Ferrous scrap prices strengthened in the latest US sales to Turkey during the week to Friday October 11, but market participants were unsure about a recovery as demand for finished steel was still limited in most markets. Increasing political tensions in Turkey keep mills away from scrap markets US export prices improve in the East Coast market with sales to Turkey Ferrous scrap prices...Read More
Austenitic steel scrap prices in Europe and UK may have found the market floor after a month of substantial decreases, while chrome steel scrap prices have fallen sharply on weak demand and low ferrous costs, Fastmarkets heard on Friday October 11."I think [austenitic] prices have found a new level after the significant drops we have had in the past month," one scrap trader said. "Material has sta...Read More
The inter-merchant spot market for UK-origin light iron scrap was steady in the week ended Friday October 11, extending stability after losses in September against a small recovery in European export prices to traditional markets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel scrap 5C, loose old light, domestic, delivered inter-merchant, UK, was ?60-80 ($74-98) per tonne on Friday.European steel scrap p...Read More
There is some cautious optimism over United States-China trade negotiations after US President Donald Trump described the talks as "very, very good" and said he would meet Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in the White House on Friday October 11.But, we have been here before so it is probably best not to anticipate too much - indeed, with the base metals generally rangebound this morning that seems to b...Read More
The price of gasoline is soaring in California. In some places drivers report paying over $5 a gallon in what has become a record gap between the Golden State's gas prices and the national average.According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas in California is $4.183 right now - 63% higher than the national average. And it comes at a time when gas prices are traditionally lower.The blame...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More
In this week's Insights, we look at how insiders are reacting to recent market optimism over the prospects of more QE and a trade deal. Our broadcast of the week is a great primer on what's wrong with the US repo market and our insider of the week could shake up the prospects of some big Canadian stocks which are favourites of many investors. Click here to read. Read More
China's domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate prices held steady this week after the Golden Week national holiday on October 1-7, and lithium hydroxide prices were also flat due to a lack of domestic buying. Lithium carbonate price held at current level without any fluctuation post-holiday. Lithium hydroxide prices maintained at current level on quiet buying. China, Japan & Sou...Read More
Most of the import prices for flat-rolled steel products were stable during the week ended Friday October 11 in South America, because Chinese mills did not significantly change offers made before their Golden Week holiday, which ended on October 7.But more aggressive trader offers and customer bids, especially from the continent's Pacific coast, continued to put downward pressure on the price of...Read More
Indian steel mills are aggressively cutting their prices to increase export sales of hot-rolled coil with domestic demand for the commodity remaining weak, Fastmarkets heard on Friday October 11.HRC export prices from India have fallen by $5 per tonne in the current week while market participants were expecting further falls because traders were short-selling HRC aggressively in the Southeast Asia...Read More
Turkish prices for hot-dipped galvanized coil (HDG) and pre-painted galvanized iron (PPGI) fell in the week to Friday October 11, with demand remaining weak, sources have told Fastmarkets.The price for hot-rolled coil, the base product for coated coil, has continued to fall as well this week, and coated coil prices have followed the downtrend.Domestic pricesDemand in the country's local market was...Read More
The Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry announced permanent duties on steel billet, rebar and wire rod on October 10, effective from October 12, Egyptian sources told Fastmarkets.The permanent safeguard duty is 16% of the cif price and a minimum of $74 per tonne for steel billet from October 12, 2019 until April 11, 2020. The duty will fall to 13% and $60-per-tonne minimum payment on April 12,...Read More
China's steel mills posted a fall in profits in the first eight months of the year on weakening steel prices and costly raw materials. Profit in the country's steelmaking industry totaled 179.94 billion yuan ($25.17 billion) in January-August 2019, down by 32.3% year on year and deepening the drop in the month prior of 26.4% on an annual basis, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Most...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices dropped on Friday October 11 due to pessimistic sentiment among buyers and inactivity in the market. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,700-3,730 yuan ($521-525) per tonne, down 20 yuan per tonne Northern China (Beijing): 3,570-3,600 yuan per tonne, down 20-30 yuan per tonne Weak futures have led customers to cut their procurement rates in anticipation of lower...Read More
Gold COT Report - Futures Large SpeculatorsCommercialTotal LongShortSpreadingLongShortLongShort 334,38358,82053,301167,755478,697555,439590,818 Change from Prior Reporting Period 11,5835,013-5,1984,70511,95911,09011,774 Traders 21469785451292175 Small Speculators LongShortOpen Interest 61,51826,139616,957 98229812,072 non reportable...Read More
Gold investment demand was strong in the months following gold's decisive breakout to new bull-market highs in late June. The metal's upside momentum fueled big capital inflows, accelerating its gains. But soon after gold's upleg stalled, so did the investment buying. With stock markets still near record highs, the normal portfolio-diversification motive for owning gold is lacking. Thu...Read More
By: Ira EpsteinGold has been stuck for a week and a half trading around the 18-DMA..Read More
Do not believe in Trump on the trade deal. Let there be a trade deal and the details made public. Then only gold will fall. Till there is a confirmation of a trade deal, I will prefer to use a buy on sharp dips strategy for gold and silver. Intraday volatility will rise in gold and silver. Traders and investors are used to one way price moves. It seems they do not like wider range trading. I hav...Read More
Ferrous scrap prices strengthened in the latest US sales to Turkey during the week to Friday October 11, but market participants were unsure about a recovery as demand for finished steel was still limited in most markets. Increasing political tensions in Turkey keep mills away from scrap markets US export prices improve in the East Coast market with sales to Turkey Ferrous scrap prices...Read More
RICO was designed to go after organized crime syndicates. It was first used against the mobsters in the 1930's during prohibition when all the bootleggers were running around killing people in the streets. Oh, and more importantly they weren't paying taxes on all the booze they were selling and you know how the government hates to cheated on their theft, I mean taxes. First of all that's why they...Read More