European spot prices for high-carbon ferro-manganese and silico-manganese have fallen by more than 7% in the past week, in line with soft demand and persistently lower ore prices, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday June 29.New spot deals and offers have dragged alloy prices down to levels last seen about six months ago, and further weakness was expected when steelmakers shut down furnaces in July...Read More
European prices for vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) and ferro-vanadium continued to fall in the week ended Friday June 26 under pressure from weak end-user demand, with V2O5 prices dropping by 7%.Fastmarkets assessed the price of vanadium pentoxide, 98% V2O5 min, in-whs Rotterdam, at $5.10-5.50 per lb on Friday, down from $5.15-6.25 per lb in the previous week. The market was now at its lowest for three...Read More
Asian-Pacific equities and pre-market major western equity index futures were stronger this morning, Tuesday June 30, while base metals prices were for the most part firmer too - this despite Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell saying the US economy faces “extraordinary uncertainty”. * China’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) climbed to 50.9 in June, from 50.3...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were mixed this morning. S&P futures were unchanged in pre-opening trade.The Canadian Dollar was virtually unchanged at US73.07 cents following release of Canada's April GDP report at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus was an annualized drop of 12.2% versus a drop of 7.2% in March. Actual was s drop of 11.60%Lululemon gained $12.04 to $304.55 after announcing purchase of Mirror,...Read More
(Updates prices) By Peter Hobson LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) - Supply disruption in topproducer Chile, solid demand in top consumer China and dwindlingstockpiles kept copper prices near five-month highs on Monday. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME)was up 0.1% at $5,963 a tonne at 1615 GMT, close to Friday'speak of $6,006.The metal used in power and construction has risen by about35%...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday June 26 that are worth another look.The price for flat-rolled steel imported into South American main destinations has edged downward week on week, with Chinese offers remaining steady, while material from other origins was presented at lower prices.The closure of the Chuquicamata copper smelter in Chile could last up to two weeks,...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday June 26 that are worth another look.The price for flat-rolled steel imported into South American main destinations has edged downward week on week, with Chinese offers remaining steady, while material from other origins was presented at lower prices.The closure of the Chuquicamata copper smelter in Chile could last up to two weeks,...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday June 26 that are worth another look.The price for flat-rolled steel imported into South American main destinations has edged downward week on week, with Chinese offers remaining steady, while material from other origins was presented at lower prices.The closure of the Chuquicamata copper smelter in Chile could last up to two weeks,...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday June 26 that are worth another look.The price for flat-rolled steel imported into South American main destinations has edged downward week on week, with Chinese offers remaining steady, while material from other origins was presented at lower prices.The closure of the Chuquicamata copper smelter in Chile could last up to two weeks,...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday June 26 that are worth another look.The price for flat-rolled steel imported into South American main destinations has edged downward week on week, with Chinese offers remaining steady, while material from other origins was presented at lower prices.The closure of the Chuquicamata copper smelter in Chile could last up to two weeks,...Read More
Asian-Pacific equities and pre-market European equity index futures were weaker this morning, Monday June 29, but base metals prices were for the most part firmer. * Nikkei led on the downside this morning with losses of 2.21%.* Covid-19 surges in some southern US states, with 2.5 million confirmed cases reported in the country.* Profits in China’s industrial sector showed growth of 6% year o...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 12 points in pre-opening trade.Boeing added $12.30 to $182.31 after the FAA indicated that test flights on the 737 Max aircraft are set to start today.Gap Stores gained $0.63 to $12.70 after Deutsche Bank raised its target price from $13 to $15.Square added $1.45 to $105.75 after KeyBanc Capital increased its target pr...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Depending on which market one looks at, prices of coated steels have either risen, fallen or remained roughly the same since mid-May. One crucial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the world this year is the decoupling it appears to have created between global steel markets.In China, prices of most steel products...Read More
The LME three-month aluminium price was the standout performer on Friday June 26, breaching nearby resistance despite limited turnover, while a steady rise in LME copper futures prompted a tightening of the red metal's forward curve.Aluminium's outright price on the LME closed at $1,601.50 per tonne on Friday afternoon, climbing from an intraday low of $1,571 per tonne, while turnover was lower th...Read More
The closure of the Chuquicamata copper smelter in Chile could last up to two weeks, Fastmarkets learned on Friday June 26. The exact duration of the closure will "depend on the number of [Covid-19] cases found," with tests being carried out on staff, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Fastmarkets. Meanwhile, the refinery continues to operate at one third of capacity to process exist...Read More
A growth in investing based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues is rapidly advancing a widespread market appreciation of low-carbon products, including aluminium, the chairman of En+ Group said. Lord Gregory Barker said that while mainstream investors previously did not turn their attention to so-called "green investing," there is now an increasing recognition that a large, geopol...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More
One year on from taking Nyrstar private, Trafigura chief financial officer Christophe Salmon says the trading firm "made the right choice" by committing $2.9 billion in capital doing so.In a wide-ranging interview with Fastmarkets, Salmon and Nyrstar chief executive officer Daniel Vanin discussed investment, cost reduction and plans of the company, which is the world's second-largest zinc and lead...Read More
The spot market for copper concentrate remained quiet in the week ended Friday June 26 due to Chinese market participants away for the national Dragon Boat Festival holiday. Fastmarkets' benchmark copper concentrate treatment and refining charge (TC/RC) index fell to $46.80 per tonne / 4.68 cents per lb on Friday from $47.30 per tonne / 4.73 cents per lb a week earlier. ...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and the United States during the week ending Friday June 26. China The domestic market was propelled higher by continued tight availability, with increased spot demand from mill restocking ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday on June 25-27.Export prices followed the domestic market up, despite major suppliers admitting...Read More