Key data from the Wednesday November 27 pricing session in Shanghai and London. Key drivers Sellers further cut their offers for cobalt hydroxide payables - the percentage of the metal price paid to procure intermediates - in doing so, encouraging larger tonnage purchases than in recent weeks.Market sources reported improved interest for January...Read More
The Chinese stainless steel market was under pressure over the past week due to high local inventory levels and producers continuing to adjust their asking prices downward in response to the recent decline in the price of nickel, market participants told Fastmarkets.The three-month nickel contract on the London Metal Exchange has averaged $15,335 per tonne so far in November, as compared with...Read More
* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns:* Premium for cash over three-month aluminium around $11/T * Nickel falls to four-month low, breaches 200-day movingaverage (Updates with closing prices) By Pratima Desai LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Copper prices slipped on Thursdayas deteriorating relations between the United States and Chinacast doubt over prospects for imminent resolution to theprolonged trade disput...Read More
The three-month nickel price on the London Metal Exchange was lower at the close of trading on Wednesday November 27, falling by a little more than 1% on thin turnover, while strength in the US economy did little to boost risk-off sentiment toward the base metals complex.Nickel's underlying price on the LME closed at $14,380 per tonne on Wednesday afternoon, falling from an intraday high of $14,57...Read More
Premiums have fallen in the United States over the past week on a year-end push for sales while rates in China are mixed and those in Europe are flat. US starts holiday season with briquette sell-offShanghai bonded-zone full-cathode premium declinesLittle spot trade in Europe so assessments unchangedDownturn for US premiums Nickel reversed lower in the US largely because an aggressively low, overs...Read More
Shifting London Metal Exchange zinc and lead prices have dictated premiums this past week, overriding fundamental shortages from key suppliers. The LME zinc contract's backwardated forward curve has led to lowball offers from merchants in Italy, while a declining lead price has prompted buyers to come into the market in Southeast Asia for lead in the week to Tuesday November 26. Italy zinc pr...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday November 27 that are worth another look.Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau has agreed to buy 96.4% of Sider??rgica Latino-Americana (Silat) shares from Spanish group Hierros A????n for $110.8 million, in a shift from its divestment strategy of the past four years.Shifting London Metal Exchange zinc and lead prices have dictated premi...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and their latest price moves.Read More
Key data from the November 27 pricing session in London. Key drivers: - Cobalt prices continue to come under pressure while traders seek to destock ahead of the end of the year.- Spot inquiries are scant,...Read More
Turkish steel mills have started booking deep-sea scrap for January shipment at higher prices, sources said on Wednesday November 27.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a European cargo, comprising 25,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (75:25), 5,000 tonnes of shredded and 5,000 tonnes of a mixture of HMS 1, and plate and structural scrap (P&S) at an average price of $262.50 per tonne cfr late on Tuesday...Read More
Further positive signs of a phase one trade deal between the United States and China boosted sentiment across a broad selection of markets on Tuesday November 26, and that included most of the base metals, but so far today metal prices have generally been consolidating.US equity markets climbed to fresh highs on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump said the US and China are close to agreeing a...Read More
Key data from the November 27 pricing session in London. Key drivers: - Cobalt prices continue to come under pressure while traders seek to destock ahead of the end of the year.- Spot inquiries are scant,...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday November 27 pricing session in Shanghai. Key drivers The Chinese cobalt sulfate price broke the eight-week downward streak, holding on fresh restocking appetite and producer reluctance to sell at lower levels amid strength in the metal's futures market. The cobalt metal contract price on the Wuxi Stainless Steel Exchange rose by nearly 1% on Wednesday after b...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe were expected to rise due to restocking activity and lower availability in the spot market, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday November 27.Fastmarkets' latest weekly price assessment for steel HRC, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?420-425 ($463-468) per tonne on November 27, unchanged over the week.The assessment was based on the lates...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices weakened on Wednesday November 27, with trading being moderate.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,690-3,720 yuan ($525-530) per tonne, widening downward by 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,630-3,640 yuan per tonne, down 10-20 yuan per tonneAlthough prices in the east of the country remained largely stable, a source there said that was partly b...Read More
China's plate exporters kept prices unaltered over the past week on domestic gains, but trading was thin.Fastmarkets' price assessment for January shipments of steel heavy plate export, fob China main port was $460-465 per tonne for the week ended Tuesday November 26, unchanged from a week earlier.A Beijing-based trader heard a plate deal sold to Japan last week for road paving, with the base...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday November 27 that are worth another look.Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau has agreed to buy 96.4% of Sider??rgica Latino-Americana (Silat) shares from Spanish group Hierros A????n for $110.8 million, in a shift from its divestment strategy of the past four years.Shifting London Metal Exchange zinc and lead prices have dictated premi...Read More
The price of steel mesh-quality wire rod in the Northern Europe domestic market edged upward this week, primarily because of higher ferrous scrap costs, Fastmarkets heard on Wednesday November 27.Mills said that recent price increases had been readily accepted by consumers and that order books were now at very healthy levels, in terms of both month-on-month and year-on-year comparisons.Indeed, one...Read More
The price of rebar in the Southern European domestic market increased this week on improved demand in Italy and Spain and higher scrap costs, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday November 27.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Southern Europe, was ?,?465-480 ($512-529) per tonne on Wednesday, up by ?,?10-15 per tonne week on week.Following m...Read More
Turkish steel mills have started booking deep-sea scrap for January shipment at higher prices, sources said on Wednesday November 27.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a European cargo, comprising 25,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (75:25), 5,000 tonnes of shredded and 5,000 tonnes of a mixture of HMS 1, and plate and structural scrap (P&S) at an average price of $262.50 per tonne cfr late on Tuesday...Read More