Indian local secondary billet prices this week showed a slight fall of about 200 rupees per tonne week-on-week, with buyers staying away from the market and the number of inquiries to mills dwindling.Prices for Indian domestic secondary billet, which is mainly produced through the induction furnace route, ended the week at 31,800-32,000 rupees ($497-501) per tonne ex-mill on Friday February 2. Thi...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices remained in an upward trend on Friday February 2 amid gains in the billet and futures markets, though trading activity remained thin.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,840-3,900 yuan ($610-619) per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,920-3,950 yuan per tonne, narrowed upward by 20 yuan per tonneThe gains in the billet and paper markets pushed up s...Read More
European stainless steel base prices have remained unchanged over the past week, with domestic prices under import pressure from cheaper Asian material, sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday February 2.Metal Bulletin's weekly base price assessment on Friday for 2mm, grade-304 CR stainless steel sheet was ?,?1,060-1,120 ($1,320-1,395) per tonne delivered in Northern Europe.Metal Bulletin's weekly b...Read More
There was no clear trend in China's ferrous futures market during morning trading on Friday February 2 after the Hebei provincial government denied that it was planning to extend production cuts for an additional two months.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,947 yuan ($627) per tonne, down 7 yuan per tonne May hot rolled coil: 4,017 yuan per tonne, up 1...Read More
China's domestic stainless steel prices widened upward over the past week on nickel gains in recent days.Metal Bulletin's assessment of prices for benchmark 304 stainless cold-rolled coil in the major market of Wuxi was 14,500-15,500 yuan ($2,303-2,461) per tonne including VAT for the week ended Thursday February 1, widening upward by 300 yuan per tonne from 14,500-15,200 yuan per tonne a week ear...Read More
Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories that have affected the steel market over the past week.Raw materialsIron ore prices ended Friday on the rise after experiencing declines early in the week. Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index came to $74.39 per tonne cfr Qingdao, amid gains in the futures and steel markets.Trading activity in the seaborne coking coal market remained thin on Friday, with...Read More
Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories that have affected the steel market over the past week.Raw materialsIron ore prices ended Friday on the rise after experiencing declines early in the week. Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index came to $74.39 per tonne cfr Qingdao, amid gains in the futures and steel markets.Trading activity in the seaborne coking coal market remained thin on Friday, with...Read More
The market in the United Kingdom for grade-5C ferrous scrap has dropped this week, marking another weekly fall since the price was assessed on January 12, with suppliers cutting their offer prices in line with export demand.The move in the light iron scrap market in the UK follows a fall in trade to key destinations such as Turkey and the Indian subcontinent.The rate of steel scrap exports to Turk...Read More
European stainless steel base prices have remained unchanged over the past week, with domestic prices under import pressure from cheaper Asian material, sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday February 2.Metal Bulletin's weekly base price assessment on Friday for 2mm, grade-304 CR stainless steel sheet was ?,?1,060-1,120 ($1,320-1,395) per tonne delivered in Northern Europe.Metal Bulletin's weekly b...Read More
Some coated flat steel prices in Turkey have decreased over the past week, with demand remaining sluggish in the local market but strong in the export markets, sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday February 2.Demand was weak because buyers expect prices to fall, and the weak demand in the hot-rolled coil (HRC) market has had a knock-on effect in the coated coil market.Domestic pricesIn Northern Tu...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Friday February 2.Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were on divergent paths this morning, with nickel failing to hold on to recent gains and the three-month price retreating nearly $200 per tonne. Here's how base metals on the LME looked at 11:56am London time: Read our live futures report here.&nbs...Read More
Good morning from Metal Bulletin's offices in Shanghai as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Friday February 2.Nickel prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were the standout performers during Asian morning trading on Friday, benefiting from follow-through strength after a strong performance by the metal on the London Metal Exchange in the previous session as well as supply conce...Read More
Metal Bulletin rounds up some of the key news and price moves across the global metal markets this week.Metal Bulletin rounds up some of the key news and price moves across the global metal markets this week.Base metalsGFG Alliance has been granted full planning permission for a new 400-worker alloy wheel factory next to the Liberty British Aluminium smelter at Fort William, Scotland, the company...Read More
SHANGHAI, Feb 2 (SMM) – SHFE nickel led the gains of base metals today with an over 2% rise while SHFE lead was up close to 1%. Copper increased by 0.72% and zinc was up 0.45%. Tin, however, edged down 0.6%.The ferrous complex saw coking coal jump almost 3% whereas coke was up close to 2%. Hot-rolled coil rose 1.6%, iron ore went up 1% and rebar edged up 0.51%.Copper: The SHFE 1803 copper co...Read More
SHANGHAI, Feb 2 (SMM) – SHFE nickel led the gains of base metals today with an over 2% rise while SHFE lead was up close to 1%. Copper increased by 0.72% and zinc was up 0.45%. Tin, however, edged down 0.6%.The ferrous complex saw coking coal jump almost 3% whereas coke was up close to 2%. Hot-rolled coil rose 1.6%, iron ore went up 1% and rebar edged up 0.51%.Copper: The SHFE 1803 copper co...Read More
SHANGHAI, Feb 2 (SMM) – SHFE nickel led the gains of base metals today with an over 2% rise while SHFE lead was up close to 1%. Copper increased by 0.72% and zinc was up 0.45%. Tin, however, edged down 0.6%.The ferrous complex saw coking coal jump almost 3% whereas coke was up close to 2%. Hot-rolled coil rose 1.6%, iron ore went up 1% and rebar edged up 0.51%.Copper: The SHFE 1803 copper co...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 22 points in pre-opening trade.Index futures were dipped lower following release of economic news at 8:30 AM EST. Consensus for January Non-farm Payrolls was 176,000 versus upwardly revised 160,000 in December. Actual was 200,000. Consensus for January Unemployment Rate was unchanged at 4.1%. Actual was unchanged at 4...Read More
SHANGHAI, Feb 2 (SMM) –Copper: A stronger Chinese yuan, a lower SHFE/LME price ratio, and tighter funds ahead of Chinese New Year led us to expect a rangebound trading for the SHFE copper contract. We see support at 52,500-53,000 yuan/mt today while LME copper may trade at $7,080-7,140/mt. Spot discounts are seen at 100-40 yuan/mt today with reluctant sellers. Aluminium: LME aluminium...Read More
SHANGHAI, Feb 2 (SMM) – Russian nickel was trading at a discount of 300 yuan/mt against the Wuxi Stainless Steel Exchange 1802 contract on Friday February 2 whereas Jinchuan nickel was flat in the Shanghai market, SMM learned. Higher nickel futures prices overnight have left market participants reluctant to trade. Transactions were reported at 103,300-104,000 yuan/mt in the morning. &n...Read More
SHANGHAI, Feb 2 (SMM) –Copper: A stronger Chinese yuan, a lower SHFE/LME price ratio, and tighter funds ahead of Chinese New Year led us to expect a rangebound trading for the SHFE copper contract. We see support at 52,500-53,000 yuan/mt today while LME copper may trade at $7,080-7,140/mt. Spot discounts are seen at 100-40 yuan/mt today with reluctant sellers. Aluminium: LME aluminium...Read More