The decarbonization of the transport industry played a huge part in the precious metals story in 2017 when palladium exceeded platinum for the first time in 16 years, Hunter Hillcoat told Metal Bulletin.Investec topped the Apex 2017 price prediction table for both the precious metals (97.9% accuracy) and iron ore categories (90.7% accuracy). "2017 was a good year for precious metals all in all but...Read More
Prices in the physical iron ore market were rangebound on Thursday February 1 amid uncertainties over Chinese policies aimed at cutting emissions.Key driversTalk that emerged a day earlier about the possibility of an extension of restrictions on blast furnace operating rates until May 15 in China's top steelmaking province of Hebei continued on Thursday.But according to the province's official mic...Read More
The seaborne coking coal market held steady on Thursday February 1 after a cargo fetched a higher price earlier this week and the flurry of transactions last week. Offer prices for premium low-vol materials were reported to be firm at around $220 per tonne cfr China, though there was no buying interest heard at this level. China's domestic coking coal prices are firm this week amid tight supply, s...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday January 31 pricing session in Europe:Germanium Metal Rotterdam $/kg Key drivers: - An operation disruption at Teck's Trail Operations in January continues to drive prices higher - Production shutdowns in China's Nanjing and Yunnan provinces...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are struggling to extend gains and are consolidating in high ground this morning, Thursday February 1. Copper ($7,073 per tonne), zinc, aluminium and nickel prices are off between 0.2% and 0.4%, while lead and tin prices are up by 0.2% and 0.1% respectively.Volume has been below average with 6,950 lots traded as of 07.07 am London time. This follows...Read More
China's ferrous futures had little movement during morning trading on Thursday February 1 following talk about the possible extension of steelmaking restrictions in Hebei province.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,952 yuan ($627) per tonne, down 1 yuan per tonne May hot rolled coil: 3,979 yuan per tonne, up 9 yuan per tonne Dalian Commodity Exchange Ma...Read More
China's currency appreciation and rising nickel prices fueled gains in East Asia's stainless steel market over the past week.Metal Bulletin's assessment of prices for benchmark 304 stainless 2mm cold-rolled coil was $2,250-2,300 per tonne cif East Asian ports for the week ended Wednesday January 31, up $100-150 per tonne from $2,100-2,200 per tonne cif a week earlier.Metal Bulletin's assessment of...Read More
As China's copper smelters are looking to import more blister copper, an intermediate product of refined copper production, to fill the supply gap arising from the drastic drop in the scrap import quota this year, Metal Bulletin is looking to provide regular trackers on the refining charges (RCs) of the increasingly popular product. For the first 11 months 2017, China had imported 731,339 tonnes o...Read More
The Brazilian long steel market was largely stable in January, but prices are now expected rise and a government decision on whether to allow ArcelorMittal Brasil to take control of Votorantim Siderurgia's long steel assets is imminent.That transaction is currently under review by the tribunal of Brazil's competition regulator, Cade, which is composed of six commissioners and a chairman, ArcelorMi...Read More
As competition in the global steel markets remains fierce, Metal Bulletin provides an update on the new, progressing and closed trade cases from around the world in January 2018.The case list below includes only updates.(1) BRAZIL HRC(2)...Read More
Looking back to the last quarter of 2017, the average accuracy of MBR forecasts published in the Steel Market Tracker was 94% (when compared to forecasts published in the September issue). Our forecasts of European flat steel prices proved to be precise once again, with European domestic CRC and HRC prices scoring 99% and 98% accuracy respectively. Although we considered Chinese domestic rebar pri...Read More
Looking back to the last quarter of 2017, the average accuracy of MBR forecasts published in the Steel Market Tracker was 94% (when compared to forecasts published in the September issue). Our forecasts of European flat steel prices proved to be precise once again, with European domestic CRC and HRC prices scoring 99% and 98% accuracy respectively. Although we considered Chinese domestic rebar pri...Read More
Looking back to the last quarter of 2017, the average accuracy of MBR forecasts published in the Steel Market Tracker was 94% (when compared to forecasts published in the September issue). Our forecasts of European flat steel prices proved to be precise once again, with European domestic CRC and HRC prices scoring 99% and 98% accuracy respectively. Although we considered Chinese domestic rebar pri...Read More
Looking back to the last quarter of 2017, the average accuracy of MBR forecasts published in the Steel Market Tracker was 94% (when compared to forecasts published in the September issue). Our forecasts of European flat steel prices proved to be precise once again, with European domestic CRC and HRC prices scoring 99% and 98% accuracy respectively. Although we considered Chinese domestic rebar pri...Read More
Looking back to the last quarter of 2017, the average accuracy of MBR forecasts published in the Steel Market Tracker was 94% (when compared to forecasts published in the September issue). Our forecasts of European flat steel prices proved to be precise once again, with European domestic CRC and HRC prices scoring 99% and 98% accuracy respectively. Although we considered Chinese domestic rebar pri...Read More
Looking back to the last quarter of 2017, the average accuracy of MBR forecasts published in the Steel Market Tracker was 94% (when compared to forecasts published in the September issue). Our forecasts of European flat steel prices proved to be precise once again, with European domestic CRC and HRC prices scoring 99% and 98% accuracy respectively. Although we considered Chinese domestic rebar pri...Read More
Looking back to the last quarter of 2017, the average accuracy of MBR forecasts published in the Steel Market Tracker was 94% (when compared to forecasts published in the September issue). Our forecasts of European flat steel prices proved to be precise once again, with European domestic CRC and HRC prices scoring 99% and 98% accuracy respectively. Although we considered Chinese domestic rebar pri...Read More
Looking back to the last quarter of 2017, the average accuracy of MBR forecasts published in the Steel Market Tracker was 94% (when compared to forecasts published in the September issue). Our forecasts of European flat steel prices proved to be precise once again, with European domestic CRC and HRC prices scoring 99% and 98% accuracy respectively. Although we considered Chinese domestic rebar pri...Read More
(Kitco News) - This year will be filled with a number of risks surrounding global economy, which makes gold the perfect “defensive play” of 2018, said Mitsubishi analyst Jonathan Butler.Gold will remain supported throughout this year due to “favorable real rate environment and a subdued U.S. dollar,” Butler wrote in a note on Wednesday.The Federal Reserve kept its rates unc...Read More
LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - British electric motor manufacturer YASA said on Thursday it was increasing its production capacity from 2,000 to 100,000 units with a new factory to tap into growing demand from carmakers for greener technologies. Automakers are racing to build greener vehicles and improve charge times in a bid to meet rising customer demand and air quality targets but Britain lacks suf...Read More