U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 11 points in pre-opening trade. The European Central Bank released its interest rate decision and monetary policy statement at 7:45 AM EDT. Consensus was that its overnight lending rate to major banks would remain unchanged. Lululemon jumped $42.65 to an all-time high at $423.50 after reporting higher than consensus s...Read More
A correction has been issued for this article. The update can be found here.Read More
The European Union is suggesting the US impose tariff-rate quotas on steel and aluminium imports in a bid to reach an agreement with the US on exempting the EU from its Section 232 measures, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday September 7.The US and EU are widely expected to reach an agreement by November 1 on an exemption from Section 232 for European steel and aluminium.The then-p...Read More
The export market for steel hot-rolled coil from the Commonwealth of Independent States went down during the week ended Monday September 6 on low demand because buyers were cautious about possible further price drops.Fastmarkets' weekly assessment of the price for steel HRC, export, fob Black Sea, CIS, was $865-885 per tonne on Monday, down from $880-900 per tonne a week earlier.Sales of Ukraine-o...Read More
Zinc was the main exception to an otherwise falling London Metal Exchange complex on September 7, which was a day of very quiet trading conditions - just over 10,000 lots of copper were traded by 5pm. The three-month price of zinc was at $3,044 per tonne on Tuesday at the close, a 1.2% increase from Monday's price at the same time of $3,007.50 per tonne.It set an intraday high of $3,059 per tonne...Read More
China imported 97.49 million tonnes of iron ore in August, down by 3% from 100.36 million tonnes one year earlier but 10% higher month on month after a four-month decline, Chinese customs data showed on Tuesday September 7.Last month's imports are 8.99 million tonnes higher compared with July's 88.5 million tonnes.August's import levels also mark the third high point...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly lower on the morning of Tuesday September 7 amid extremely thin trading, with zinc being the only exception with a $10 per tonne increase. The LME zinc price was at $3,017.50 per tonne at 9am on Tuesday, with its intraday high of $3,020 per tonne during early trading being the highest since August 27. The galvanizing metal was called the...Read More
Market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday September 7 that bauxite production in Guinea has been unaffected so far, despite a coup in the West African country.The coup began on Sunday September 5 when soldiers detained President Alpha Cond?(C), and then announced on state television that the government had been dissolved. Despite the political uncertainties, the operations of mining projects...Read More
Demand for steel rebar in the United Arab Emirates improved in the first week of September compared with August, while prices remained stable, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday, September 7.Demand picked up last week because of low stock levels and buying has been strong so far this week, sources said.Domestic rebarSince August 24, the country's biggest steel producer, Emirates Steel, has been o...Read More
Zinc was the main exception to an otherwise falling London Metal Exchange complex on September 7, which was a day of very quiet trading conditions - just over 10,000 lots of copper were traded by 5pm. The three-month price of zinc was at $3,044 per tonne on Tuesday at the close, a 1.2% increase from Monday's price at the same time of $3,007.50 per tonne.It set an intraday high of $3,059 per tonne...Read More
Excess supplies of rebar in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow led to a decline in prices in the week to Monday September 6, after domestic producers that usually trade elsewhere redirected supplies to the country's key steel-consuming region.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia, was 58,000-62,000 roubles ($795-850) per t...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 7 that are worth another look....Read More
Market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday September 7 that bauxite production in Guinea has been unaffected so far, despite a coup in the West African country.The coup began on Sunday September 5 when soldiers detained President Alpha Cond?(C), and then announced on state television that the government had been dissolved. Despite the political uncertainties, the operations of mining projects...Read More
Mexican light vehicle production decreased by 21.44% year on year in August, according to figures released by national statistics agency Inegi on Monday September 6. Vehicle output reached 237,040 units last month, compared with 301,739 in August 2020.The country's automotive output has been limited, with...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 7 that are worth another look....Read More
The downturn in prices for flat steel imports to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia has made buyers refrain from bookings because of their uncertainty about the market during the week ending Tuesday September 7, sources told Fastmarkets.Buyers wanted to see prices hit a market bottom before placing more orders.Saudi ArabiaChina was offering hot-rolled coil at $1,020-1,040 per tonne cfr Saud...Read More
Turkish steel mills have resumed their deep-sea scrap bookings at fairly stable prices after a short break, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday September 7.Three steel producers booked four deep-sea cargoes from various locations.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a US cargo, comprising 15,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $445 per tonne and 27,000 tonnes of shredded at $460 per...Read More
Spot prices for hot-rolled coil prices in China's domestic market were unchanged on Tuesday September 7, subdued by continued weakness in demand but supported by the ongoing production curbs.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,800-5,850 yuan ($898-905) per tonne, unchangedThe most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange hit 5,889 yuan per tonne in overnight trading, its high...Read More
An overview of the chrome ore and alloy markets in Asia, Europe and the United States on Tuesday September 7 and their latest price moves.China UG2 chrome ore offer prices dropped following a softening in the alloy market and reports of electricity production restrictions on consumers. The imported charge chrome market fell following early weakness in the domestic spot market and likely production...Read More
Steel billet buyers in China have continued to make import purchases in recent days amid expectations that further domestic production cuts will be imposed at the start of next year, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday September 7.Major Chinese market participants received word on Monday that steel production cuts in the nation would be extended beyond December into early 2022. This led to a plung...Read More