Flat steel buyers in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia preferred to wait for new prices to be announced before making any new purchases, sources told Metal Bulletin on Tuesday January 2.There was no new price published after the New Year holiday, and the domestic markets in those countries were trying to get used to the imposition of 5% VAT on January 1, 2018.However, most buyers were expe...Read More

The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Tuesday January 2.Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange have started the year in a strong position with prices mostly in positive territory during morning trading today.This comes following a positive end to the year last week where copper hit a near four-year high and most metals closed near to their 2017 y...Read More

Good morning from Metal Bulletin's offices in Asia, bringing the key news and market stories on Tuesday January 2. Copper prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) fell during the Asian morning session on the first trading day of 2018 after China's official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in below market expectations. Check Metal Bulletin's live futures report here. LME snapshot at 0251...Read More

In the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election, which saw Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in an unprecedented win, a wealthyContinue...Read More

RAPAPORT PRESS RELEASE, January 2, 2018, New York... Polished diamond prices stabilized in December following a better-than-expected holiday season. US consumer sentiment was boosted by economic growth, record-high stock markets and a drastic tax overhaul that is expected to raise disposable income and discretionary spending. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI?,,?) for 1-carat diamonds edged up 0.3% i...Read More

RAPAPORT... The European Union (EU) has taken over the chairmanship ofthe Kimberley Process (KP) for 2018, with Italian politician FedericaMogherini heading the operation.The leadership of the KP switches every year, with Australiataking charge in 2017 and the United Arab Emirates in 2016. India is the vicechair this year, and will become chair in 2019. "For the European Union, the Kimberley Proce...Read More

RAPAPORT... Christmas was not white enough for jewelry buyers in NewHampshire, after a local retailer had promised to refund in-store purchases ifenough snow fell.Springer's Jewelers said it would return up to $10,000 toanyone who bought products between November 24 and December 9, as long as itsnowed at least 6 inches outside its Portsmouth store on December 25. But with only 4.3 inches falling,...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The European Union has taken over as chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) as of today under the leadership of High Representative Vice President Federica Mogherini.   The EU was vice-chair last year when Australia headed the body. India is the vice-chair this year and will chair the organization in 2019.   Mogherini said: "For the European Union, the Kimberley Process is p...Read More

RAPAPORT... As the silly season comes to a slowend, here's another list of stories we feel  are worth revisiting. They didn't quite make our list of most-read stories of 2017, but they were certainly among our favorites and made their mark during the year:1. CanLady Gaga Save Tiffany & Co?2. SarineVentures into Diamond Grading3. NewDiamond Ads Refocus on Love Moments4. Israel Takes I...Read More

(IDEX Online News) - There was a small rise in the IDEX polished diamond price index during December following a flat performance in November.   The Index began the month at 120.02 and ended at 120.90.     Outlook   Sentiment in the diamond centers was generally positive in the global diamond centers, with diamantaires looking forward to strong holiday sales and the Chinese N...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will stage the 5th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show from 27 February to 3 March at the AsiaWorld-Expo, and the 35th Hong Kong International Jewellery Show from 1 to 5 March at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).   The twin shows anticipate a total of more than 4,480 exhibitors from over 5...Read More

Commonwealth of Independent States steel export slab and billet prices are expected to level off in the first quarter of 2018 after the erosion of slab's premium to billet in the second half of 2017, sources told Metal Bulletin. But longer-term prospects for the slab-billet spread are uncertain and could depend on Chinese investments in secondary steelmaking capacity. "Our short-term forecast says...Read More

Europe's steel industry is poised for significant consolidation in 2018, though the upside from the scaling back of overcapacity will need to be balanced by the requirement for competitive markets.The New Year is likely to see the formal completion of the merger between Tata Steel and Thyssenkrupp's European steel operations. Thyssenkrupp Tata Steel, in which both companies will hold a 50% stake,...Read More

Southeast Asia is expected to increase its self-sufficiency in 2018 once more flat steel producers start up their plants. The demand for slab is also expected to increase once the production lines are up and running.Vietnam's Hoa Phat Group is targeting a 2019 start-up for its 4-million-tonne-per-year integrated steel mill in central Vietnam. Located in Quang Ngai province, the $2.7-billion mill w...Read More

"I believe there is a good chance that the precious metals will be an outstanding asset class in 2018 – Gold could outperform Bitcoin in the year ahead."https://www.peterlbrandt.com/2018-gold-outlook/Read More

Base metals prices were on divergent paths at the close on the London Metal Exchange on Tuesday January 2 while most prices tried to consolidate recent gains. Zinc was one of the strongest performers today, hitting a high of $3,352 per tonne - the highest since August 2007. Lead followed its sister metal higher, closing up 2%. "Zinc has opened 2018 in a bullish mood; still, falling LME stocks sugg...Read More

Comex copper prices consolidated in the US morning on Tuesday January 2 after trading around a four-year high at the end of 2017. Copper for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange dipped 1.20 cents or 0.4% to $3.2885 per lb. Earlier today, prices were in positive territory after Chinese manufacturing data surprised to the upside. But after closer inspection and...Read More

Prices in China for hot-rolled coil narrowed upward in Shanghai on Tuesday January 2 following the rising paper market, but dipped in Tianjin on poor demand.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,290-4,310 yuan ($658-661) per tonne, narrowed upward by 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 4,150-4,180 yuan per tonne, down by 20 yuan per tonneThe northern Chinese market remained weak amid poor dem...Read More

SHANGHAI, Jan 2 (SMM)? 1/4 ? Nonferrous metals were mixed on the first trading day of 2018 with nickel outperforming others with a 2% rise. Zinc and tin rose around 1% while lead dropped 0.73% and copper dropped 0.63%.On the other hand, iron ore led the ferrous complex with a 2.6% gain. Rebar, coking coal and hot-rolled coil all rose some 2%, while coke was up over 1%.Copper: Copper saw the techni...Read More

SHANGHAI, Jan 2 (SMM)? 1/4 ? Nonferrous metals were mixed on the first trading day of 2018 with nickel outperforming others with a 2% rise. Zinc and tin rose around 1% while lead dropped 0.73% and copper dropped 0.63%.On the other hand, iron ore led the ferrous complex with a 2.6% gain. Rebar, coking coal and hot-rolled coil all rose some 2%, while coke was up over 1%.Copper: Copper saw the techni...Read More