Key data from the pricing session in Europe on Wednesday August 5.Key drivers The ferro-titanium market remained stable for the third consecutive week. Ferro-titanium production has fallen in the UK with several suppliers operating below capacity. Sources do not expect output to pick up until there is increased liquidity, while some market participants report cautious optimism and...Read More
The local cobalt futures price in China leapt this week, resulting in higher quotations in the spot market, but weak downstream demand and resistance to rapid price hikes created a disconnect between physical and futures prices. The cobalt price on the Wuxi Stainless Steel Exchange (Wuxi) started to rise quickly at the beginning of this week after consolidating previous gains late in the prior wee...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Shanghai on Wednesday August 5. Key driversSome suppliers continued to raise offer prices with the intention of achieving deals at higher prices, citing limited spot cargoes at hand and high production costs.A number of consumers, however, remained wary of accepting higher prices, saying that the rise...Read More
Three experienced mining leaders give valuable insights into decision-making and seizing opportunities during a global crisis.Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, mining executives are being forced to take swift action and make tough decisions as prices fall, economies contract and demand in key consuming industries declines. Three leading mining industry executives told Andrea Hotter about their res...Read More
A summary of Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau's financial results in the second quarter of 2020, as stated in its earnings report on Wednesday August 5.In brief Gerdau's crude steel output in Brazil decreased during the quarter following the stoppage in early April of the No2 blast furnace at its Ouro Branco mill, in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, and some of its long rolling activities in the...Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Thursday August 6, but the complex was up by an average of 0.4%.Pre-market major western equity index futures and equities in Asian-Pacific markets were also mixed.* Western markets waiting for news on a stimulus package announcement by the United States this week, as well as Friday US employment report...* ...eit...Read More
Bristol-Myers (BMY) an S&P 100 stock moved above $60.68 resuming an intermediate uptrend. The stock responded to a favourable ruling on a patent for its blood thinner drug.UnitedHealth Group (UNH), a Dow Jones Industrial Average stock moved above $314.69 to an all-time high extending an intermediate uptrend. Western Digital (WDC), a NASDAQ 100 stock moved below $40.47 and $37.65 setting an int...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday August 4 that are worth another look.The United States Midwest aluminium premium hit a nearly four-month high on August 4, with the market widely assuming further increases due to expectations that Canada will again face US tariffs - a factor that has continued to boost offers and tighten discounting. Price fluctuations i...Read More
The three-month price of nickel on the London Metal Exchange was the base metals complex's standout performer on Tuesday August 4, closing above the psychological level of $14,100 per tonne for the first time since January in a 1.2% rally from the previous day's close.Nickel's LME three-month price spanned a wide $270 per tonne intra-day range, hitting a high of $14,135 per tonne before closing at...Read More
Spot supply of blister copper improved to boost the intermediate copper product's refining charges (RC) in July, mainly due to arrival of delayed African cargoes at Chinese ports, Fastmarkets heard.Fastmarkets assessed 98-99% blister copper RC, spot, cif China at $135-155 per tonne for July, up 20% from $110-132 per tonne one month earlier. A few parcels were even reported being bought close to $1...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday August 4 that are worth another look.The United States Midwest aluminium premium hit a nearly four-month high on August 4, with the market widely assuming further increases due to expectations that Canada will again face US tariffs - a factor that has continued to boost offers and tighten discounting. Price fluctuations i...Read More
Output of mined copper from Chile fell by 0.7% during June 2020, compared with the corresponding month in 2019, amid renewed Covid-19-related restrictions in the country, data from Chilean copper commission Cochilco showed on Tuesday August 4.Chile produced 466,500 tonnes in copper content in the month, down from 469,900 tonnes a year before, according to Cochilco. This was the first monthly year-...Read More
Spot supply of blister copper improved to boost the intermediate copper product's refining charges (RC) in July, mainly due to arrival of delayed African cargoes at Chinese ports, Fastmarkets heard.Fastmarkets assessed 98-99% blister copper RC, spot, cif China at $135-155 per tonne for July, up 20% from $110-132 per tonne one month earlier. A few parcels were even reported being bought close to $1...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloy forecast highlights:Numerous ore and alloy markets enjoyed upward pricing momentum in the first half 2020, with supply-side constraints supporting prices despite collapsing demand from steelmakers and other key end users. While supply side issues related to Covid-19 lockdowns have been resolved,...Read More
Benchmark prices for cobalt metal lurched higher in the first few trading days of August as a recovery in the Chinese market trickled through to encourage increased buying - and higher prices - in the rest of the world. Fastmarkets assessed the prices for cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam and cobalt alloy-grade, in-whs Rotterdam at parity at $14.25-14.70 per lb on Tuesday August 4, up f...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday August 4 that are worth another look.The United States Midwest aluminium premium hit a nearly four-month high on August 4, with the market widely assuming further increases due to expectations that Canada will again face US tariffs - a factor that has continued to boost offers and tighten discounting. Price fluctuations i...Read More
Mexican ferrous scrap prices showed little movement in the week ended Friday July 31, with downward pressure in the steel value chain starting to ease in the country.With the exception of one mill in the country's central Baj?-o region, no major scrap price changes were announced in the Mexican market during the week. This mill lowered prices for most grades by 100 pesos per tonne.Fastmarkets...Read More
The Turkish steel mills have broken their silence in the market and have resumed their deep-sea purchases after the Eid al-Adha religious holiday in the country, sources said on Tuesday August 4.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a European cargo, comprising 10,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (75:25), 20,000 tonnes of shredded and 10,000 tonnes of a mixture of HMS 1 and new cuttings at an average...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.The price for steel scrap in China has risen recently, amid high mill operating rates and at a time of heavy rain, but it remains at a premium to hot metal, we estimate. Heavy rains in China tend to increase the moisture content of iron ore stockpiles, which can cause issues during the sintering process, and this may have en...Read More
The metals and equity indices were headed in different directions this morning, Tuesday August 4, with equities up and metals down, but good data may well push metals prices higher as the day progresses - especially given better-than-expected US vehicle sales in July. Nasdaq set another record high on Monday.US total vehicle sales rose to 14.5 million units annualized in July, sales were expected...Read More