The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for steel billet, slab and bloom. Latest transaction: billetBilletIran, export, billet, offered...Read More

The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil, hot-dipped galvanized coil, pre-painted galvanized iron, steel plate, steel sheet and other flat steel products. Latest transactions: HRC, HDGHot-rolled coilChina, export, hot rolled coil (2mm), offered at $620-625 per tonne cfr, to the UAE.China, export,...Read More

Norwegian ferro-silicon producer Finnfjord Smelteverk will cut about 3,500 tonnes of production between July and August of this year because of planned maintenance to one of its furnaces, according to an industry source. The company, which has its plant in the north of the country, operates three furnaces, one with capacity for 20,000 tonnes per year and two with capacities for 40,000 tpy. Mainten...Read More

Following extensive market engagement, Metal Bulletin has decided to extend the consultation period for the proposed launch of a battery-grade lithium ex-works China index to provide additional time for market participants to submit feedback. Metal Bulletin is committed to providing transparent pricing for the lithium sector and is therefore extending the timeframe to collect further feedback on t...Read More

Daily PDFs will be downloadable until Wednesday July 4. After that, because of a national holiday, the next daily PDF will be downloadable on Friday July 6.Read More

Time to consolidate The base metals have been sold off as trade fears have escalated, exacerbating risk-off sentiment. Technically and fundamentally, we feel prices have fallen far enough. Aluminium: Price forecasts lowered Given a negative technical configuration and challenging fundamental outlook, selling momentum is likely to remain the dominant force in the aluminium market for a while. Any r...Read More

LME started the new trading month poorly After three consecutive weekly declines, LME aluminium started the new trading month poorly, weighed down by weaker economic data out of China, which lends credence to concerns about the potentially negative impact of the trade dispute with the US. The resilient dollar index is weighing on the base metals complex too. Aluminium prices dropped 1.4% on Monday...Read More

Domestic Chinese ferro-chrome prices have risen in line with July tender prices from leading stainless steel mills. Spot domestic ferro-chrome prices rise in China Chrome ore, charge chrome import prices slideJapanese alloy prices edge upFerro-chrome prices rise in Europe Alloy markets flat in South Korea, United StatesChinese spot domestic ferro-chrome prices rose 4% in the week to Friday June 29...Read More

Aluminium The LME aluminium price has been declining steadily thanks to persistent selling momentum since the April 19 high at $2,718 per tonne. It spent most of May consolidating within what seems like a bear-flag formation and the price has now broken below it too. As such, the technical configuration is vulnerable to further selling. But the daily RSI and stochastic lines are starting to s...Read More

Mixed fundamental data on Q1 The latest WBMS data suggest that the global copper market was in a deficit of 96,000 tonnes in April, bringing the group’s take on the January-April deficit to 215,000 tonnes. According to the WBMS, refined production grew 2.9% year on year in January-April 2018, while refined consumption expanded by 4.6%. But we think the WBMS is painting an overly bullish pictu...Read More

Lead remaining resilience Lead prices traded sideways last week within a $2,385-2,449 per tonne range, with the bottom end holding above the low set two weeks ago at $2,365 per tonne. This is a resilient performance relative to the likes of copper, aluminium and zinc, which have been under significant pressure. From the recent highs around June 6-7, lead prices have fallen 7.5%, while copper, alum...Read More

Vanadium prices resumed their rally in earnest last week after buyers paid higher prices to secure scarce units, with no signs of change to the persistent tight supply situation. Chinese export prices jump with spot units in limited supply amid persistent foreign inquiries European ferro-vanadium prices surge in the second half of the week after sellers hold firm with their offers Thin spot supply...Read More

LME stock slide a bullish constant for nickel, alloy surcharges Following the run-up in nickel prices throughout May and into June, prices for most common nickel-containing stainless steel grades gained some momentum, despite limited pull from the demand side. Alloy surcharges hit six-year highs for June deliveries, aided also by molybdenum price gains. Indeed, LME nickel prices held up well in la...Read More

It has been a while since we reviewed recent trends in the global tinplate sector, so this week we summarise some highlights from our most recent Galvanized Steel and Tinplate Market Tracker report. US tinplate market after the tariff Straightforward exemptions from the Section 232 tariff have run out. In the run-up to the publication of the Commerce Department’s findings there were wide mont...Read More

Chinese smelters to the rescue Zinc prices staged a modest rebound last week as a pull-back in the dollar reduced selling pressure in the base metals. Broader marker concerns around escalating trade uncertainties have also eased somewhat, although this may prove temporary. Supply-side developments have also helped sentiment in zinc as major Chinese smelters are discussing plans to cut production,...Read More

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Click here to download the Selected Demand IndicatorsACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of  market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the lat...Read More

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were split into two camps on the morning of Tuesday July 3, with aluminium and tin prices both off by 0.3%, while the rest of the complex was up by between 0.1% and 0.6%. Zinc led the rebound, while copper was the laggard at $6,578 per tonne. Volume has been above average with 8,372 lots traded as at 7:13am London time. Precious metals we...Read More

Australian iron ore lump prices continued to rise on Tuesday July 3, while fines prices stayed rangebound.Metal Bulletin 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $64.55 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.01 per tonne Metal Bulletin 58% Fe Premium Index: $51.95 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.03 per tonne Metal Bulletin 65% Fe Iron Ore Index: $91.50 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $0.10 per tonne Metal Bulletin 62% Fe China Port...Read More

U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 12 points in pre-opening trade. U.S. equity markets are closing today at 2:00 PM EDT prior to the Independence Day holiday.Roku added $2.11 to $45.40 after Oppenheimer upgraded the stock to Outperform from Perform. Target price is $50.American Airlines dropped $0.33 to $38.03, Delta Airlines fell $0.19 to $49.73 and Un...Read More