United States-based electric vehicle maker Tesla's failure to be listed as an S&P 500 company led to a 20% share price fall on Tuesday September 8, that in turn led to a 4% fall in the Nasdaq index - markets are wondering whether this will be a catalyst for a broader reality check? Or just provide another dip-buying opportunity?Base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futu...Read More

China's State Reserve Bureau (SRB) is going to start stockpiling cobalt metal in the near future, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday September 9.One producer source told Fastmarkets they had received a notice from the country's reserve authority late in the evening in China, informing them to collect a tender document the next day - Thursday September 10. It is still unknown, however, ho...Read More

The cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China, yuan/tonne 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.Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday September 9 that are worth another look.From learning early about the practicalities of running a business during summer-holiday work to her role as chief executive officer of Norwegian aluminium and energy company Norsk Hydro, Hilde Merete Aasheim has faced many challenges...Read More

Although the world around us is starting to open up again, you're probably still hungover from the COVID summer.You might have missed a huge move by Big Oil.In July, Chevron scooped up Noble Energy for $13 billion with debt included.During bear markets, only the strong drillers survive.And you better believe the sharks have been circling.You can bet more buyouts are likely on the way, too.Keep in...Read More

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil jumped day on day in Northern Europe on Wednesday September 9, supported by long lead times, reduced output from local mills and a lack of import offers, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was calculated at ?,?476.25 ($561.71) per tonne on Wednesday, up by ?,?8.30 per tonne from ?,?467.95...Read More

Novolipietsk Steel (NLMK), the largest steel producer in Russia, has stopped iron ore concentrate output at its Stoilensky mining and processing plant due to an accident, which occurred on September 7, Fastmarkets understands.NLMK receives all its required iron ore concentrate from the asset, which is why both its pig iron and steel production are under threat, sources told Fastmarkets. "On Septem...Read More

Matt Rowe is back on Real Vision with valuable insight into what happened in early September in the US markets when both volatility and stock prices rose together. Importantly, Matt explains what can be learned from last week's twists and turns and how to apply those lessons going forward. After listening to this interview, I had a better appreciation of what to watch in options markets and how t...Read More

Egypt's biggest steelmaker, Ezz Steel, has announced changes in its management now that chairman Paul Chekaiban has departed the board, the company said on September 1.Mamdouh Fakhr El Din El Rouby has been appointed non-executive chairman and Hassan Ahmed Nouh has been appointed executive managing director representing El Ezz Group Holding for Industry...Read More

The prices of hollow steel sections in Europe were unchanged this week, despite feedstock costs continuing to rise, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday September 9.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?550-570 ($649-672) per tonne on Wednesday, as it was on September 2.The price of hot-rolled coil (HRC), the feedstock for se...Read More

The price of steel H-beams in Europe was unchanged this week, but producers were seeking further price increases, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday September 9.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?535-565 ($631-666) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week."Since July, prices have been moving up and have gained momentum against...Read More

Turkish steel mills have been busy in the deep-sea scrap market in recent weeks and booked four more cargoes totaling more than 150,000 tonnes on Wednesday September 9, sources told Fastmarkets.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a US cargo, comprising 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $301 per tonne cfr, 12,000 tonnes of shredded at $306 per tonne and 8,000 tonnes of bonus at $311 per ton...Read More

Novolipietsk Steel (NLMK), the largest steel producer in Russia, has stopped iron ore concentrate output at its Stoilensky mining and processing plant due to an accident, which occurred on September 7, Fastmarkets understands.NLMK receives all its required iron ore concentrate from the asset, which is why both its pig iron and steel production are under threat, sources told Fastmarkets. "On Septem...Read More

Japanese export steel scrap prices jumped on Wednesday September 9 following a strong increase in the Kanto auction for the second month running, market sources told Fastmarkets.Japan's Kanto Tetsugen, a monthly auction between a cooperative of scrap dealers in the Tokyo region, closed at ?29,370 ($276) per tonne fas on Wednesday, up by ?2,154 per tonne from the previous month.August's auction p...Read More

Iranian exporters of steel slab have managed to win deals at higher prices in the recent round of sales, supported by favorable conditions in the Asian market amid growing costs for finished flat steel products.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel slab, export, fob ports Iran, was $432 per tonne fob on Wednesday September 9, up from $415-425 per tonne.Khouzestan Steel, which is one of th...Read More

Steel billet producers in the Commonwealth of Independent States continued to raise their offer prices for foreign customers in the week ended Wednesday September 9 following the recent uptick in Turkish import scrap prices.On Tuesday, Turkish import scrap prices exceeded $300 per tonne on the strength of the rebar and billet markets.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a Baltic Sea cargo, co...Read More

Where are gold and silver prices heading, and why? Will we see more announcements from pension funds stating that they'll be buying gold? And where are we in the inflation/deflation debate? These are three separate topics that all add up to major shifts in the gold and silver markets. Join Mike Maloney, Chris Martenson and Mr Jeff Clark for their latest analysis.?>>?Michael Maloney is a precious m...Read More

A Norwegian lawmaker has nominated President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work facilitating the recent UAE/Israel agreement. Trump is accused of shooting from the hip - at least verbally - and his presidency is marked by significantly increased military spending. But is there some logic to the nomination? Especially considering the last US president to receive a Nobel Peace Prize?D...Read More

Frank Holmes, the Chief Investment Officer at US Global Investors joins me to discuss all things gold and silver, and Wheaton Precious Metals huge stake in Caldas Gold. Thanks for tuning in.Frank Holmes is the CEO and chief investment officer of U.S. Global Investors, Inc., a boutique investment advisory firm based in San Antonio that manages domestic and offshore funds specializing in the natural...Read More

The discussion amongst economic experts is, "What is Warren Buffett trying to tell us?" with his latest moves into Barrick Gold. The reason why these moves have experts scratching their heads is because Buffett is notorious for considering gold to be worthless. He's quoted as saying, "[Gold] gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or someplace. Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again a...Read More