Over the Christmas holiday period, Fastmarkets will continue to price physical base metal markets in accordance with our pricing schedule.Readers can view the pricing holidays and alternative pricing arrangements through the following link.Over this time, base metal premium and warrant premium tables will be published, but accompanying commentary wraps will not.If you have any queries please email...Read More

Aluminium was in the spotlight again during London Metal Exchange morning trading on Tuesday December 24, with 270,525 tonnes freshly canceled at LME sheds. Over 111,000 tonnes canceled today were in Port Klang, Malaysia with other cancellations in Johor, Gwangyang and Singapore. The large cancellation today comes on top of 107,125 tonnes canceled on Monday. The two days of cancellations means on-...Read More

There were no clear trends for base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) during the morning trading session on Tuesday December 24, with lead's 0.8% increase making it the best performer of the lot.The most-traded February lead contract ended the session at 14,920 yuan ($2,128) per tonne, up 125 yuan per tonne from Monday's close of 14,795 yuan per tonne. Other SHFE base metals pr...Read More

The hot-rolled steel sheet and rebar markets in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow strengthened this week on higher prices from mills, even as demand remained seasonally subdued, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday December 23.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled sheet, domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia, was 39,500-40,000 roubles ($634-642) per tonne on December 23, inc...Read More

Flat steel import prices in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia increased this week on higher offers although there were no bookings because buyers sought discounts before placing new orders, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday December 24. Suppliers raised their offers in response to increasing raw material costs. But buyers resisted the higher offers, saying the recent price rises have bee...Read More

Domestic and import prices for steel rebar in the United Arab Emirates increased slightly over the past week amid moderate demand, market sources said on Tuesday December 24.Market participants in the UAE believe the increases may continue if raw materials prices keep rising.Local rebar producers announced new prices on December 19.Billet importsBillet was offered at $450-470 per tonne cfr, but no...Read More

RAPAPORT... Alrosa has sold a 20.69-carat polished yellow diamond to Graff, achieving one of the highest prices per caratfor a stone of its type in recent years, the miner said Tuesday. Alrosa did not disclose the final sale price of the Asscher-cut, fancy-vivid-yellow,VS1-clarity stone. However, the sale was significant as itwas made without the involvement of other parties, the company note...Read More

RAPAPORT... The upcoming International Diamond Week in Israel (IDWI) willfeature exhibitors from outside the country for the first time, in the hopes ofdrawing in more buyers. "There has been a lot of interest on the part of internationalcompanies to exhibit at the show, and this year we've decided to allow it,"explained IDWI chairman Ezra Boaron. "The diamond world thrives on trading, andI b...Read More

China's hot-rolled coil exporters achieved higher prices on Tuesday December 24, bolstered by overseas buyers' willingness to pay more for material, even as weakness prevailed in the domestic market, sources said.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,900-3,910 yuan ($556-558) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,630-3,640 yuan per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneSpot prices in Shanghai were...Read More

RAPAPORT... Mountain Province recovered more than 5,000 micro-diamondsfrom Gahcho Ku?(C)'s new Wilson pipe during its initial drilling program. The Canadian miner retrieved 1.7 tonnes of kimberlite fromtwo drill holes at the site, it said Monday. Of the 5,564 stones treated at theSaskatchewan Research Council, 86 were over 0.85 millimeters, weighing a totalof 2.23 carats. "These results, [wh...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices and futures dropped on Tuesday December 24 amid heightened expectations of some form of financial stimulus to be implemented by the Chinese government soon. Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,750-3,780 yuan ($535-539) per tonne, down 50 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,500-3,530 yuan per tonne, down 20-30 yuan per tonneChinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday that...Read More

RAPAPORT... Jewelers of America(JA) will expand its new marketing campaign following a successful test which reached more than 3 million unique consumers and garnered positive response."The industry came together and we were able to execute a campaign by the industry, for the industry," said JA CEO David Bonaparte. "The success of the test campaign gives us great promise for the future of a n...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Graff Diamonds has acquired the 20.7-carat Firebird diamond directly from Alrosa. While no price has been disclosed, the sale is apparently one of the highest prices per carat for such a stone in recent years. The GIA graded the Asscher-cut diamond as Fancy Vivid Yellow / VS1 with excellent polish and symmetry. "It is extremely rare and very special in the world of diamonds to...Read More

(IDEX Online) - International exhibitors are being invited to participate in the 2020 International Diamond Week in Israel (IDWI). This is the first time the IDWI has been open to exhibitors from all markets.Ezra Boaron, IDWI chairman said the decision to open up the doors of the show came from interest shown by international companies. "The diamond world thrives on trading and I believe that this...Read More

A Brazilian federal court has removed a major hurdle keeping mining major Vale from acquiring fellow miner Ferrous Resources.An injunction from a Brazilian court issued on November 8 blocked the acquisition and required Vale to provide proof that it would implement international environmental compliance standards. But the federal court nullified the injunction on December 5 fol...Read More

The Turkish deep-sea scrap import market was quiet on Tuesday December 24 due to the Christmas holiday period in Europe and the United States, market sources said.The most recent deep-sea cargo was booked on Friday December 20 at $303 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20) from the Baltic Sea region.Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices largely softened on Tuesday December 24 amid low buying interest, given cheaper alternatives in the port market.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $91.03 per tonne, down $0.30 per tonne.62% Fe Pilbara Blend fines, cfr Qingdao: $90.12 per tonne, down $0.30 per tonne.62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $91.39 per tonne, up $0.06 per tonne.58%...Read More

Trading activity continued in the seaborne coking coal market on Christmas eve, with prices staying above $130 per tonne fob Australia basis for premium quality materials.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $133.13 per tonne, down $1.84 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $147.47 per tonne, unchangedHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $122.33 per tonne, uncha...Read More

U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 2 points in pre-opening trade. Volumes on U.S. and Canadian equity markets are expected to be well below average today prior to the Christmas Holiday tomorrow. U.S. and Canadian equity markets close at 1:00 PM EST.Advanced Micro Devices added $0.68 to $46.04 after RBC Capital raised its target price from $50 to $53. Bo...Read More

As the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) gears up for the 37th annual Mineral Exploration Roundup conference from Jan. 20 to 23, 2020, it is time to take stock of the past year and look ahead to the potential for mineral exploration and development in 2020.It seems that 2019 was a unique year for the industry as it has been challenging for some junior explorers to attract investment despit...Read More