Changes in the purchasing habits of some Chinese alloy smelters are partly to blame for the weakness in the low-grade manganese ore market, sources told Fastmarkets.Prices for the low-grade manganese ore, also called semi-carbonate, in both seaborne and portside markets have generally trended downward since hitting year-to-date highs in late April on supply concerns after South Africa implemented...Read More
China's domestic stainless steel prices decreased slightly in the week ended Wednesday October 28 due to softer demand following nickel losses.DomesticStainless steel cold-rolled coil 2mm grade 304 domestic (Wuxi): 14,500-15,200 yuan ($2,157-2,261) per tonne, widened downward by 100 yuan per tonne from a week earlier.The three-month nickel contract on the London Metal Exchange fell steadily from O...Read More
Check Point (CHKP), a NASDAQ 100 stock moved below $114.89 completing a double top pattern. Hong Kong iShares moved below $21.51 setting an intermediate downtrend. Pre-opening Comments for Friday October 30thU.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 29 points in pre-opening trade.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of economic news a...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday October 28 that are worth another look.Both the North American and Brazilian markets have strong growth potential stemming from infrastructure-related activity, Gerdau's global chief financial officer Harley Scardoelli told attendees at Fastmarkets' 2020 Steel Success Strategies Online conference on October...Read More
Premiums for lead in India have risen amid calls for increased regional production in the week to Tuesday October 27, while lead and zinc premiums in other regions remained flat over the period, despite increased spot-market interest in both the United States and Europe.Increased demand for industrial production boosts Indian lead premiumUS zinc and lead premiums unmoved despite improved spot appe...Read More
The three-month nickel price on the LME was weaker at the close of trading on Wednesday October 28, down by more than 1% against spread tightness and selling pressure, in addition to a steady rise in the US dollar index.London Metal Exchange lead futures, meanwhile, bucked the downward trend to end the day as the only positive close. Nickel's outright price on th...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday October 28 that are worth another look.Both the North American and Brazilian markets have strong growth potential stemming from infrastructure-related activity, Gerdau's global chief financial officer Harley Scardoelli told attendees at Fastmarkets' 2020 Steel Success Strategies Online conference on October...Read More
Copper miner KAZ Minerals is set to be taken into private ownership after its largest shareholders, including Vladimir Kim, offered $2.47 billion to buy out the rest of the company's stakeholders.The bid of 640 pence ( ?6.40, $8.34) per share is being led by the company's chairman, Oleg Novachuk, and Kim, Kazakhstan's richest man. Kim was a non-executive director and chairman of the company when i...Read More
South Africa's proposal to impose an export tax on UG2 chrome ore has revived sentiment and halted a slump in prices, while ferro-chrome markets held steady ahead of the release of November tenders, sources said on this week.News of the proposed export tax saw Fastmarkets' chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates index, basis 42%, cif China, settle at $136 per tonne on Tuesday, up by $1 per t...Read More
An overview of the consumers electronics markets and their latest price moves.Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday October 28.Key driversThe ferro-titanium market in Europe climbed further over the week, adding to a steady run of gains since August 19 when the market was assessed at $3.30-3.85 per kg ddp. Steady demand and competition from overseas buyers in India and China have supported the rally in recent weeks, while persistent scrap tightne...Read More
A Turkish steel mill booked a mixed Baltic Sea scrap cargo at higher prices late on Tuesday October 27, confirming this week's upward price trend, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday.The Baltic Sea cargo, booked late on Tuesday evening, comprised 9,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $292.50 per tonne, 8,000 tonnes of shredded at $297.50 per tonne and 4,000 tonnes of bonus at $302.50 per tonne...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday October 28.Key driversThe ferro-titanium market in Europe climbed further over the week, adding to a steady run of gains since August 19 when the market was assessed at $3.30-3.85 per kg ddp. Steady demand and competition from overseas buyers in India and China have supported the rally in recent weeks, while persistent scrap tightne...Read More
India will miss its forecast steel targets in 2030, but the sector should continue to grow on increased government spending, Tata Steel chief executive T.V. Narendran said during Fastmarkets Steel Success Strategies 2020 virtual conference on October 26-28During a Q&A session Narendran was asked to comment on the future of the Indian steel market and production as well as the sustainable growth ra...Read More
Base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were for the main part firmer this morning, Wednesday October 28, this despite early weakness in major western equity index futures that were suffering because parts of Europe look set to escalate lockdown measures. France is reportedly contemplating a one-month nationwide lockdownNickel prices surge as a nickel min...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States declined for the second consecutive day due to diminishing spot market activity and a lack of availability from steel producers, according to market participants.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $33.52 per hundredweight ($670.40 per short ton) on Wednesday October 28, down by 1.1% from $33.89 per cwt on Tuesda...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-dipped galvanized coil in Northern Europe increased in the week to Wednesday October 28, supported by reduced availability of the material in the spot market and strong demand from the automotive sector, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel HDG, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?600-620 ($709-733) per tonne ex-works on October 28,...Read More
Domestic prices for heavy steel plate went down in Europe in the week to Wednesday October 28 due to poor demand, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Southern Europe, was ?,?450-465 ($532-549) per tonne on October 28, down by ?,?5-10 per tonne from ?,?460-470 per tonne.The assessment reflected offers and achievable prices heard i...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday October 28 that are worth another look.Both the North American and Brazilian markets have strong growth potential stemming from infrastructure-related activity, Gerdau's global chief financial officer Harley Scardoelli told attendees at Fastmarkets' 2020 Steel Success Strategies Online conference on October...Read More
Brazilian flat and long steel producer Gerdau is optimistic about the country's steel demand in 2021, chief executive officer Gustavo Werneck said on Wednesday October 28."We are foreseeing a growth of steel demand somewhere between 6-8% [in 2021] compared with 2020," Werneck said. Brazilian apparent steel consumption is expected to fall by 4.7% this year, to 20 million tonnes from 20.98 million t...Read More