As a commodities trader focused on energy and metals, I'm often asked in casual conversation, "What's the world's most expensive metal?"Unfortunately, there really isn't a clear answer.Thing is, the price of metals is coordinated by the market. And market changes, such as supply issues of any given metal, can drastically change prices. So the world's most expensive metal today might not be tomorro...Read More
Chinese domestic lithium spot prices held in the week ended Thursday March 28 with most producers resisting consumer expectations for lower prices from the reduced value-added tax (VAT) and the latest Chinese new energy vehicles (NEVs) subsidies. Battery-grade lithium prices held steady in China this week despite consumer pressure for lower prices following Chinese policy changes, such as the VAT...Read More
Indian importers have rejected the latest offer prices for imports of hot-rolled coil (HRC), citing falling prices for the commodity in the domestic market, Fastmarkets heard on Friday March 29.Indian HRC import prices were assessed by Fastmarkets at $575-580 per tonne cfr Indian ports on March 29, compared with last week's assessment of $560-565 per tonne cfr, an increase of $15 per tonne.The lat...Read More
We have re-worked the company pages on Canadian Insider, and they include two new value-added features. First, we now show INK Edge outlooks for all Canadian and US stocks that we rank. For a stock to rank it typically needs to have a market cap of over $25 million and a trading history of at least 6 months.INK Edge outlooks and short data now on Canadian InsiderThe INK Edge process is 100% data-...Read More
Prices for coated steel products in Turkey were stable in the seven days to Friday March 29, with demand weak in both the domestic and export markets.Sources told Fastmarkets that demand was weak in March because of market uncertainty ahead of the mayoral elections being held across the country on March 31.The export market was also poor because of weak demand in Europe and the fact that Turkish p...Read More
Most prices for steel coil products in Turkey were stable over the week ended Friday March 29, with buying activity remaining subdued.The market has been slow in March because of uncertainty in the build-up to Turkey's mayoral elections, to be held across the country on the last day of the month.It is unclear whether the market will improve next week, but everyone is waiting for the elections to b...Read More
The prices for US imports of steel beams has risen on confirmed sales of Mexican material while the price for domestic beams remained stable, Fastmarkets AMM has learned.Fastmarkets' assessment for imported beams is now $790-810 per short ton ($39.50-40.50 per hundredweight) delivered duty paid Port of Houston as of Thursday March 28, up 3.9 % from $740-800 per ton ($37-40 per cwt) previously. At...Read More
Ukraine's largest long steel producer, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, is currently holding cold tests of its two new continuous casting machines - also known as CCM No2 and CCM No3 - which have combined annual capacity of 2.8 million tonnes, the company told Fastmarkets on Friday March 29.The move is aimed at strengthening the steelmaker's position in the billet export market and enabling ArcelorMittal...Read More
Indian domestic secondary steel billet prices have fallen by about 100 rupees ($1) per tonne this week because there have been fewer inquiries and minimal buying by makers of finished products such as rebar mills, Fastmarkets heard on Friday March 29.Indian domestic secondary billet prices were assessed by Fastmarkets at 31,200-31,400 rupees ($450-453) per tonne ex-mill on Friday, down by 100 rupe...Read More
Global scrap prices mostly fell in the week from Monday March 25 to Friday March 29, with only prices for exports from the United States rising on steady demand from the key import market of Turkey. Turkish steel producers buy mid-week Turkish demand supports US ferrous scrap export prices Weaker downstream markets hold back Vietnam ferrous scrap prices Taiwanese prices fall on lower bids India pr...Read More
If you were to tell the average American back in say the 60's that in 50 years the US would be a "command economy" they would probably react as if you'd lost your mind. Back in those days the Soviet Union was a command economy with the government controlling everything with its notorious "5-year plans". Fast forward to now and the United States and other economic blocs like Europe are in the con...Read More
The Big Picture:The banking cartel, central banks and governments create debts - dollars, yen, pounds, and euros and inject them into economies. Those new currency units make existing units less valuable. They purchase less called devaluation and prices rise. The devaluation process accelerates every year and is unlikely to change (without a huge reset) because it benefits governments and the ba...Read More
By: Gary TanashianOkay, now I am getting geeked out. One of the most fun and rare times in what I do is when something big happens that I feel in my gut means something, but about which I am not able to come forth with a ready explanation of the meaning (without sounding like a know-it-all blowhard). It's time to put the thinking cap on and to reference my wealth of experience (that's another w...Read More
By: IRA EPSTEINGold in a down thrust, but not bearish. Gold remains above the 100-DMA, resistance at $1307.60 level. Momentum is down, bias down but not trend down:Read More
Trend for gold and silver is down at the moment. Demand in Asia will be the key. Look for short covering in gold and silver as the quarter comes to a close. Crude oil is fundamentally bearish. I expect lower demand in Asia in the upcoming quarter. Copper will volatile. 5 reasons why did gold and silver fell this week?1. US dollar gains as it acted as safe haven in currency markets.2....Read More
While Mexico suffered the bloodiest year of violent deaths in 2018, even bigger trouble may be ahead for the embattled country. For the first time in more than 50 years, Mexico has become a net importer of oil. This is undoubtedly bad news for the Mexican Government as it has relied upon its oil revenues to fund a large percentage of its public spending. And, the majority of these revenues...Read More
The export price for pig iron from Brazil has improved because of the long lead times for the material, Fastmarkets learnt during the week ended Friday March 29.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for pig iron exports from the southeastern Minas Gerais region of the country was $343 per tonne fob on March 29, up from $335-340 per tonne a week before.One deal for 50,000 tonnes of pig iron with 0.1...Read More
Eric Sprott has more than 40 years of experience in the investment industry. In 1981, he founded Sprott Securities (now called Cormark Securities Inc.), which today is one of Canada's largest independently owned securities firms. In 2001, Eric established Sprott Asset Management Inc. Over the years, Eric has personally been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including one of Investor Dig...Read More
?>>?In Part I with global financier, Martin Armstrong of Armstrong Economics our guest rejoins the show with commentary."Tangible assets will survive," when paper assets evaporate, making collectible items and PMs invaluable.Martin Armstrong is anticipating an EU banking crisis, a "Perfect Storm" a liquidity crisis looms in emerging markets. With capital controls starting to curb appetites for glo...Read More