Seaborne iron ore concentrate market softened last week, albeit at a slow rate of decline than prices for fines.The weekly Metal Bulletin 66% Fe Iron Ore Concentrate Index was $94.64 per tonne cfr China last Friday March 16, down $2.93 per tonne - or 3% - compared with a week earlier. The daily Metal Bulletin 65% Fe Iron Ore Index averaged $87.12 per tonne cfr China last week, down $3.70 per tonne...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices were unchanged on Wednesday March 21 despite a further weakening of the futures and billet markets, with sellers of the long steel product refusing to lower their offers further amid losses.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,670-3,730 yuan ($580-590) per tonne, unchanged Northern China (Beijing): 3,850-3,880 yuan per tonne, unchanged Stockists refused to lower their...Read More

The company has started a 30,000-tonne bulk sampling programme that will run until the end of the year.Read More

Key data from the Wednesday March 21 pricing session in Europe.Ferro-titanium 70% (max 4.5% Al), $ per kg, delivered duty-paid in EuropeTodayPreviousChange to midpoint of rangeMidpoint % change4.655.3-0.075-1Titanium scrap turnings, unprocessed (max 0.5% Sn) $ per lb, cif European ports Titanium scrap turnings, unprocessed (0.5-2% Sn), $ per lb, cif European ports...Read More

RAPAPORT... Increases in cyber theft and smash-and-grab robberies are contributing to higher crime levels in the US jewelry industry, the Jewelers' Security Alliance (JSA) saidin a report last week.The total number of jewelry crimes reported to the JSArose 12% to 1,394 in 2017, with smash-and-grabs climbing 15%.Cybercrime groups are growing in sophistication and becoming savvier,the JSA noted...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Crimes committed against U.S. jewelry firms reported to the Jewelers' Security Alliance (JSA) increased by 12% to 1,394 in 2017 from 1,245 in 2016, according to the JSA's Annual Crime Report for 2017.   Total dollar losses from crimes committed against U.S. jewelry firms decreased by 0.4% to $72.1 million in 2017 from $72.4 million in 2016.   In 2017 JSA recorded a l...Read More

RAPAPORT... The Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) has appointed MichaelKaplan as chairman, replacing Todd Wolleman, the group said last week. Kaplan (pictured) has been involved in the JBT for 20 years,and was previously first vice chairman of the board. "We are very excited to have Mike as our chairman and lookforward to his oversight and guidance," said JBT president Richard Weisenfeld."Mike br...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Sales of fine jewelry and fine watches rose by 6.3 percent in the U.S. market in January 2018, when compared to the same month a year ago, as the graph below illustrates.   Sales were an estimated $8.5 billion, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Commerce Department following the holiday season but ahead of Valentine's Day.   The sales rise in January was l...Read More

RAPAPORT... Retail sales of gold, silver and jewelry in China increasedin the first two months of 2018, the nation'sdata department said. Total revenue for the category rose 3% year on yearto $80.4 billion (CNY 509 billion) in January and February, the National Bureau of Statistics of Chinasaid in a statement Monday. Retail sales of all consumer goods increased 10%,while online sales climbed 37%....Read More

Mills across Europe producing hollow steel sections have continued this week to be largely unsuccessful in raising their prices for tube products because many producers are in need of bookings, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday March 21."They've been trying for several weeks, but they've been unsuccessful. If they don't get orders, they can't raise their prices, and they are all in urgent n...Read More

RAPAPORT... The International Gemological Institute (IGI) will open anew screening facility for detecting laboratory-grown stones at the SantacruzElectronic Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) in Mumbai, the grading organization said Tuesday. The center - which IGI claims is the first of itstype in SEEPZ - will enable companies in the jewelry-manufacturing hub toassure customers a stone is natural...Read More

Mining Journal caught up with Cochrane on the sidelines of the event to talk more in depth about his views on investing in these metals.Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 21 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals were weak today with SHFE zinc leading the loss with a drop of 1.7%. Copper fell 1.5% while aluminium, nickel, and tin edged down. Lead slumped near closing and closed flat from Tuesday March 20.The ferrous complex saw mixed trading today. Iron ore gained nearly 1%, while coke and coking coal inched up. Hot-rolled coil dropped over 2% and rebar dipp...Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 21 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals were weak today with SHFE zinc leading the loss with a drop of 1.7%. Copper fell 1.5% while aluminium, nickel, and tin edged down. Lead slumped near closing and closed flat from Tuesday March 20.The ferrous complex saw mixed trading today. Iron ore gained nearly 1%, while coke and coking coal inched up. Hot-rolled coil dropped over 2% and rebar dipp...Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 21 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals were weak today with SHFE zinc leading the loss with a drop of 1.7%. Copper fell 1.5% while aluminium, nickel, and tin edged down. Lead slumped near closing and closed flat from Tuesday March 20.The ferrous complex saw mixed trading today. Iron ore gained nearly 1%, while coke and coking coal inched up. Hot-rolled coil dropped over 2% and rebar dipp...Read More

U.S. equity index futures were mixed this morning prior to news this afternoon at 2:00 PM EDT from the FOMC meeting. S&P 500 futures were down 2 points in pre-opening trade.FedEx slipped $0.19 to $251.80 despite reporting higher than consensus quarterly sales and earnings. In addition, Stifel Nicolaus and JP Morgan raised their target price on the stock.General Mills dropped $2.93 to $47.00 af...Read More

Scandinavia has been a happy hunting ground for Mincon in the past 12 months.Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 21 (SMM) – Prices of prebaked anode will continue to tumble as supply grows after production restrictions are lifted at the end of the heating season, SMM believed. SMM sees downward room in prices, which have declined for three consecutive months. According to SMM, profit margins could be significant if current cash costs for prebaked anode are capped ...Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 21 (SMM) – Norilsk nickel in the Shanghai market traded at a discount of about 400 yuan/mt against the Wuxi Stainless Steel Exchange 1804 contract on Wednesday March 21, while Jinchuan traded at a premium of 100 yuan/mt, SMM learned.Jinchuan offered nickel plate at 101,200 yuan/mt today.As nickel futures traded in a tight range in the morning, traders made offers actively due t...Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 21 (SMM) – The zinc spot market in Shanghai saw more transactions on Wednesday March 21 as 0# zinc traded at 24,400-24,500 yuan/mt. Downstream consumers purchased more actively as prices of zinc declined, SMM learned.The 0# common brand traded at a discount of 60-50 yuan/mt against the SHFE 1804 contract, the 0# Shuangyan brand at a discount of 40-30 yuan/mt, and...Read More