The iron ore market will be watching the rollout of China's policies and Chinese buyers' procurement strategies in the winter months to see what lies ahead for the steelmaking raw material, which has faced substantial price volatility this year. The winter heating season in China has become a crucial period for iron ore buyers and suppliers, with environmental protection a key aspect of China's 13...Read More
Export prices for Chinese stainless steel declined week on week despite the higher cost of nickel after suppliers lowered their asking prices in response to poor demand, market sources said.Concerns about Indonesia potentially bringing forward its ban on unprocessed nickel ore exports continued to provide support for nickel prices.The three-month nickel contract on the London Metal Exchange has av...Read More
Markets are once again consolidating in the morning of Friday August 30, waiting to see how the United States responds to China’s comments that it wants to make a trade deal.While any deal would likely turn sentiment bullish quickly, it does look as though the market is skeptical that anything will come of this. We should be braced for an active day because the next wave of US tariff increase...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 16 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of economic news at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus for July Personal Income was an increase of 0.3% versus a gain of 0.4% in June. Actual was an increase of 0.1%. Consensus for July Personal Spending was an increase of 0.5% versus a gain o...Read More
The three-month nickel price on the London Metal Exchange was higher at the close of trading on Wednesday August 28, breaching the $16,000 per tonne resistance level in a bout of short covering, while tightness in the metal's forward curve meant that it continued to trade at record levels.Some 8,000 lots of nickel changed hands by the close of trading on Wednesday, while the metal's price fluctuat...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday August 28.Please click...Read More
The London Metal Exchange tin price has fallen to a four-year low, and the sell-off has prompted somewhat different regional reactions in the week to Tuesday August 27. Europe sees little buying despite low tin prices. Low LME price prompts some US buyers to return Limited arbitrage opportunities keep cif Shanghai tin at $230-250 per tonne European premiums static despite 12% price slump In...Read More
An overview of the noble alloys markets and their latest price moves.Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and their latest price moves.Read More
Turkish steel mills took a break from deep-sea scrap purchasing on Wednesday August 28, after booking a number of cargoes for September delivery over the past week, sources told Fastmarkets.Most recent bookings involved US and UK cargoes sold at $270 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20), dragging the daily indices down by almost $12 per tonne on Tuesday, August 27.But market participants were expecti...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' Wednesday August 28 pricing session in Europe. Key drivers The ferro-titanium market price range widened with suppliers reporting deals done at the upper and lower end of the new price range. Suppliers reported increased buying interest, although few deals done. One major deal was reported done to a German consumer. UK producer FE Mottram has yet to restart p...Read More
Currency exchange rates can make or break a steel trade, and with forex volatility in emerging markets expected to continue for the rest of the year, the Asian ferrous markets are likely to see more price fluctuations before the end of 2019.These five currency pairs should be on your watch-list for the significant influences they could bring to bear on key global steel and ferrous scrap trade flow...Read More
With gold prices up at near six-year highs, markets remain nervous on Wednesday August 28 about just how much damage the United States-China trade war is doing and whether it will be reversible before it leads to a global recession. Most base metals prices have fallen to low levels and are failing to get any support while the depressed macro environment dominates. The exceptions are nickel, and to...Read More
Australian lithium spodumene producer Galaxy Resources has bought Alita Resources' debt for $31.1 million, including interest, fees and costs. Alita Resources, also based in Australia, suspended securities trading on August 14 to discuss its debt situation with its consortium of lenders led by Tribeca Investment Partners, Fastmarkets reported earlier. On August 16, Tribeca gave Alita a notice...Read More
China's domestic hot-rolled coil market shed most of its downward momentum on Wednesday August 28 on higher trading activity, though overseas buyers submitted lower bids for exports of the flat steel product.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,600-3,610 yuan ($503-504) per tonne, narrowing downward 20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,600-3,620 yuan per tonne, widening upward 20 yuan per...Read More
Currency exchange rates can make or break a steel trade, and with forex volatility in emerging markets expected to continue for the rest of the year, the Asian ferrous markets are likely to see more price fluctuations before the end of 2019.These five currency pairs should be on your watch-list for the significant influences they could bring to bear on key global steel and ferrous scrap trade flow...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 28 that are worth another look.Australian lithium spodumene producer Galaxy Resources has bought Alita Resources' debt for $31.1 million, including interest, fees and costs.Chinese aluminium producers are ramping up production on improved aluminium prices, with output at one smelter - Shanxi Meixin Industry - now runnin...Read More
The price of steel hollow sections in the European domestic market has been reduced, with mills looking to stimulate demand by making lower offers, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday August 28.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?585-630 ($649-699) per tonne on Wednesday, widening downward by ?,?30 per tonne.The correspond...Read More
The price of mesh-quality steel wire rod in the European domestic market was unchanged this week, although soft demand could put pressure on prices in the coming weeks, Fastmarkets heard on Wednesday August 28.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel wire rod (mesh-quality), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?485-510 ($538-566) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week.Meanwhil...Read More
Turkish steel mills took a break from deep-sea scrap purchasing on Wednesday August 28, after booking a number of cargoes for September delivery over the past week, sources told Fastmarkets.Most recent bookings involved US and UK cargoes sold at $270 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20), dragging the daily indices down by almost $12 per tonne on Tuesday, August 27.But market participants were expecti...Read More