Hot-rolled coil prices in China's domestic market traded in a smaller range on Wednesday June 2, following the volatility in Tuesday's session driven by uncertainty over production curbs in Tangshan.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,480-5,570 yuan ($858-872) per tonne, narrowing the range by 30-50 yuan per tonne.Prices edged lower on Wednesday after trading at 5,480-5,600 yuan per tonne on Tuesd...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices on Wednesday June 2 recovered most of the losses from a day earlier amid costlier raw materials such as iron ore and coke. DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,000-5,020 yuan ($784-787) per tonne, up by 100 yuan per tonne Rising prices for steelmaking raw materials are making rebar mills lose money, an industry analyst said.Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe fines,...Read More
The three-month zinc price traded higher during the morning session on the London Metal Exchange on Wednesday June 2, while the rest of the base metals complex consolidated gains following a strong end to May.Zinc's three-month price rose as high as $3,098 per tonne in morning trading, up from Tuesday's closing price of $3,064 per tonne. The contract's reading of $3,060 per tonne at the close on M...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed this morning, Wednesday June 2 - zinc and tin prices were up on both exchanges and were looking robust, while the others have lost recent upward momentum. Brent crude oil is back above $70 per barrel, the highest it has been for two years. Tuesday's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) data for...Read More
Key data from the pricing session in London on Wednesday June 2. Key drivers Market participants agree that demand is picking up in both Europe and Asia although this has yet to translate into a price increase and units...Read More
An overview of the specialty steel raw materials markets in Europe and their latest price moves.Ewa Manthey, Charlotte...Read More
An overview of the consumer electronics markets and their latest price moves.Dalila Ouerghi in London,...Read More
The Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lbtrade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt...Read More
The Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb at 19.90-20.50 on Wednesday...Read More
The Cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, % payable of Fastmarkets' standard-grade cobalt price (low-end) trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt hydroxide p...Read More
The Cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China, yuan/tonne trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday June 2.Key drivers Trading has been quiet over the past week due to the shortened working week, with a national UK holiday on Monday May 31 (Spring Bank Holiday), while European markets will be affected by Corpus Christi on Thursday June 3. These breaks have also coincided with school holidays, meaning that many workers are...Read More
Recent weakness in Chinese export hot-rolled coil prices are likely to have minimal impact on prices in Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States - major flat steel suppliers - at least in the short term, sources told Fastmarkets. Existing demand at key outlets and long lead times will prevent prices from following the Chinese export price in the near term, Fastmarkets has learned. Do...Read More
Fastmarkets has decided to revise the outlier detection method used in the calculation of its copper concentrate treatment and refining charge (TC/RC) index. Following a one-month consultation, Fastmarkets will proceed to revise the outlier detection method used in the calculation of its copper concentrate TC/RC index to reflect spot market changes. Changes will take effect on Friday June 4. The p...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were generally weaker on Thursday June 3 morning, although nickel bucked the trend on both exchanges.* Brent crude oil continues to rally, reaching $71.71 on Thursday morning.* China’s Caixin services purchasing manager’s index eases to 55.1 in May, from 56.3 in April.Base metalsLME three-month base metals pric...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 26 points in pre-opening trade.Equity futures are expected to respond to a series of economic reports to be released this morning. ? The May ADP Non-farm Employment to be released at 8:15 AM EDT is expected to drop to 650,000 from 742,000 in April. ? Next estimate of first quarter Non-farm Productivity to be released...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday June 1 that are worth another look.Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk once described the ongoing use of fossil fuels and their generation of a vast carbon footprint as "the dumbest experiment in human history."German carmaker Volkswagen will halt...Read More
The first proposed draft on scrap shipment regulation revisions in Europe will come out in a few weeks, with more restrictions on the free flow of secondary metal raw materials expected, panelists said at the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) Convention, which started on Monday May 31.The biggest point of uncertainty is whether the European Commission (EC) will stop the export of both unproc...Read More
Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk once described the ongoing use of fossil fuels and their generation of a vast carbon footprint as "the dumbest experiment in human history."Not everyone will agree with his assessment of the petroleum, gas and coal sectors, which have powered the world's growth for decades. Nonetheless, the twin goals of supply chain security and sustainability are now driving a t...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and the United States over the week to Tuesday June 1.China Producers, under increasing cost pressure, looked to increase UG2 chrome ore prices after sentiment strengthened following higher-than-expected ferro-chrome tender prices but little liquidity has been realized yet.China's major stainless-steel mills set their ferro-chrome tender prices a...Read More