The estimated arbitrage between Southeast Asian warehouses and the US Midwest continued to narrow in May, due to lower Midwest premiums and a spike in spot barge rates.This reduces demand for other origin material, such as that from Southeast Asian warehouses, meaning there is less room for arbitrage opportunities. "The removal of import tariffs on Mexico and Canada will provide cheaper options fo...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices slid further on Wednesday June 5 amid persistently thin trading, though some exporters showed little willingness to sell any lower.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,870-3,880 yuan ($561-562) per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,800-3,810 yuan per tonne, narrowing downward 10 yuan per tonnePrices continued to drop, with trading being thinner...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices moved up slightly on Wednesday June 5 on rebounding futures in the final hours of trading, though the increases resulted in a drop in buying activity. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,920-3,960 yuan ($567-573) per tonne, up 10-20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,850-3,900 yuan per tonne, up 30 yuan per tonneA few traders who did not have a lot of material...Read More
The London Metal Exchange zinc price continued to increase over morning trading on Wednesday June 5 following another cancellation of 16,475 tonnes. This followed yesterday's cancellation of 15,050 tonnes, which means that 40% of the LME's total zinc stock - at 99,775 tonnes - has been marked for delivery as of today. The sudden cancellation of warrants prompted a zinc price rally, takin...Read More
Cobalt trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Unless otherwise stated, all prices are per lb on an in-warehouse basis. Delivered prices are netted back. Fastmarkets prices Click here for Fastmarkets' price assessment for standard-grade cobalt, in-warehouse, $ per lb Click here for Fastmarkets' price assessment for alloy-grade cobalt, in-warehouse, $ per lb Click her...Read More
The following Fastmarkets UK non-ferrous scrap and foundry ingot prices changed on Wednesday June 5:Titanium scrapTurnings, unprocessed type 90/6/4, 0.5% Sn max:...Read More
The following Fastmarkets minor metals prices changed on Wednesday June 5:Minor metalsAntimony MB free market regulus, $/tonne: $6,500-6,700 per tonne from $6,600-6,800Antimony MMTA standard grade II, $/tonne: $6,350-6,550 per tonne from $6,450-6,650Cadmium MB free market min 99.99%, cents/lb: 120-130 per...Read More
Nervousness in markets has temporarily eased following dovish comments from US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powel that suggested the Fed may be prepared to cut interest rates to sustain growth. This has lifted equity prices on Wednesday June 6 and that has flowed through to some of the metals. World Bank lowers global growth forecast for 2019 to 2.6%, from its 2.9% call in January Dov...Read More
Fastmarkets proposes changes to the specification of its cobalt hydroxide payable indicator. The proposal is to change the payment window to include trades agreed on the basis of the following month's average metal price (ie, M+1). This amendment will allow Fastmarkets to consider more spot liquidity within its assessment of cobalt hydroxide payables. Data collected since the launch of two referen...Read More
It has been one disappointment after another in the world of trade and economic data - now the IMF has cut its 2019 economic growth forecast for China to 6.2%, while the US and Mexico failed to reach a trade deal that would have averted tariffs. The only relief is coming in the form of potential for easier monetary policy, makes for a gloomy outlook.The outlook could be saved if a t...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures gained 8 points in pre-opening trade.European Central Bank maintained overnight lending rates Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of economic news at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus for Weekly Jobless Claims was unchanged from the previous week at 215,000. Actual was 218,000. Second estimate of first quarter real P...Read More
ZINC TRADING TIPS TODAYZinc Trading Tips Today – Zinc Buy Call 1ae8 given at 201.70 Achieved 1st Target 202.7 (CMP 202.80) Total 1.1 Points / Rs 5500 ProfitTIPS ID 1ae8 : Zinc Trading - Buy Zinc at CMP 201.70 for Target 202.70 - 203.40 with SL 200.40 Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday June 4. Please click...Read More
The premiums offered on supplies of aluminium to Japan in the third quarter of 2019 have been heard at $115-120 per tonne cif main Japanese ports (MJP), about 12% above the second-quarter premium, due to tighter supply, Fastmarkets learned on Tuesday June 4.One major producer offered a premium over the London Metal Exchange cash price of $115 per tonne and another $120 per tonne for July-September...Read More
Zinc's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange had climbed moderately by the close of trading on Wednesday June 4, with the morning's cancelation of more than 15,000 tonnes not enough to push the price higher than $2,500 per tonne.Volumes traded in the galvanizing metal topped the complex by the close, however, indicating strong buying interest over the day's trading.More than 11,000 lots o...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday June 4 that are worth another look.The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association Antimony Branch (CAA) held an industry meeting calling for major producers to reduce output in an effort to halt the price decline seen since the start of the year, market sources told Fastmarkets. The London Metal Exchange's zinc price...Read More
The bullish run in China's alumina price may end in July on smaller than expected alumina production cuts in Xinfa Group's alumina refineries and easing tightness after more imported cargoes arrive, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday May 30."I heard the aluminium production lines in Xinfa's Jiaokou plant were not fully stopped because the materials loaded in previously were not used up and it ma...Read More
London-listed Pembridge Resources will purchase Capstone Mining's Minto copper mine in a deal that could total $20 million based on future price performance, but does not guarantee any money will change hands at current levels.Pembridge will pay Capstone $5 million once Minto has reached 60% mill capacity, another $5 million when that capacity is reached and the copper price has averaged over $3 p...Read More
China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association Antimony Branch (CAA) has held an industry meeting calling major producers to reduce output in a move that is likely to halt the price decline since the start of the year, market sources told Fastmarkets. Several major antimony producers, whose output accounts for more than 80% of the country's total volume, including China Minmetals Rare Earth Co, Huna...Read More
The Turkish deep-sea scrap markets remained quiet on Tuesday June 4 with participants still absent because of the week-long Eid al-Fitr public holiday, sources told Fastmarkets.This lack of market activity was expected and was likely to continue for the rest of the week, with Turkey being on public holiday from June 3 until June 7. The holiday marks the end of the period of...Read More