Markets were for the most part consolidating this morning, Wednesday July 29, with base and precious metals prices mixed, albeit with the path of least resistance remaining to the upside.Traders are having to weigh up the continuing spread of the Covid-19 virus across the United States and pockets of second waves in other major economies and some disappointing economic news, against the prospects...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices were up on Wednesday July 29 in an active day on trading platforms, with gains observed in the futures markets. Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $110.57 per tonne, up $3.91 per tonne. 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $112.98 per tonne, up $3.19 per tonne. 58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $97.41 per tonne, up $1.86 per tonne. ...Read More

Ukraine-based integrated steelmaker ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih (AMKR) plans to construct a pelletizing plant that is expected to start production by the end of 2023, its chief executive officer, Mauro Longobardo, said.The plant will have the capacity to produce pellets at a rate of 5 million tonnes per year and will raise the Fe content in the mill's iron ore products to 68% from 65.3% currently, ac...Read More

Seagate Technologies (STX), a NASDAQ 100 stock moved below $45.93 and $45.50 setting an intermediate downtrend.Costar (CSGP), a NASDAQ 100 stock moved above $747.11 extending an intermediate uptrend.Pre-opening comments for Wednesday July 29thU.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 11 points in pre-opening trade.Investors are waiting for news on interest rat...Read More

The firmly-closed arbitrage window between the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange manifested in lower China nickel premiums in the week to Tuesday July 28, with a lack of profit-making pushing deals lower, Fastmarkets heard.Closed arb window pushes China premiums lowerUS spot market flat amid muted return to market from stainless steel millsEuropean market remains subdued amid sum...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices were flat on Wednesday July 29, with trading activity remaining stagnant despite strengthening futures.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,570-3,600 yuan ($510-514) per tonne, unchangedChina's strengthening stock market lent strength to rebar futures during the day, an industry analyst in Shanghai said.The Shanghai Composite Index ended Wednesday at 3,294.55 points,...Read More

The London Metal Exchange three-month zinc price made gains during the morning session on Wednesday July 29 after a further 15,050-tonne fresh inflow into LME approved warehouses this morning. LME zinc stocks have been subject to over a week of significant consecutive inflows, with stocks up 54% to their current 187,475-tonne level today from 121,050 tonnes on July 20.The rising stocks failed to c...Read More

Key data from the pricing session in London on Wednesday July 29. Key driversMarket participants eye higher cobalt metal, salt and intermediate prices in China, which have translated into some sellers raising offer prices in the international market - including some...Read More

Cobalt hydroxide payables continued to rally in the first half of the week started Monday July 27, with logistical tightness in South Africa still limiting suppliers' capacity to offer units on spot inquiries.The cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, % payable of Fastmarkets' standard-grade cobalt price (low end), rose to 74-75% on July 29, up from 70-73% on July 24. This was...Read More

The cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparency into the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies. Fastmarkets assessed cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam at $13.75-14.15 per lb on Wednesday July 29, 2020....Read More

The cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparency into the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies. Fastmarkets assessed cobalt...Read More

Key data from the pricing session in Europe on Wednesday July 29.Key drivers The ferro-titanium market has established a price floor after dropping steadily in recent weeks, with the price range holding in its present range in expectation of renewed demand and tighter scrap availability in the near term. For now, the alloy price range is at a level last seen on February 3, 2017, when the asse...Read More

Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in China on Wednesday July 29. Key driversSome major producers increased their offer prices in response to growing inquiries.A few suppliers held back from offering this week, which limited the availability of cargoes in...Read More

A summary of Tubacex, Spanish manufacturer of seamless stainless steel tube, financial performance in the first half-year of 2020. In brief  Tubacex attributed weaker half-year results due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Pandemic-related lockdowns around the globe since March have led to a significant sales drop in the power generation market. Activity in the global seamless st...Read More

A summary of stainless steel producer Aperam's results for the second quarter of 2020.In brief Aperam recorded a sharp drop in earnings in the second quarter of 2020 due to restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic leading to a drop of demand for stainless flat steel and lower selling prices - although pressure from imports also dropped com...Read More

The continued price differential between Chinese and European vanadium prices that sparked interest in exports to China has left inventories in Europe depleted and has eventually sent European prices upward, market sources told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets assessed the ferro-vanadium 78% V min, fob China price at $29.50-30.50 per kg on Thursday July 23, unchanged from the previous week, while its...Read More

88 Energy (ASX:88E) Prepares for Billion Barrel Farm OutSPONSORED88 energyScoped for growth: Nevada Copper shifts into production modeSPONSOREDnevada copper corp.IronRidge shows its mettleSPONSOREDironridge resources Cardinal heading down familiar gold roadSPONSOREDcardinal resourcesFar be it for me to ever feed fuel into a fire - and so this week I will refrain from commenting much about the gold...Read More

July 29, 2020 - Brixton Metals Corporation (TSXV: BBB) (the "Company" or "Brixton") provides an update on its Thorn Project exploration activities. Ongoing soil geochemical surveys and rock sampling has returned gold values up to 68.8 g/t Au from the West Outlaw target area where preparation for drilling has started.Due to strong investor demand Brixton is pleased to announce it has increased its...Read More

Copper Mountain Mining (TSX: CMMC) exceeded its revised operating plan for the second quarter of 2020, the Vancouver-based miner announced on Wednesday. The company operates three mines, one in British Columbia and two in Australia.Production for the three-month period reached 23.9 million lb. copper-equivalent, comprising of 18.1 million lb. copper, 7,499 oz. gold and 86,126 oz. silver.Revenues...Read More

Vale (NYSE: Vale) announced on July 29 that it started, on a preventive basis, the Level 1 emergency protocol for Barragem 5 dam, at Mina da Mutuca, Nova Lima, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.According to the company, the protocol does not require the evacuation of the population downstream of the dam.Barragem 5 was built with compacted soil, with a downstream construction method and no long...Read More