Renowned oil trader Andrew Hall says crude prices may have hit bottom.The former Citigroup manager, who made $100 million trading oil during the financial crisis (which earned him the nickname "God" of the crude market), says the energy markets face many headwinds, but investors are better off betting on oil.Hall says the biggest concern for oil investors is a global recession, which could signifi...Read More
Tianqi's recent purchase of a stake in SQM is the latest in a series of deals showing how participants at different stages of the supply chain are opting to strengthen their position through vertical partnerships. Meanwhile, consumers are keen to lock in feedstock supply through offtake agreements. The global lithium industry is growing rapidly, but at the same time competition is consolidating, w...Read More
South American flat steel import prices increased this week after traders were able to sell at higher levels following an easing of the recent downtrend in China. The rapid descent in Chinese steel prices has slowed in recent days, with buyers in South America starting to accept higher offer prices, one market source said. But market participants said there were no indications of whether Chinese p...Read More
In his latest Howestreet.com broadcast with Jim Goddard, INK CEO Ted Dixon worries that the Fed is looking backwards at positive US economic data instead of forwards at warning signs such as housing. If the Fed does not hold up on its rate hikes, they risk going too far. American insiders and stocks in the U.S. Financials sector are still not confirming a base in share prices and the Fed is proba...Read More
Domestic prices for steel coil products in Turkey fell this week on continuing slow demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday December 14. "Prices are not important," a source told Fastmarkets. "Buyers are refraining from buying because of uncertainty in the market."December will be a slow month for the sector, and many people [also] expect January to be slow," he added. Fastmarkets' we...Read More
China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices continued to rise on Friday December 14, capping a week of gains that appears to have led to a drop in trading activity in the export market. DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,820-3,830 yuan ($555-557) per tonne, up 30-50 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,620-3,630 yuan per tonne, up 10-20 yuan per tonnePrices rose further due to buyers constantly...Read More
The Indian domestic steel billet price fell by 600 rupees ($8) per tonne in the week to Friday December 14, but demand remained weak despite major price cuts in long and semi-finished products.The price for Indian domestic billet stood at 31,000-31,200 rupees ($434-436) per tonne ex-mill on December 14, a drop of 600 rupees week on week from 31,600-31,800 rupees per tonne on December 7, accor...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices rose on Friday December 14 as trading activity picked up. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,800-3,840 yuan ($552-558) per tonne, up 20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,560-3,590 yuan per tonne, up 50 yuan per tonneBillet and futures moved steadily upward during today's trading session, leading to higher buying interest.Some end users raised procu...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for rebar, wire rod, steel beams and other long steel products. Latest transactions: rebarRebar Ukraine, export, rebar, offered at $460 per tonne fob Black Sea.Ukraine, export, rebar,...Read More
Global ferrous scrap prices fell by $5 per tonne or less during the week ending Friday December 14 following a period of quieter trading.The Turkish market witnessed another week with no new cargoes booked, leaving prices virtually unchanged, while US prices were flat, which was also due to a lack of fresh trades.India made no bookings but prices fell by $5, as did prices for Taiwan and Vietnam.Tu...Read More
Turkish steel producers have ended another week without making any deep-sea purchases because of the continued lack of demand for finished steel in the country's domestic and export markets, sources said on Friday December 14.Domestic mills have been holding back from scrap purchases for three weeks now, with only one cargo booked since November 23, which was a European cargo at an average price o...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices surged above the $70 per tonne cfr mark on Friday December 14 amid bullish trading in both physical and futures markets.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $70.74 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $3.09 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $70.54 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $3.62 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $72.17 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $1.29 per tonne.MB 58%...Read More
CloseGain/LossOn WeekGold $1238.30-$4.60-0.81%Silver$14.58-$0.19-0.34%XAU67.59-1.69%-0.52%HUI152.66-2.56%-0.83%GDM560.45-1.47%+0.07%JSE Gold1302.25+3.60+8.42%USD97.46+0.39+0.89%Euro113.05-0.59-0.92%Yen88.23+0.20-0.64%Oil$51.20-$1.38-2.68%10-Year2.893%-0.016+1.30%Bond143.4375+0.40625-0.33%Dow24100.51-2.02%-1.18%Nasdaq6910.66-2.26%-0.84%S&P2599.95-1.91%-1.26% The Metals: Go...Read More
Despite all the ominous press being devoted to the soon-to-be-inverted yield curve, it's not always clear why such a thing matters. In other words, how, exactly does a line on a graph slipping below zero translate into a recession and equities bear market, with all the turmoil that those things imply? The answer (which is both simple and really easy to illustrate with charts) is that banks - the...Read More
Gold COT Report - FuturesLarge SpeculatorsCommercialTotalLongShortSpreadingLongShortLongShort169,600109,10153,101134,285211,653356,986373,855Change from Prior Reporting Period -3,419-14,917772-78218,337-3,4294,192Traders16881704851247176 Small Speculators (C) GoldSeek.com LongShortOpen Interest 45,26428,395402,250 5,760-1,8612,331 non reportable positionsChange from...Read More
By David Brady, CFASHORT TERM: 0 - 30 DAYS We all know that positioning and sentiment are bullish for Gold and have been since May. Hence the need to focus on the technical picture. As I reported last week, Gold is in a Bear Flag following its drop from 1369 in April to 1167 in October. It touched channel resistance at 1257 on Monday, but the closing high was 1253, strong Fibonacci resistance. G...Read More
Listen to the Podcast Audio: Click HereMike Gleason: It is my privilege now to welcome in Gerald Celente, publisher of the renowned Trends Journal. Mr. Celente's perhaps the most well-known trends forecaster in the world and it's always a joy to speak with him. Mr. Celente, thanks for the time again today and welcome back.Gerald Celente: Always great being on with you, thank you.Mike Gleason:...Read More
The beleaguered gold stocks are recovering from their late-summer capitulation, enjoying a solid young upleg as investors gradually return. Their buying has pushed the leading gold-stock ETF near a major triple breakout technically. That event should really boost capital inflows into this sector, accelerating the rally. A major gold and gold-stock buying catalyst is likely imminent too, a...Read More
By Bill HolterPeople continually ask "when" will it happen? For the last 6 months we have responded "it is happening right before your very eyes"! In fact, as of this morning 52% of global markets are now down over 20% from their highs and qualifying as bear markets. Please understand the financial backdrop these weakening markets are falling into. Bluntly, the world is facing a giant margin ca...Read More
By David MorganThe national debt of the United States is about to hit another major milestone, getting ready to soar past $22 trillion for the first time ever.Clearly that is an enormous number... it's actually larger than the size of the entire US economy, which is pretty incredible.But what's always been the more important story about America's pile of debt is how rapidly it's growing.For exam...Read More