David Smith - Even in the competitivehunting/shooting community, few enthusiasts know about an arcane rifle known asa "double trigger shotgun." Essentially, it's a double-barrel shotgunhaving a trigger for each barrel.This was an early day'sdesign with the triggers located inside the trigger guard, back to front. Itwas possible to press both triggers at once, causing a double discharge,...Read More

The biggest banks in the world areeyeing gold prices of around $3,000 in just over a year.  Former Citigroup billionaireThomas Kaplan predicts $5,000gold . And even without those predictions, the gold rush is on … Miners are stampeding this single gold rush territory …That’s already produced over 40 million ounces of gold … And still has an estimated 68 million+ oun...Read More

Whether you’re buying a brand new BMW or a second hand Range Rover, it’s necessary to secure clear title so you can sell or trade the vehicle in the future. If you purchase a home in The Hamptons or in the Vancouver suburbs, the title or warranty deed should ensure the property is unencumbered by a mortgage or tax lien. When acquiring gold, silver or platinum, you need documentation to...Read More

The three-month prices of most base metals on the London Metal Exchange gained on Friday November 6, with the exception of nickel and lead futures.The LME copper and zinc futures rose by more than 1%, with the red metal closing above the $6,900 per tonne psychological mark.The LME three-month copper price increased by 1.2% to...Read More

The seaborne premium hard coking coal cfr price rose on Friday November 6 due to the premium paid for high quality materials from countries such as Canada while premium mid-volatility hard coking coal was transacted in the fob market, sources said.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $107.45 per tonne, up $1.20 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $143.93 per tonne,...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices were up on Friday November 6 amid strong demand for steel reinforcing bar (rebar) in China, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $117.80 per tonne, up $0.85 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $118.03 per tonne, up $0.95 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $108.75 per tonne, up $1.07...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Flat product prices in the US moved largely in line with our expectations in October, posting impressive gains across the product range, and slightly exceeding our forecasts for coil products.Domestic hot-rolled coil prices averaged $722 per tonne in October, exceeding our forecast of $705 per tonne forecast price.Although w...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Approaching the end of the calendar year, steelmakers and consumers enter a busy period of contract negotiations for supply for 2021 or at least the first quarter or half year.With the sharp increases in spot market steel prices during recent months, steelmakers are understandably looking to take advantage and secure higher c...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.US ERW OCTG edges higher, seamless could followRising substrate costs helped support US ERW OCTG prices this month, especially at the upper end of the range of offers. Seamless OCTG and linepipe prices, meanwhile, held firm compared with September prices. The fundamentals remain weak, with rig counts going up...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Prices for most ferro-alloys maintained their upward momentum into October, solidifying previous gains and reflecting the improved demand from steelmakers, the rebuilding of depleted inventories, and the supply-side concerns following both planned and unplanned outages. Gains were noted for ferro-silicon, silicon metal, mang...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.While a world leader in many areas, the United States is a relatively small player when it comes to stainless steel. It produces a small amount of material, both in absolute and relative terms (i.e. compared to the size of its population), while a large share of its industry is in the hands of bigger European companies. Never...Read More

An overview of the new energy raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Susan Zou and Sally Zhang in Shanghai, Carrie Shi in Beijing, and...Read More

The market for imported pig iron in the United States improved during the week to Friday November 6 on an optimistic mood among suppliers, which have tight order books and see demand in other outlets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US, was $377-385 per tonne on Friday, widening upward from $377 per tonne a week earlier."Now demand for pig iron is higher than...Read More

The United States' used beverage can (UBC) imports fell for a third consecutive month in September, with domestic recycling processes beginning to recover from Covid-19 closures.UBC imports totaled 11,796 short tons in September, down by 6.4% from 12,606 tons in August but up by 28.1% from 9,206 tons in the same month last year, according to US trade data.Imports of the product...Read More

The benchmark A380.1 secondary aluminium alloy price in the United States has logged a 13th consecutive week of increases, supported by rising raw material costs and strong demand from automotive die-casters, to reach its highest in more than 23 months.Fastmarkets assessed the price for aluminium alloy A380.1, delivered Midwest at 88-91 cents per lb on Thursday November 5, up by 2.9% from 86-88 ce...Read More

The market for flat-rolled aluminium is robust at present, but uncertainty surrounding the direction of the volatile US Midwest premium, and the potential for more disruptions from the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, have made it difficult for Novelis to plan and navigate the markets.United States-based Novelis is a world leader in the rolling and recycling of aluminium. Its senior vice president an...Read More

Fastmarkets is launching two new coefficients for the copper concentrates market, with an update to be published for the first time on Friday November 6.The new coefficients, MB-CU-0422 - Copper concentrates counterparty spread and MB-CU-0423 - Copper concentrates Co-VIU, will build on the success of Fastmarkets' index reporting on the copper concentrates market, which started...Read More

Copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) rose in the week to Friday November 6, with market liquidity seasonally lower at a time when miners and smelters are discussing annual contracts. Fastmarkets' benchmark copper concentrates TC/RC index, cif Asia Pacific was at $46.4 per tonne / 4.64 cents per lb on Friday, reaching a four-month high.  Highlights of the week -...Read More

Noranda Income Fund (NIF) has extended its exclusive agreements with Glencore Canada for the purchase of zinc concentrate and the sale of zinc metal for an additional three years through to April 30, 2025.The agreement will renew automatically for five-year terms after it expires, unless Glencore Canada opts not to renew. The Toronto, Canada-listed company said the agreement's non-renewal notice p...Read More

Though confirmed deals lowered hot-rolled coil prices in the United States on Friday November 6, the spot market may well hit $35 per hundredweight ($700 0per short ton) soon due to limited availability and rising raw material costs, according to sources.Fastmarkets' daily hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $34.43 per cwt ($688.60 per ton) on Friday, down 1.1% from $34.82 pe...Read More