Several analysts have chimed in today with a variety of opinionsThe semiconductor sector is in focus this morning, after Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) reported second-quarter earnings last night. While the chip name's earnings and revenue were in-line with expectations, its third-quarter guidance of $1.80 billion came in lower than the $1.95 billion expected due to lower demand for ch...Read More

Alternative energy stock ENPH has had a huge yearClean energy stock Enphase Energy Inc (NASDAQ:ENPH) is set for record highs, trading up 21.5% before the open thanks to a second-quarter earnings beat. This just extends a strong year for the shares, which sport a lead of almost 360% in 2019, closing Tuesday at $21.65. A few bull notes have come through this morning, and today's move could also be g...Read More

A round of analyst bull notes have poured in, tooLattice Semiconductor Corp (NASDAQ:LSCC) stock is up 12.3% in electronic trading, after the programmable logic device maker reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of 15 cents per share on $102.30 million in revenue. This was more than the consensus estimates of 11 cents per share in earnings and $99.72 million in revenue, and bullish analysts hav...Read More

The U.S. and China will reportedly resume trade talks in September Apple (AAPL) earnings are front and center this morning, boosting Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures, after the tech giant posted quarterly figures that topped expectations and issued strong revenue guidance. The Fed is in focus, too, with the central bank widely expected to cut interest rates later today. Elsewhere, priva...Read More

China's rebar prices were flat in both the domestic and export markets on Wednesday July 31, with demand being reported as steady but weak.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,920-3,940 yuan ($569-572) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,830-3,850 yuan per tonne, unchangedRebar futures picked up in the morning before retreating in the afternoon, but the early gains failed to stimulate...Read More

Debunking the popular notion that small-cap underperformance is ominousOver the past year, the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) -- a barometer of small-cap stocks -- is down over 7%, while the large-cap S&P 500 Index (SPX) is up over 6%. A popular notion is that when there is a divergence between small-cap and large-cap stocks, the direction of the small-caps predicts the future direction of the market in...Read More

Fastmarkets on Wednesday July 31 launched weekly export price assessments for stainless steel cold-rolled coil, grade 304 (2mm), fob China, $/tonne and stainless steel hot-rolled coil, grade 304, fob China, $/tonne.The launch of these assessments following a month-long consultation reflects China's status as a major exporter of stainless steel. They will serve as important benchmarks for the inter...Read More

Glencore has cut its ferro-chrome production guidance for 2019 by 10% to 1.48 million tonnes as part of its extended winter shutdown, the company said on Wednesday July 31. The trader-miner had already reduced its output guidance by 50,000 tonnes to 1.64 million tonnes in April due to "additional maintenance and extended winter shutdowns, amid reduced power availability/challenges in South Af...Read More

The domestic prices for hollow steel sections in both Northern and Southern Europe were unchanged this week ahead of the seasonal summer break, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday July 31.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?615-630 ($686-702) per tonne on Wednesday, flat week on week.Market participants reported very low levels o...Read More

Sales at Brazilian steelmaker Companhia Sider??rgica Nacional (CSN) dropped by 12.1% in the second quarter from a year earlier because of weakness in markets both at home and abroad, it said.Its sales volumes totaled 1.16 million tonnes in April-June, down from 1.32 million tonnes in the second quarter of last year, it said in its earnings report on Tuesday July 30. The faltering Brazilian economy...Read More

Brazil's Companhia Sider??rgica Nacional (CSN) has increased its planned iron ore sales volumes for 2019 by 2 million tonnes or more than 5%, it said.CSN now expects to sell 40 million tonnes of iron ore during the year, the steel and iron ore producer said alongside its second-quarter earnings report on Tuesday July 30, up from its forecast of 38 million tonnes published in May,To...Read More

Metinvest chief executive officer Yuriy Ryzhenkov discusses with Marina Shulga the challenges the company has overcome and the strategies for its future prosperity.Metinvest, the largest steel producer in Ukraine, has faced the seizing of its assets by rebels, military action right next to its plants, raw material supply interruptions and debt restructuring over the last five years. Over this peri...Read More

When the Liberty Ounce is turned into money, its monetary value will not fall with falls in the price of silver bullion; its monetary value willby Hugo Salinas Price via PlataORIGIN OF THE "LIBERTY" SILVER OUNCEDon Jose Lopez Portillo became President of Mexico in 1976.In 1981, President of Mexico Lopez Portillo ordered the creation of a silver-ounce coin, the "Liberty Ounce", whose weight was t...Read More

Zinc premiums dipped in Europe but were flat elsewhere, reflecting the onset of the summer slowdown, although US demand for lead and zinc is reportedly improving. SHG zinc premiums drop in Antwerp, backwardation in forward curve re-emerges Cash/three-month spread swings to $13 backwardation vs contango last week Some US lead buyers picking up tonnages at low numbersNorth European premiums down, ba...Read More

The three-month nickel price on the London Metal Exchange climbed by 1.4% at the close of trading on Wednesday July 31, shaking off downward momentum emanating from an expected US Federal Reserve interest rate cut and subsequent dollar incline. Nickel futures closed at $14,490 per tonne on Wednesday, climbing from an intraday low of $14,255 per tonne while just over 7,000 lots of metal traded over...Read More

The Turkish steel mills have remained quiet in the deep-sea markets due to limited trading activity in te long steel and billet markets, sources said on Wednesday July 31.The mills in the country booked four deep-sea cargoes last week.Sources believed that the Turkish mills still needed scrap for August shipments but the weak rebar...Read More

An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday July 31 that are worth another look.A fundamental industry that has always been a primary facilitator of global trade, shipping aims to be at the forefront of digital technology. This report explores initiatives at the Dutch Port of Rotterdam - Europe's largest port by cargo tonnage - and how those connect with global tra...Read More

Dramatic inflows of lead stock into London Metal Exchange warehouses this week have challenged the market notion of physical tightness following a suspension at Nyrstar's Port Pirie smelter, which has been cited as the key driver of a recent surge in the lead price. Total LME lead stock soared to 79,050 tonnes as of Wednesday July 31, up 42.5% from Monday's 55,475 tonnes. There were significant de...Read More

Gold futures settled higher Tuesday, marking a third straight session of gains, as investors digested economic data suggesting the U.S. economy remains healthy with low inflation, while waiting for a Federal Reserve decision on interest rates due Wednesday. August gold on Comex GCQ19, -1.14% added $9.30, or 0.7%, to finish at $1,429.70 an ounce, after gaining 0.1% a day ago. The metal marked its...Read More