Artemis all set thanks to unique approachSPONSOREDartemis resourcesDiversified miner Anglo American said it was implementing a controlled reduction of activities over 72 hours at its Los Bronces mine and other operations.Read More

The 2019-nCoV pandemic is definitely a black swan event, one which nobody saw coming. Global business sentiment has taken a massive hit, with major industries grinding to a halt on travel bans, quarantine orders and border controls. Major airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways have grounded their fleets, stock markets have collapsed with exchanges closing and tourism is taking a pun...Read More

The rebounds in the metals toward the end of last week do seem to have been countertrend moves as expected; this morning, Monday March 23, the base metals are down across the board on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange. Asian Pacific equity indices were mainly lower this morning, the exception was Japan’s Nikkei, but it was closed on Friday for a national holiday, as such...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices plummeted on Monday March 23, with concerns about ex-Chinese demand took center stage, pushing Chinese participants to recalibrate their outlook on the steelmaking raw material.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $81.07 per tonne, down $6.91 per tonne 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $82.17 per tonne, down $6.98 per tone58% Fe fines high-grade pre...Read More

Global ferrous scrap prices dropped again during the week to Friday March 20, with the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) continuing to weigh on markets and squeeze demand from steel mills.Turkish import prices record midweek plungeUS West Coast scrap flows begin to dry upTaiwan, Vietnam buyers delay bookings on expectations of further price dropsIndian import prices struggle amid weakeni...Read More

The copper price is coming off its worst week in almost a decade, but analysts feel there could be more downside for the metal as novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) lockdowns globally wreck demand prospects. The London Metal Exchange three-month copper price closed at $4,810 per tonne on Friday March 20, down 11% from the start of the week and hit a three-year low of $4,371 per tonne on Wednesday. Gove...Read More

U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. Equity index futures dropped their regulated limit in overnight trading, but recovered strongly after the Federal Reserve indicated unlimited Quantitative Easing through purchase of U.S. Treasury bonds. S&P 500 futures advanced 32 points in pre-opening trade.Boeing gained $1.03 to $96.04 after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to Buy. Visa dro...Read More

The London Metal Exchange three-month copper price was lower during morning trading on Monday March 23, with continued selling pressure pushing copper to test support at $4,500 per tonne, while a rewarranting of 4,566 tonnes led to nickel's decline this morning. Copper's underlying price on the LME was recently at $4,559 per tonne, down by 3% from Friday's closing price of $4,810 per tonne. Copper...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices dropped on Monday March 23 amid falling futures and destocking pressure. Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,460-3,490 yuan ($488-492) per tonne, down 40 yuan per tonne Northern China (Beijing): 3,360-3,400 yuan per tonne, down 20-30 yuan per tonne Rebar futures tumbled during the day amid concerns over how severe an effect the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) would have on...Read More

China's hot-rolled coil prices slumped on Monday March 23, with sentiment dampened after futures prices plunged amid global lockdowns due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) spread.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,370-3,400 yuan ($475-479) per tonne, down 50-70 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,260-3,280 yuan per tonne, down 70-90 yuan per tonneSeveral traders said that sellers had to...Read More

China-based minor metals producer Vital Materials has acquired the Germany-based company FHR Anlagenbau, Vital told Fastmarkets on Friday March 20.The company - with headquarters in Ottendorf-Okrilla in Dresden, Germany - will be integrated into Vitals' thin film material business unit.The transaction completed on March 17 includes all assets, tangible and non-tangible from the previous owner Cent...Read More

Hermes Belous Freire has joined Sumitomo Corp as sales manager for cobalt briquettes. Belous Freire is currently based in Switzerland as a consultant, but will relocate to...Read More

The spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outside China has brought with it logistical restrictions, a reconsideration of raw material requirements and concerns over possible disruptions to supply in the coming weeks. Here are five things under consideration by the minor metals and ferro-alloys markets while the situation develops. Adjustments to delivery and payment terms to mitigate risk T...Read More

The rebounds in the metals toward the end of last week do seem to have been countertrend moves as expected; this morning, Monday March 23, the base metals are down across the board on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange. Asian Pacific equity indices were mainly lower this morning, the exception was Japan's Nikkei, but it was closed on Friday for a national holiday, as such, the...Read More

The price of stainless steel in the European domestic market was unchanged this week but the market was bracing itself for a substantial slowdown arising from the consequences of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, Fastmarkets heard on Friday March 20.Distributors in Northern Europe reported that demand was largely steady, with customers taking their regular tonnages."March is looking like it will...Read More

Prices for imported UG2 chrome ore and Chinese spot high-carbon ferro-chrome dropped in the week to Friday March 20 due to a bearish outlook for the stainless steel market. Fastmarkets' South Africa UG2 concentrates index, basis 42%, cif China fell for a fifth consecutive week to a four-year low of $114 per tonne on Friday. This was down by $8 per tonne or 6.6% from $122 per tonne a week earl...Read More

Automotive manufacturers in the UK have announced production suspensions after measures taken by European governments to restrict the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic led to a series of closures among other carmakers, creating problems that affect the supply chain and manufacturing.Ford UKUnited States-based Ford will bring forward scheduled summer shutdowns at its UK operations in Dag...Read More

The Italian government has ordered the closure of all non-essential production operations in the country, including steelmaking, as part of the measures to battle the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, prime minister Giuseppe Conte said on Saturday March 21.Flat steel producer ArcelorMittal Italia, however, will continue operations despite the new decree, the company told Fastmarkets on March 23.Ital...Read More

Endeavour Mining (TSX: EDV) gave markets a welcome break from COVID-19-related news by announcing the acquisition of Semafo (TSX: SMF) in a $1 billion (US$691 million) deal that will create one of West Africa's top gold miners.The transaction, the company said, will create the biggest gold producer in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast with production estimated at over 1 million oz. per year.The West Af...Read More

Lundin Gold (TSX: LUG) has temporarily suspended operations at its Fruta del Norte gold mine in Ecuador due to COVID-19, while Newmont (TSX: NGT; NYSE: NEM) has taken similar measures at four of its operations in Argentina, Canada and Peru.Newmont has temporarily suspended activities at Musselwhite, Eleonore, Cerro Negro and Yanacocha.However, Newmont said mines representing about 80% of its produ...Read More