Seaborne iron ore prices decreased on Wednesday September 8 due to limited liquidity in the physical market, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $132.19 per tonne, down by $5.78 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $133.29 per tonne, down by $4.81 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $106.66 per tonne, down by $4.03 per tonne...Read More
Domestic hot-rolled coil prices in China edged lower on Wednesday September 8; demand has not yet shown a significant improvement despite the advent of peak season.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,750-5,820 yuan ($890-901) per tonne, down by 30-50 yuan per tonneThe most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange climbed up after touching an intraday low of 5,674 yuan per tonne in over...Read More
The latest analysis from recent activity on the CME Group's cobalt metal futures contract, cash-settled against Fastmarkets' price assessment for cobalt, standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam.Key tradesJuly 22, 2021: 5 tonnes for August 2021 at $25 per lbJuly 23: 5 tonnes for September 2021 at $25.20 per lbJuly 28: 176 tonnes (88 tonnes for August at $25.04 per lb; 88 tonnes for December at $25.40 per...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices decreased on Wednesday September 8 after sellers lowered their offers to encourage sales following two days of weak demand.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,300-5,350 yuan ($820-828) per tonne, down by 20 yuan per tonneSellers dropped their offer prices for rebar on Wednesday morning to improves sales volumes, but buyers asked for even lower...Read More
Fastmarkets has corrected the pricing rationale for MB-CO-0004 - cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb, which was published incorrectly on Wednesday September 8 due to a reporting team error.One bid of $23.80/lb, which was reported by a seller, was incorrectly reported at $24.80/lb.Fastmarkets' rationale database has been updated to reflect this change. There is no change to the final assessm...Read More
The Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt standard...Read More
The Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lbtrade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb at 23.70-24.60 on Wednesday September 08,...Read More
The Cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China, yuan/tonne trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Read More
The Cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, % payable of Fastmarkets' standard-grade cobalt price (low-end) trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt hydroxide p...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday September 8.Key driversThe spot price range for ferro-titanium consolidated higher in the week to Wednesday September 8, cementing a small gain from the week prior.Suppliers reported low-key but steady buying interest from steelmakers, and there are bigger tenders to be concluded for hundreds of tonnes being delivered in the fourth...Read More
The Russian government is proposing to abolish or reduce its recently-imposed export taxes on ferro-alloys - with the exception of ferro-silicon - in a surprise decision announced on Tuesday September 7. No firm date was given for the introduction of the planned changes.The Russian government introduced duties on 340 steel and non-ferrous metals outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in June 2...Read More
A correction has been issued for this article. The update can be found here.Read More
Base metals prices were higher on the London Metal Exchange but mixed on the Shanghai Futures Exchange this morning, Thursday September 9, but equity markets in Asia-Pacific were weaker with participants once again nervous about possible central bank tapering.* Market participants focused on whether the European Central Bank (ECB) will signal it is ready to start tapering – the ECB meets toda...Read More
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
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 7 that are worth another look....Read More
The European Union is considering imposing tariff-rate quotas on steel and aluminium exports to the United States in a bid to reach an agreement with the US on its plans to exempt 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 an...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
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 7 that are worth another look....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
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