Tensions with China over Hong Kong persist, thoughAfter a hot start to begin the holiday-shortenedweek, Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are soaring once again, as investor optimism builds surrounding the reopening of the economy. Shares of airlines and cruise lines lead the premarket gains, asvarious states begin to roll back lockdown restrictions put in place to combat the coronaviru...Read More

Vancouver, BC - IsoEnergy Ltd. (TSX-V: ISO | OTCQX: ISENF) is pleased to announce the acquisition through staking of six new uranium exploration properties totaling over 57,000ha in the prolific Eastern Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan (Figure 1). All of the new claims are 100% owned by IsoEnergy.New Property Summary:Hawk: 6,000ha located 37km west of Larocque East, home of the Hurricane Zon...Read More

SPX returns are typically bearish when in current choppiness rangeThe Choppiness Index, an oscillator index used to measure how the market is trending (regardless of direction) or going sideways, is relatively new to me. It was created by Australian commodity trader E.W. Driess, and today we will analyze how it works on the S&P 500 Index (SPX).Due to the last few months of coronavirus turmoil, it...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday May 26 that are worth another look.Workers at Tata Steel's plant at IJmuiden in the Netherlands staged a lightning protest on May 26, but output was unaffected, the company said.Japanese steel producers which use electric-arc furnaces (EAFs) are being forced into raising their purchasing prices for ferrous scrap feedstock despite t...Read More

The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) has cut its 2020 global mined copper forecast by 950,000 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 4 million tonnes of copper concentrates output, citing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.The copper research group now expects a 3% year-on-year decline in world mined copper output in 2020, citing lockdowns that have been in place since March, the group said on Thurs...Read More

LME three-month base metals prices, apart from zinc, closed up on Tuesday May 26, in part driven by the impact of China's ongoing monetary easing policy and the onset of economic restarts across Europe. A speech given today by People's Bank of China governor Yi Gang buoyed London Metal Exchange base metals prices at the beginning of the day's trading, according to INTL FC Stone's Natalie Scot...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday May 26 that are worth another look.Workers at Tata Steel's plant at IJmuiden in the Netherlands staged a lightning protest on May 26, but output was unaffected, the company said.Japanese steel producers which use electric-arc furnaces (EAFs) are being forced into raising their purchasing prices for ferrous scrap feedstock despite t...Read More

The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) has cut its 2020 global mined copper forecast by 950,000 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 4 million tonnes of copper concentrates output, citing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.The copper research group now expects a 3% year-on-year decline in world mined copper output in 2020, citing lockdowns that have been in place since March, the group said on Thurs...Read More

The disconnect between London Metal Exchange and SHFE aluminium prices has opened an arbitrage window to China, but the international aluminium market is wary of taking advantage of it, Fastmarkets understands.The front month aluminium contract on the SHFE last traded at 13,235 yuan ($1,855.41) per tonne on Tuesday May 26, while the LME aluminium three-month price closed at $1,506.50 per tonne on...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday May 26 that are worth another look.Workers at Tata Steel's plant at IJmuiden in the Netherlands staged a lightning protest on May 26, but output was unaffected, the company said.Japanese steel producers which use electric-arc furnaces (EAFs) are being forced into raising their purchasing prices for ferrous scrap feedstock despite t...Read More

The price range for high-carbon ferro-chrome widened in Europe in the week ended Friday May 22, with industry sources reporting deals agreed for more than 500 tonnes of material.The price spread widened to $0.15 per lb after deals were reported that raised the higher end of the assessment.Trading activity was said by most sources to be quiet, with only one supplier reporting deals done. But the pr...Read More

Mexican ferrous scrap prices were on opposite paths in the week ended Friday May 22, with prices rising in some deals due to a scarcity of material while others fell due to currency moves.Prices for three grades of scrap increased in Monterrey, with at least one client heard quietly purchasing small volumes of specific grades at higher prices.A second client was also considering future price...Read More

Turkish deep-sea scrap import prices remained broadly stable on Tuesday May 26 after news of a fresh cargo came to light. The transaction which came to light on Monday was sold either on Sunday May 24 or Monday May 25, sources said. The market was relatively quiet at the beginning of the week due to a public holidays in many countries on...Read More

Broad markets were stronger this morning, Tuesday May 26, with many Asian-Pacific equity indices up by around 2%, while pre-market major western equities were up by around 1% but metals prices were mixed.Hopes that the reopening of economies will lead to an economic recovery are boosting equities but the United States-China trade dispute is worsening, which is not going to help the global economy...Read More

From future raw material investments to China's resurgence in lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery chemistries, Fastmarkets analysts and reporters consider six key discussion points dominating the battery and electric vehicle markets. The below themes were raised from questions during Fastmarkets' webinar "Covid-19 and the battery raw materials supply chain" on May 19. To listen again to the webin...Read More

Key data from the pricing sessions in London and Shanghai on Friday May 22.Key drivers:- Buyers in China continue to replenish stocks that have run thin from refineries, bridging a gap in shipments from Africa in March and April that was a result of South Africa's Covid-19 lockdown. Outflows...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday May 26 that are worth another look.Workers at Tata Steel's plant at IJmuiden in the Netherlands staged a lightning protest on May 26, but output was unaffected, the company said.Japanese steel producers which use electric-arc furnaces (EAFs) are being forced into raising their purchasing prices for ferrous scrap feedstock despite t...Read More

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe dropped further during the week to Friday May 22, due to low trading activity.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?407.50 ($443.92) per tonne on Friday, down by ?,?4.38 per tonne week on week and down by ?,?37.50 per tonne month on month.Friday's index was calculated based on deals and "workable...Read More

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe were unchanged day on day on Tuesday May 26 while trading activity remained low, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe held at ?,?407.50 ($447.03) per tonne on May 26, flat from Friday May 22.Tuesday's index was calculated based on deals and "workable" prices heard at ?,?400-410...Read More

Oversupply in the steel rebar market in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow is a cause for concern, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday May 26, although prices remained largely unchanged week on week. Construction, the key consumer, was still running slowly after a gradual restart in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, sources said"Yes, the construction activity has im...Read More