Gold has big year in 2020 and outlook for this year robust. Learn about monetary expansion and gold future prices.Read More
The gold futures price reached US$1,767/ounce this week before retreating, which was the second time it has surpassed US$1,760 in the past two months, marking some of gold's highest levels in several years.Read More
Turkish steel producers extended their absence in the deep-sea scrap markets due to weak rebar and billet demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday February 4.Steel mills in the country have been staying away from the deep-sea purchases since January 27, when two cargoes of HMS 1&2 (80:20), shredded, and plate & structural (P&S) scrap were booked from the United States...Read More
The steel industry has largely welcomed India's 2021-2022 union budget that was announced on February 1 for its focus on infrastructure and government spending. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown in the country resulted in India's gross domestic product (GDP) falling by a forecast 7.7% in the year to March 2021, before rebounding to grow by 11% the year after, according...Read More
A summary of Vale's iron ore and coal results for the fourth quarter of 2020 - ending on December 31, 2020 - as stated in its latest production and sales report released on Thursday February 4. In brief Sales of iron ore fines and pellets into China over the fourth quarter hit a record high of 64 million tonnes, compared with 58 million tonnes the previous year. Total production was in line with 2...Read More
Iron ore prices increased across the board on Thursday February 4, after sharp gains in futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) and in swaps contracts on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $158.03 per tonne, up $5.38 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $158.61 per tonne, up $5.71 per tonne58% F...Read More
Seaborne coking coal prices in the fob market climbed on Thursday February 4 with trader sources in India citing strong demand for steel and healthy production levels there. The cfr market remained quiet on Thursday with the Chinese New Year holiday approaching. Fastmarkets indices Premium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $157.54 per tonne, up $0.01 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $21...Read More
London Metal Exchange zinc made the most gains on Thursday February 4 morning, with the majority of other metals - except tin - consolidating around recent prices due to a rising US dollar index amid the prospect of the United States passing a Covid-19 stimulus package.LME zinc's three-month price was up 0.8% on Thursday to $2,637 per tonne at 9am, following its 1.8% gain over Wednesday to $2,615...Read More
China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices continued to rise on Thursday February 4 amid gains in the futures market, while exporters are winding down ahead of the Chinese New Year next week.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,440-4,450 yuan ($687-689) per tonne, up 10-30 yuan per tonneA Shanghai-based trader said trading activity during the day was higher than Wednesday after prices rose.He said thi...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were flat on Thursday February 4, but some participants are expecting prices to come under pressure from rising market inventories after the Chinese New Year holiday. DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,280-4,300 yuan ($663-666) per tonne, unchangedRebar inventory levels in 20 major cities in China totaled 4.56 million tonnes in late January, up by 930,000 tonnes (25....Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mainly weaker, while those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly firmer this morning, Thursday February 4, with the weaker dollar likely weighing on dollar-denominated prices.Along with a stronger US Dollar Index, US 10-year treasuries yields are stronger too......suggesting risk-on, but broader markets not reflecting that this morningAsi...Read More
The Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt standard...Read More
The Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lbtrade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs...Read More
The European titanium scrap market resumed its six-month long rally over the week to Wednesday February 3 after a brief pause, with ferro-titanium suppliers set to hold their offer prices in the near term ahead of second-quarter demand from steelmakers, market sources told Fastmarkets.Both titanium scrap markets that Fastmarkets assesses have jumped about two-fold in the past six months.Fastmarket...Read More
Key data from the pricing session in London on Wednesday January 3..Key drivers Prices in Europe found support following continuous gains in China starting from early January. Producers were raising their offers and resisting lower bids, with all offers above $3 per lb.The higher offers were said to be a result of logistical disruptions in the bismuth production hub in Hunan provinc...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday February 4 pricing session in London and Shanghai.Key drivers The cobalt hydroxide payable indicator continued to edge high after a persistent surge in downstream cobalt sulfate prices translated into heightened willingness among buyers to accept higher offers from...Read More
In a reversal of fortune, Ferroglobe Plc expects to show $33 million of cashflow when it releases its 2020 financial results, the Western Hemisphere's biggest silicon producer told investors in a call on Wednesday February 3."Adjusted Ebitda for the full year 2020 is expected to be positive $33 million, which compares with negative $37 million for the full year 2019," Marco Levi, Ferroglobe's chie...Read More
A summary of the financial results for Finnish stainless steelmaker Outokumpu for the fourth-quarter and full year of 2020.In briefSales in 2020 were only 3% lower than 2019, but earnings fell due to significantly lower prices in Europe during the Covid-19 pandemic A stronger-than-expected market recovery in the fourth quarter pushed earnings up from ?,?10 million to ?,?30 million quarter on quart...Read More
China's domestic stainless steel prices widened downward in the week to Wednesday February 3 because some traders were looking to conclude more sales before the Chinese New Year.DomesticStainless steel cold-rolled coil 2mm grade 304 domestic (Wuxi): 14,900-15,900 yuan ($2,307-2,461) per tonne, widened downward by 200 yuan per tonne from a week earlier. End-user demand for stainless CRC is expected...Read More
Northisle Copper and Gold (TSX: NCX) has released an updated preliminary economic assessment on a 22-year, 75,000 tonne-per-day open pit development within its North Island project at the north end of Vancouver Island in B.C. The study latest "confirms that the North Island project is one of the most attractive copper-gold porphyry projects in Canada," the company stated in a press release. The p...Read More
In the wake of the GameStop/Reddit saga, North American market manipulation is once again the topic du jour; that the rules of the game vary by player- institutional versus retail investor, hedge fund versus little guy - is clear, highlighted by the fact that once again, big finance has won. Deemed too important to fail, the latest bail out of Wall Street, this time, ironically, thanks to brokerag...Read More
Incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into investment decision making was one of the most talked about investment strategies of 2020 and one that continues to be amplified as the markets - and society at large - grapple with a global pandemic.Companies are under increased scrutiny for their environmental impact and their actions as corporate citizens across all industr...Read More