The three-month base metals prices traded on the London Metal Exchange were mixed and little changed on the morning of Tuesday February 19.Zinc led the decline with a 0.3% drop to $2,635 per tonne from $2,643.50 per tonne at Monday's close, followed by nickel that was down by 0.2% at $12,440 per tonne from $12,465 per tonne, while aluminium was up by 0.2% at $1,858 per tonne from $1,854 per tonne....Read More
U.S. equity index futures were mixed this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 2 points in pre-opening trade. Devon Energy added $1.99 to $30.30 after announcing an additional $5 billion share buyback program The company also increased its dividend.Wal-Mart (WMT $102.20) is expected to open higher after KeyBanc Capital raised its target price to $120 from $112.Garmin gained $5.94 to $76.91 after...Read More
Copper's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange ended higher on Monday February 18 thanks to the downtrend in stocks and the potential for a thawing of US-Chinese trade relations.According to LME data, there are now two dominant warrant holding positions across 50-79% of LME stock and tom/next positions respectively."We are constructive on our outlook for copper prices in the next three mo...Read More
Copper concentrate treatment charges fell further in mid-February on expectations of tighter supply later this year, which could be reversed now that an Indian court's ruling to restart Sterlite Copper's 400,000 tonnes per year smelter has been overturned.Fastmarkets's copper concentrates treatment charges and refining charges (TCs/RCs) index declined to $74.20 per tonne/ 7.42 cents per lb for the...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly lower during morning trading on Monday February 18, with the three-month copper and tin prices rising while continued uncertainty over US-Chinese trade relations dampens investor sentiment. Climbing just short of 1% over the morning, the three-month copper price is trading back above the nearby $6,200 per tonne threshold, while total volu...Read More
Low grade ore prices rose strongly over the week ended Friday February 15 when some consumers accepted offer prices for March delivery that were increased over the Chinese New Year break. Low-grade ore prices rise strongly High-grade ore price increase Ferro-manganese prices in China and US increase Alloys in Europe fall Silico-manganese prices in China, US and India drop...Read More
Fastmarkets' UG2 chrome ore price strengthened in China on Friday February 15 ahead of stainless steel production restarts after Lunar New Year, while alloy prices in Europe and the United States fell. UG2 records modest gainFerro-chrome prices hold in ChinaAlloy prices tick up in Japan, South KoreaAlloy prices weaken in Europe UG2 chrome ore prices edged up in China on Friday on anticipation of...Read More
Copper concentrate treatment charges fell further in mid-February on expectations of tighter supply later this year, which could be reversed now that an Indian court's ruling to restart Sterlite Copper's 400,000 tonnes per year smelter has been overturned.Fastmarkets's copper concentrates treatment charges and refining charges (TCs/RCs) index declined to $74.20 per tonne/ 7.42 cents per lb for the...Read More
The Chinese antimony market was lackluster amid thin trading activity in the week ended Friday February 15, the first working week after the national Lunar New Year break on February 4-10, while China's absence was echoed in stagnant European prices. In China, Fastmarkets assessed the price for MMTA standard-grade II antimony, delivered duty-paid, at 48,500-49,500 yuan ($7,158-7,306) per tonne on...Read More
The antimony and gold processing facility being built in Sohar, Oman, by Strategic & Precious Metals Processing (SPMP) is facing new delays due to a technical issue with the refractory lining, Tri-Star Resources said on Monday February 18.Although some liquid metal has already been produced in the reduction furnace at SPMP's antimony and gold facility, it has not been possible to tap metal from th...Read More
The Turkish scrap import markets remained silent at the beginning of the week because mills had failed to sell billet or rebar to customers in Southeast Asia, sources said on Monday February 18.Market sentiment was generally negative and participants were expecting prices to soften due to the sluggish demand reported by Turkish producers."There were Baltic Sea suppliers offering HMS 1&2 (80:20) at...Read More
Domestic scrap prices have increased in Turkey over the past week due to the rise in imported scrap costs, sources said on Monday February 18.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic auto bundle (DKP-grade) scrap in Turkey was TRY1,680-1,820 ($319-345) per tonne delivered on February 18, up from TRY1,660-1,810 per tonne last week.A number of steel mills and a major scrapyard have increase...Read More
The three-month base metals prices traded on the London Metal Exchange were mixed on the morning of Monday February 18. Zinc prices led the decline with a 0.9% drop to $2,639 per tonne from $2,664 per tonne on Friday's close, followed by lead prices that were down by 0.6% at $2,065 per tonne from $2,077 per tonne, and nickel prices that dropped by 0.3% to $12,380 per tonne from $12,415 per tonne....Read More
Key data from the February 15 pricing session in London. Key driversStock overhang, particularly of cut cathode, means cobalt prices continue to slump, despite the news that ERG has suspended production at Chambishi. The differential between standard and alloy-grade cobalt prices continues...Read More
Flat steel import prices went up in South America in the latest price assessments, with rises imposed by mills in China and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) being passed through to customers.Fastmarkets assessed the import price of hot-rolled coil (HRC) in South America at $540-550 per tonne cfr on February 15, up from $525-540 per tonne the week before. The import price of cold-rolled...Read More
Export prices for flat steel from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have increased further because material availability was lower than the level of demand, source told Fastmarkets on Monday February 18.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for CIS-origin exports of hot-rolled coil (HRC) was $520-530 per tonne fob Black Sea on February 18, up by $20 per tonne week on week.Russia-origin H...Read More
Import prices for steel slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia maintained their upward momentum over the past week amid scarce offers, while trading activity remained thin.Fastmarkets MB's weekly import price assessment for slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia was $460-470 per tonne cfr on Monday February 18, up $10-15 per tonne from a week earlier.The regional market remained consistently quiet, wi...Read More
CIS export prices for rebar and wire rod continued to rise in the week ended Monday February 18, following the increase in global billet prices seen last week as well as higher export offers for long steel from Turkey.But customers refrained from making new bookings because they considered the offers for CIS material to be too high.In particular, rebar offers from Ukraine were heard at $495-500 pe...Read More
The Dubai customs authority in the United Arab Emirates has changed the list of long steel products subject to 10% import duty, it announced on Sunday February 17.Dubai customs increased the import duty on some rebar and wire rod products to 10% from the previous standard rate of 5%. The original list of products subject to 10% duty had only been in effect since January 17 this year.The Gulf Co-op...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were flat on Monday February 18 on weak demand despite the futures market bouncing back.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,700-3,750 yuan ($546-553) per tonne, unchanged Northern China (Beijing): 3,790-3,830 yuan per tonne, unchangedDemand from the construction sector was soft due to bad weather. A weakening of the billet market also put pressure on rebar prices, wh...Read More