Seaborne iron ore prices fell below $70 per tonne cfr China on Tuesday December 18 amid expectations of more stringent implementation of steelmaking restrictions in China.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $69.03 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $1.44 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $68.83 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $1.44 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $71.58 per tonne cfr Qin...Read More
The seaborne coking coal spot market was largely stable on Tuesday December 18 with offers not deviating too far from recently transacted prices.Top Australian brands were heard offered around $210-212 per tonne cfr China while a cargo of second-tier hard coking coal was heard offered around $197 per tonne cfr China."There may be some interest for [seaborne coking coal] cargoes arriving in Decembe...Read More
China's iron ore futures bucked the downtrend seen across the rest of the ferrous futures market during morning trading on Tuesday December 18 amid relative stability in the physical prices for the steelmaking raw material in recent days.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,399 yuan ($493) per tonne, down 24 yuan per tonne May hot-rolled coil: 3,416 yuan...Read More
The Comex copper price tumbled to a multi-week low in morning trading on Tuesday December 18, with reduced liquidity, trade war fears and questions about US monetary policy pressuring the price lower.The copper price for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange tumbled 5.35 cents to $2.7010 per lb. The contract hit a low of $2.6930 per lb, its weakest since Novemb...Read More
A few years ago, Standard Chartered made a decision to integrate itself more fully into the supply chains of its clients. The goal: use technology to connect into its clients' ecosystems, upending the traditional model of banking services."There was a realization a few years ago that businesses are evolving and they're evolving quite rapidly - we've seen that in a number of industries and there's...Read More
The three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part little changed this morning, Tuesday December 18. The exceptions were copper and tin that were both down by 0.4%, with copper at $6,104.50 per tonne.The rest were either unchanged or up between 0.1% and 0.2%. Considering the weakness in US equity markets on Monday, it is surprising that the metals have not been...Read More
Good morning from Fastmarkets MB's offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Tuesday December 18.Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange had a mixed start on Tuesday, with market participants remaining cautious ahead of a major speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Copper prices were little changed, aluminium and zinc prices edged up, while the rest of th...Read More
The Chinese ferro-silicon market held in the week ended Friday December 14 but market participants expect it to come under pressure due to slower demand in the near term; meanwhile the European quotation held steady despite no reported trades in the assessed period. China ferro-silicon price holds; market eyes higher stocks, lower prices Europe held in price range in stable conditions ...Read More
The earlier uptick in the Chinese ammonium paratungstate (APT) price faltered in the week ended Friday December 14, while both European and Chinese ferro-tungsten markets were stable due to the end-of-year trading lull. APT fob price in China moved down due to low overseas buying interest amid falling prices in the domestic market. Chinese tungsten concentrate price unchanged. Ferro-tun...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 14 points in pre-opening trade. Futures responded to overnight news that the U.S and China will resume trade negotiations in early January. Investors are waiting for news from the FOMC meeting to be released at 2:00 PM EST. Consensus calls for a 0.25% increase in the Fed Fund rate to 2.50%. The Canadian Dollar added 0....Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly lower at the close of trading on Monday December 17, capped by broad strength in the US dollar index while investors remain cautious ahead of the the forthcoming Federal Reserve meeting in the United States. At this week's Fed meeting, a decision on further interest-rate rises is expected. Volumes traded over the day are moderately low, w...Read More
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is to hold a hearing on Tuesday December 18 to consider the approval of a settlement following an investigation into Katanga Mining Limited and several of its executives.The OSC inquiry has been investigating whether Katanga's previously filed periodic public disclosures contain statements that are misleading in a material respect, along with the adequacy of...Read More
The Comex copper price fell in morning trading on Monday December 17 amid quiet trading conditions and uncertainty surrounding the future of American monetary policy. The copper price for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 2.70 cents to $2.7355 per lb. US market participants are awaiting the Federal Reserve's Wednesday decision on another rate hike. Glo...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Friday December 14.The three-month aluminium price on the London Metal Exchange shrugged off a net inflow of 57,525 tonnes today, mostly into warehouses in Port Klang, Malaysia.Aluminium traded at $1,923.50 on Friday morning down 0.4% from Thursday night's close. Friday's deliveries into Port Klang LME sheds foll...Read More
Alumina prices hitting a record high this year has changed the market's outlook for 2019, with traders adapting a cautiously bullish approach. The declaration of force majeure at Hydro's Alunorte refinery in Brazil, strikes by Alcoa workers in Australia and US sanctions against Russian producer UC Rusal roiled the market this year. Consequently, Fastmarkets' benchmark daily alumina index fob Austr...Read More
Copper smelters across Asia are following concentrate treatment and refining charge (TC/RC) terms agreed by Antofagasta and Jiangxi Copper, which are serving as a benchmark in contracts, sources taking part in the negotiations told Fastmarkets. In a deal signed in Shanghai in November, China's Jiangxi Copper agreed to purchase Los Pelambres and Centinela copper concentrates from Chilean miner...Read More
Treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) for spot copper concentrate dropped in mid-December with fewer distressed cargoes circulating the market and participants beginning to price March cargoes.Spot activity in the copper concentrate market has slowed with market participants focused on settling the contractual terms for the first two weeks of December.Fastmarkets' copper concentrate index droppe...Read More
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is to hold a hearing on Tuesday December 18 to consider the approval of a settlement following an investigation into Katanga Mining Limited and several of its executives.The OSC inquiry has been investigating whether Katanga's previously filed periodic public disclosures contain statements that are misleading in a material respect, along with the adequacy of...Read More
United States-based specialty chemicals company Albemarle Corp has signed a deal that creates a joint venture with Mineral Resources Limited (MRL) to develop a battery-grade lithium hydroxide plant in Western Australia. The $1.15 billion agreement gives Albemarle a 50% stake in MRL's Wodgina hard rock lithium mine and will see the companies eventually develop an integrated lithium hydroxide operat...Read More
Turkish steel producers remained out of the deep-sea scrap markets because of weakening demand for finished steel and falling prices, sources said on Monday December 17.Although some suppliers in the Baltic region reduced their offers to $300-305 per tonne cfr levels for HMS 1&2 (80:20), mills in Turkey were not enticed."I heard offers from Baltic Sea are at $300 per tonne cfr and little above, bu...Read More