China trade negotiations confirming that China plans to increase penalties on Chinese companies that steel intellectual property.TDAmeritrade has agreed to its purchase by Schwab in an all-stock deal valued at $26 billion. Each TDAmeritrade will swa...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves from the past week.Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange consolidated at the close of trading on Friday November 22, with nickel futures notching a 1% rise over the day against sideways trading and moderate turnover generally. Nickel's outright price on the LME closed at $14,635 per tonne this afternoon, a climb of around 1% from Thursday's closing price of $14,505 per tonne, but an incline of just under 3...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves from the past week.Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and the United States for the week ending Friday November 22. Japan and South Korea Imported high-carbon ferro-chrome prices in Japan and South Korea dropped by 0.7% and 1.4% respectively after lower offers emerged in a weak market. China UG2 chrome ore price held in China, with mainstream business...Read More
Japanese and Korean copper smelters are likely to follow the contract for 2020 treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) settled by Jiangxi Copper and miner Freeport, with major Chinese smelters also likely to accept the number."The benchmark number is the benchmark number. We should respect it," a source at one of the biggest Asian smelters said.Freeport agreed an annual TC/RCs deal for 2020 with J...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves from the past week.Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and their latest price moves.Read More
UK alloy steel scrap prices remained largely unchanged over the past seven days following a significant drop last week, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday November 22.Fastmarkets' price assessment for stainless steel scrap 316 solids domestic, delivered merchants UK, was ?1,170-1,230 ($1,512-1,590) per tonne on November 22, compared with ?1,170-1,250 per tonne delivered a...Read More
Global scrap prices remained relatively stable due to a lull in trading during the working week ended Friday November 22, with the exceptions of the Indian market, which dipped, and Taiwan, where prices rose.Turkish steel mills slow pace of buying but prices hold steadyUS prices steady on pause in export activityIndian market dips on buying jittersPrices unchanged in VietnamTaiwan prices up on sol...Read More
The inter-merchant spot price for light iron scrap in the UK was stable in the week ended Friday November 22, with steady demand into domestic major shredders and solid business levels into Turkey from Europe cementing British prices, trade sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel scrap 5C, loose old light, domestic, delivered inter-merchant, UK, was unchanged at ?7...Read More
With confusing news over United States-China trade talks, the markets are unsettled this morning, Friday November 22; the path of least resistance for the metals is to the downside, but with prices already weak, support is being encountered.The release of flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) data on Friday will provide further insight into the state of global manufacturing.With gold prices weake...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves from the past week.Read More