Both the European spot and Chinese export ammonium paratungstate (APT) markets saw a greater number of inquiries over the past week amid persistent worries about possible supply disruptions in China resulting from ongoing environmental inspections in the country's Jiangxi province - a major production hub for APT. Concerns over disruptions at APT smelters in Jiangxi province continued More inquiri...Read More
Afarak has warned it expects to report a loss for the first quarter of 2018, citing a 30% drop in the benchmark price for ferro-chrome, higher raw materials costs and the appreciation of the South African rand.The London and Helsinki-listed mining and metallurgical group, which operates the Mogale Alloys chrome operation in South Africa, expects to report negative earnings before interest, taxes,...Read More
Afarak has warned it expects to report a loss for the first quarter of 2018, citing a 30% drop in the benchmark price for ferro-chrome, higher raw materials costs and the appreciation of the South African rand.The London and Helsinki-listed mining and metallurgical group, which operates the Mogale Alloys chrome operation in South Africa, expects to report negative earnings before interest, taxes,...Read More
Persistently weak demand in both the Chinese and European antimony markets continued to exert downward pressure on spot prices over the past week.Metal Bulletin assessed the Chinese MMTA standard grade II, delivered duty paid, antimony price at 51,000-51,500 yuan ($8,018-8,096) per tonne on Wednesday May 2, down from 51,500-52,000 yuan in the prior week."Demand from domestic downstream industries...Read More
Chinese silicon export prices edged up last week despite the limited number of trades seen following China's Labour Day break (April 29-May 1), with a greater number of inquiries from regions other than Japan boosting sentiment in the country's export market.Metal Bulletin assessed the China grade 553 silicon export price at $1,910-1,960 per tonne on Friday May 4, up by 0.5% from $1,900-1,950 per...Read More
The European Commission (EC) said on Monday May 7 it has conditionally approved the acquisition of Italian steel producer Ilva by ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker.The decision is dependent on the divestiture of an extensive remedy package proposed by ArcelorMittal to preserve effective competition in the European steel market, according to the EC."Today's decision makes sure that Arce...Read More
China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices were mixed on Monday May 7, with the market in the east of the country in positive territory and that in the north, down.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,200-4,220 yuan ($660-663) per tonne, up 20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 4,050-4,070 yuan per tonne, down 30 yuan per tonneSpot prices edged up in the eastern market following the earlier gains...Read More
Ferrous futures in China posted further gains during morning trading on Monday May 7 amid spot price increases and China opening up iron futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange to overseas traders last Friday.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange October rebar: 3,679 yuan ($578) per tonne, up 44 yuan per tonneOctober hot-rolled coil: 3,765 yuan per tonne, up 44 yuan p...Read More
Import prices for rebar in Singapore were up over the past week due to higher offers for China-origin materials.There were mainly only China-origin mill cargoes in the spot market, with about three Chinese mills offering export materials. This included a major Chinese mill offering rebar at $570 per tonne fob China, and two others which followed its lead.Singapore buyers said they were getting off...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices dropped on Monday May 7 following falls in the billet market over the weekend. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 4,000-4,050 yuan ($629-637) per tonne, down 50-60 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,890-3,940 yuan per tonne, widened down 20 yuan per tonneBillet prices dropped sharply during the weekend on high selling interest, which prompted rebar traders to c...Read More
Physical iron ore prices stayed rangebound on Monday May 7 amid weakness in the steel markets.Metal Bulletin 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $67.26 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $0.98 per tonne Metal Bulletin 58% Fe Premium Index: $55.56 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down by $0.06 per tonne Metal Bulletin 65% Fe Iron Ore Index: $85.30 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $0.40 per tonneMetal Bulletin 62% Fe China Port Pri...Read More
Ferrous futures in China posted further gains during morning trading on Monday May 7 amid spot price increases and China opening up iron futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange to overseas traders last Friday.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange October rebar: 3,679 yuan ($578) per tonne, up 44 yuan per tonneOctober hot-rolled coil: 3,765 yuan per tonne, up 44 yuan p...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices dropped on Monday May 7 following falls in the billet market over the weekend. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 4,000-4,050 yuan ($629-637) per tonne, down 50-60 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,890-3,940 yuan per tonne, widened down 20 yuan per tonneBillet prices dropped sharply during the weekend on high selling interest, which prompted rebar traders to c...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 7 points in pre-opening trade.Quarterly reports continue to flow in. Companies that reported this morning included EW Scripps, Tyson Foods, Sysco, Sempra Energy, PetMet and Gannett.Shake Shack dropped $1.20 to $54.75 after JP Morgan downgraded the stock to Under Weight from Neutral.Alibaba gained $1.11 to $190.00 after...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 7 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures rose for the most part on Monday May 7 as SHFE zinc led the gains with an increase of nearly 2.3%. Lead grew 2%, aluminium and nickel inched up, and copper went flat. Tin dipped slightly.The ferrous complex saw coking coal surge almost 4%. Coke gained over 2%, while hot-rolled coil and iron ore inched up. Rebar went down slightly.Copper: The...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 7 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures rose for the most part on Monday May 7 as SHFE zinc led the gains with an increase of nearly 2.3%. Lead grew 2%, aluminium and nickel inched up, and copper went flat. Tin dipped slightly.The ferrous complex saw coking coal surge almost 4%. Coke gained over 2%, while hot-rolled coil and iron ore inched up. Rebar went down slightly.Copper: The...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 7 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures rose for the most part on Monday May 7 as SHFE zinc led the gains with an increase of nearly 2.3%. Lead grew 2%, aluminium and nickel inched up, and copper went flat. Tin dipped slightly.The ferrous complex saw coking coal surge almost 4%. Coke gained over 2%, while hot-rolled coil and iron ore inched up. Rebar went down slightly.Copper: The...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 7 (SMM) –Copper: Copper prices were suppressed by stronger US dollar over the weekend. Technically, LME copper now stands at the $6,840/mt level with pressure from several moving averages, but the SHFE 1806 copper contract still stands below the moving averages with little support. We expect the SHFE 1806 contract to trade at 51,200-51,600 yuan/mt today. Spot prices are seen hi...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 7 (SMM) –Copper: Copper prices were suppressed by stronger US dollar over the weekend. Technically, LME copper now stands at the $6,840/mt level with pressure from several moving averages, but the SHFE 1806 copper contract still stands below the moving averages with little support. We expect the SHFE 1806 contract to trade at 51,200-51,600 yuan/mt today. Spot prices are seen hi...Read More
SHANGHAI, May 7 (SMM) – Spot copper was mostly offered at a discount of 10 yuan/mt to a premium of 40 yuan/mt over the SHFE 1805 contract on Monday May 7 in the Shanghai market. This compared with a discount of 30 yuan/mt to a premium of 10 yuan/mt last Friday.High-quality copper saw more trades as traders were keen to purchase due to the approaching delivery date for SHFE 1805 contract...Read More