U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 19 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures responded to news of a spike in reported coronavirus cases in China. The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 20.83 to 2905.07 in overnight trade.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of economic news at 8:30 AM EST. Consensus for Weekly Jobless Claims was a...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday February 11.Click on...Read More
London Metal Exchange base metals prices were trading up at the close on Tuesday February 11, bolstered by a fresh injection of capital from the People's Bank of China (PBoC). China's central bank put 900 billion yuan ($129 billion) into China's economy on February 10 in a bid to fight off stagnation in the face of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic, which has given rise to significant disruptions in...Read More
BNP Paribas will take on the over-the-counter (OTC) base and precious metal clients of fellow French bank Soci?(C)t?(C) G?(C)n?(C)rale (SocGen), which is reducing its commodities exposure, both companies confirmed to Fastmarkets on Tuesday February 11.SocGen announced last April that it would be closing its OTC and proprietary commodities trading business, including metals, as part of a global cos...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday February 11 that are worth another look.A block on the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement process has paralyzed progress in steel cases, including those pertaining to Section 232, which could result in a disparity between steel prices in the United States and those in the rest of the world, according to two trade expe...Read More
BNP Paribas will take on the over-the-counter (OTC) base and precious metal clients of fellow French bank Soci?(C)t?(C) G?(C)n?(C)rale (SocGen), which is reducing its commodities exposure, both companies confirmed to Fastmarkets on Tuesday February 11.SocGen announced last April that it would be closing its OTC and proprietary commodities trading business, including metals, as part of a global cos...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in the United States, Europe and Asia for the week ended Friday February 7.United StatesKey drivers Prices in the US increased for the first time since February 2018, with suppliers raising their offer prices, partly due to reduced global supply of cheap material from China as a result of logistical issues stemming from the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019...Read More
Prices for ferrous scrap in the Mexican domestic market were down in four grades and stable in five other grades in the week ended Friday February 7, with consumers attempting to reduce prices but meeting resistance from sellers.At least two scrap consumers in the region around the city of Monterrey announced price cuts for several grades last week, in the range of 100-150 pesos ($5-8) per tonne.M...Read More
The Turkish deep-sea scrap import markets have gone quiet after suppliers withdrew their offers on the expectation of higher prices, sources said on Tuesday February 11.The mills have been seeing some improvement in demand for material over the past week, following a sharp decline in prices.Turkish deep-sea scrap import prices fell sharply on February 4, on news of fresh cargoes being booked.And f...Read More
India's recently announced national budget got a mixed response from the country's steel sector, with some describing it as "disappointing" while others said it was "promising," sources told Fastmarkets.The Indian government's $428 billion budget for 2020-21 was presented on February 1.Part of the budget concerned the soon-to-be-launched National Logistics Policy, which will include various infras...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday February 11 that are worth another look.A block on the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement process has paralyzed progress in steel cases, including those pertaining to Section 232, which could result in a disparity between steel prices in the United States and those in the rest of the world, according to two trade expe...Read More
BNP Paribas will take on the over-the-counter (OTC) base and precious metal clients of fellow French bank Soci?(C)t?(C) G?(C)n?(C)rale (SocGen), which is reducing its commodities exposure, both companies confirmed to Fastmarkets on Tuesday February 11.SocGen announced last April that it would be closing its OTC and proprietary commodities trading business, including metals, as part of a global cos...Read More
Once again rises across a broad set of markets suggest traders were less worried about the fallout from the Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV) this morning, Tuesday February 11.LME base metals prices up by an average of 1.2%; SHFE base metals up by 0.7% on average. China's CSI 300 Index up by 1.2%.Gold prices are consolidating and were recently quoted at $1,568 per oz.Base metalsThree-month base metals...Read More
Trade log for cobalt sulfate in China including transactions, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Unless otherwise stated, all prices are yuan per tonne on an ex-works basis.Click here for Fastmarkets' price assessment for cobalt sulfate, Co 20.5% basis, China ex-works, yuan/tonneFastmarkets has discontinued the calculation and publication...Read More
While equity markets remain buoyant on optimism that the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) may be slowing, the base metals seemed more circumspect on Wednesday February 12 as they wait to see what the fallout from the virus will be in terms of how much disruption the manufacturing sector is suffering.LME base metals prices were up by an average of 0.2% and Asian equities were up acr...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 13 points in pre-opening comments.Bed Bath and Beyond dropped $3.91 to $10.94 after reporting lower than consensus fourth quarter revenues and earnings. The company also lowered guidance. Visa added $1.86 to $205.80 after Oppenheimer raised its target price from $210 to $220.MolsonCoors gained $3.25 to $61.30 after rep...Read More
The London Metal Exchange three-month lead price closed at its lowest level since May 2019 on Monday February 10, dipping below the key $1,800-per-tonne support level, while nickel futures struggled to breach resistance against thin trading volumes. Lead's underlying price on the LME closed at $1,796 per tonne, with its price action slipping from an intraday high of $1,825 per tonne while turnover...Read More
Chinese multi-metal company Jingchuan Group produced the first batch of nickel chloride from its newly-commissioned high-end nickel salt project on Sunday February 9.The size of the first nickel-chloride yield was not stipulated but the resultant material constitutes part of the group's efforts to ramp up battery-grade nickel production for the much-lauded electric vehicle (EV) boom, according to...Read More
Nickel producers in Indonesia continue to operate at full capacity amid China's ongoing Wuhan coronavirus pandemic, but concerns that logistical delays will exacerbate the already poor projections for material demand in 2020 loom large, participants say.Indonesia-based nickel producers including Chinese stainless steel giant Tsingshan and domestic producer PT Antam have confirmed to Fastmarkets th...Read More
Seaborne prices of both low- and high-grade manganese ore in China recorded strong gains in the week ended Friday February 7 alongside rising portside ore and alloy prices. Domestic market sentiment was buoyed by Hebei Steel's silico-manganese purchase price for February which rose by 600 yuan ($85.70) month on month to 7,200 yuan per tonne. Hebei Steel is China's second largest steel mill an...Read More