Turkish steel mills began the week in silence due to a public holiday in the country, sources said on Monday July 15.The Democracy and National Unity Day public holiday in Turkey meant trading activity was paused at the start of the week with many traders not at work.The last verified scrap...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices resumed their upward trajectory on Monday July 15, amid fears of supply tightness accompanied by a positive outlook on China's overall economy.Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $121.41 per tonne, up $2.12 per tonne. Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines, cfr Qingdao: $121.33 per tonne, up $2.12 per tonne. Fastmarkets' ind...Read More
Seaborne coking coal prices softened further on Monday July 15 despite buying activity generated by keen interest from China.A cargo of premium mid-vol hard coking coal was traded at around $186 per tonne cfr China, sources said during the day.This is $6 per tonne higher than the fob Australia price for a cargo of the same brand that changed hands last week. It is also about $4 per tonne lower tha...Read More
Quality emerges at Galan's blue-chip lithium addressSPONSOREDgalan lithiumBHP has to invest US$25 million in exploration expenditures and make $2.4 million of cash payments to Luminex over a four-year period to earn its initial 51%. It can then earn an additional 9% interest by sole funding another $10 million of expenditures and making an additional $4.6 million cash payment over a further tw...Read More
Quality emerges at Galan's blue-chip lithium addressSPONSOREDgalan lithiumPizarro, a stalwart at Codelco for decades and its head for four years, remained in the post despite a change in government in 2018, testament to his long-standing professional reputation although an unusual decision given the role is often a political appointee.Araneda is a mining civil engineer from the Universidad de...Read More
Seaborne iron ore concentrate and pellet prices fell in the week to Friday July 12 amid generally weaker market conditions after earlier gains.ConcentrateFastmarkets' weekly index for iron ore 66% Fe concentrate, cfr Qingdao stood at $121.85 per tonne on July 12, down by $3.27 per tonne week on week.The daily index for iron ore 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qingdao averaged $127.94 per tonne ove...Read More
Quality emerges at Galan's blue-chip lithium addressSPONSOREDgalan lithiumWhile the company already has the small Vuzel JV property, it is keen to build its position and has done the deals with TSXV-listed QX Metals. The agreements cover the 191sq.Read More
Brazilian steel and iron ore producer Companhia Sider??rgica Nacional (CSN) has signed a second deal to increase its supply of iron ore to international trading company Glencore.CSN's mining division has agreed to supply an additional 10 million tonnes of the steelmaking raw material to Glencore over the next five years. It will receive a pre-payment of up...Read More
Movements in the ferrous scrap prices around the world were mixed in the week ended Friday July 12, with prices in Asia supported by steady demand and higher offers while prices in the United States and Turkey fell on thin spot trading activity. Turkey sees limited import trades US East Coast exporters see bearish demand Asian import prices up but downtrends possible Monsoon in India reduces spot...Read More
China’s economic growth slowed to 6.2% in the second quarter of this year - in line with expectations and well within Beijing’s target of 6-6.5% growth for 2019 - but market participants continued to focus on the fact that this was the country’s lowest gross domestic product (GDP) growth in nearly three decades.The record low GDP growth comes as the world’s second-largest econo...Read More
Rebar futures in China picked up on Monday July 15 following the release of the latest economic growth data, though spot prices for the long steel product softened amid selling pressure.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,970-3,990 yuan ($577-580) per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,870-3,900 yuan per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneChina's gross domestic product grew by 6.3...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were predominantly higher during morning trading on Monday July 15, supported by stronger than expected industrial data out of China, while a slight downturn in the US dollar index aided buying activity. Over the weekend, China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) calculated industrial production had increased 6.3% year on year in June-July, exceedi...Read More
China's economic growth slowed to 6.2% in the second quarter of this year - in line with expectations and well within Beijing's target of 6-6.5% growth for 2019 - but market participants continued to focus on the fact that this was the country's lowest gross domestic product (GDP) growth in nearly three decades.The record low GDP growth comes as the world's second-largest economy continues to feel...Read More
Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were split into two camps during morning trading on Monday July 15 with aluminium, zinc and nickel ticking upward, while the rest weakened.Nickel was the outperformer of the SHFE complex, exhibiting similar strength to that of the London Metal Exchange's three-month nickel price at the end of last week.The most-traded August nickel contract on th...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 6 points in pre-opening trade. China announced second quarter GDP. Rate of growth on a year-over-year basis dropped to 6.2%, lowest rate of growth in 22 years.Boeing dropped $4.25 to $361.08 after major U.S. airlines announced postponements for relaunch of their Boeing 737 Max aircraft. General Electric slipped $0.09 t...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and United States for the week ended Friday July 12. United States Key drivers Discounting reported, due to the annual dip in end demand coinciding with the need for suppliers to clear their books for mid-year accounting. Automakers' business continues to fall, lowering their demand for secondary aluminium alloys made with silicon.&nb...Read More
Fastmarkets reporters present six main takeaways from the Lithium-ion Battery & Material Supply Chain conference hosted by Shanghai Xinluo Network Technology in Qiandaohu, China, on July 11-12. 180,000 yuan per tonne for cobalt metal a 'good price to restock' Chinese cobalt metal buys should top up inventories when prices in China drop to 180,000 yuan per tonne ($10.52 per lb, less China-VAT), tra...Read More
The dollar price of gold has been on a roller-coaster ride for the past six years. But the past six weeks have been a turbocharged version of that. Investors should expect more of the same for reasons explained below.The six-year story is the more important for investors and also the more frustrating. Gold staged an historic bull market rally from 1999 to 2011, going from about $250 per ounce to $...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Friday July 12.ChinaKey drivers The price action of antimony MMTA standard-grade II, ddp China, stalled last week after many domestic suppliers refused to lower offer prices due to limited available stocks at plants. Some domestic antimony suppliers in Hunan province in central China were heard to have suspended their product...Read More
Trump has had it!He is apparently declaring a currency war on the rest of the world. Trump resents China and Europe cheapening the yuan and the euro against the dollar in order to help their exports and hurt ours.He says it's time for the U.S. to cheapen the dollar also. Trump has a point. If you put a 25% tariff on many Chinese exports to the U.S. (as Trump has done) or a 25% tariff on German car...Read More