SHANGHAI, Mar 26 (SMM) – This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last weekend and what is expected today.Last Friday nightGrowing trade tension dragged the US dollar index down to a month-low of 89.496, down 0.4% during the day and 0.8% over the week.Such bearish sentiment also led base metals to fall across the board except for zinc. SHFE copper saw a smaller decline but fell cl...Read More
South Korea is working to ease the steel import quota limits imposed by the United States following its Section 232 investigations, the Korea Iron & Steel Association (Kisa) said on Monday March 26.The 70% quota is based on the average US import volumes from South Korea for 2015-2017, which is about 74% of 2017's total, and was imposed after the US exempted South Korea from the Sect...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 26 (SMM) –Copper: While the market was rattled by the rising trade tension, crude oil saw a big jump in prices, which may give certain support to copper prices. We expect LME copper to trade at $6,620-6,670/mt today with SHFE copper at 49,700-50,200 yuan/mt. In the physical market, spot discounts are seen at 140-220 yuan/mt with thin trading activity as downstream consumers tak...Read More
SHANGHAI, Mar 26 (SMM) –Copper: While the market was rattled by the rising trade tension, crude oil saw a big jump in prices, which may give certain support to copper prices. We expect LME copper to trade at $6,620-6,670/mt today with SHFE copper at 49,700-50,200 yuan/mt. In the physical market, spot discounts are seen at 140-220 yuan/mt with thin trading activity as downstream consumers tak...Read More
Chinese rebar exports declined 58% year-on-year in February due to high prices.The country shipped 467,502 tonnes of rebar last month, down 58.37% from a year earlier, according to Chinese customs data released on Monday March 26. This number, however, is 48.07% higher than the 315,727 tonnes exported in January. High prices...Read More
China's stainless flat steel exports experienced a sharp year on year increase in February, although they dropped month on month.China exported 243,205 tonnes of stainless flat steel products, up 46,767 tonnes or 23.81% from 196,438 tonnes a year earlier, according to Chinese customs data released on Monday March 26. Last month's volume, however, is down 42,095 tonnes or 14.75% from January's 285,...Read More
London-based metals merchant Concord Resources is eyeing opportunities brought about by resource nationalism and protectionism, after announcing results that show how the company's rapid expansion accelerated through 2017. Concord tripled its net profit after tax, bringing in $20.73 million over 2017 - its second full trading year - representing a 23.9% gross return on average equity. Annuall...Read More
Exporters of hot-rolled coil (HRC) and cold-rolled coil (CRC) from the Commonwealth of Independent States adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward the market in the week ended Monday March 26, trying to avoid price declines, sources told Metal Bulletin."Prices are coming down and the market [for CIS-origin flat steel] seems to be frozen," a trader said.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for CI...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange mostly closed in positive territory on Monday March 26, with copper the only exception. After a morning of price dips across the complex, the majority of metals found support throughout the day from the weaker the weaker dollar. The dollar index hit a low of 89.02. "The dollar is weak once again which helped prices pick up throughout the day. But cop...Read More
Antimony prices fell last week in Europe after more material reached warehouses in Rotterdam while demand remained weak; the Chinese market continued to be subdued lacking further direction.Metal Bulletin assessed MMTA standard grade II antimony in-warehouse Rotterdam prices at $8,500-8,675 per tonne, down 0.7% from Wednesday's assessment and down from $8,600-8,800 per tonne level the week before....Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Monday March 26.Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange dived this morning following another large delivery into LME-listed warehouses.Here is how the LME base metals complex looked at 12.17pm London time:For a snapshot of exchange news, check out our live futures...Read More
Good morning from Metal Bulletin's offices in Shanghai as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Monday March 26.Base metals prices, with the exception of tin, on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were all lower during Asian morning trading on Monday after the escalating trade tensions between China and the United States weighed on the demand outlook for commodities.Check Metal Bulletin's...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange mostly closed in positive territory on Monday March 26, with copper the only exception. After a morning of price dips across the complex, the majority of metals found support throughout the day from the weaker the weaker dollar. The dollar index hit a low of 89.02. "The dollar is weak once again which helped prices pick up throughout the day. But cop...Read More
Comex copper prices on Monday March 26 remain at a December 2017 low with a potential trade war between the United States and China, along with increased warehouse stocks, weighing on the complex. Copper for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange declined a further 1.80 cents or 0.6% to $2.9750 per lb. The red metal was pressured by a 37,575 tonne delivery into Lo...Read More
Iron ore prices were relatively stable at $64 per tonne cfr China on Monday March 26 with participants standing on the sidelines in anticipation of further clarity about the marketMetal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index Today: $64.33 per tonne cfr QingdaoDaily change: down by $0.25 per tonneMonth-to-date average: $71.17 per tonneMetal Bulletin's 58% Fe Premium Index Today: $51.43 per tonne cfr Qing...Read More
Galvanizers in Europe are largely resistant to volatile and rising zinc prices, senior executives in the industry said at the Metal Bulletin Zinc and its Markets Seminar in London.Continuous and batch galvanizing processes are able to pass the higher costs of zinc onto their customers for a range of reasons, the executives said on March 23.For continuous galvanizing, where steel sheets are process...Read More
Price losses have deepened in the Chinese ferro-silicon spot market as restarted production increasingly weighs on supplier sentiment, although demand from the magnesium market is giving some support. China market weakness persists... ...but Mg sector demand stems price losses Europe eases with lower offer pricesUS suppliers cut prices amid competition Renewed supply drags down Ch...Read More
Antofagasta's Los Pelambres mine in Chile has reached an agreement with unionized workers for a new collective bargaining agreement, putting an end to the threat of strike action.The deal, reached during a period of government-mediated talks, includes an end-of-negotiation bonus of 11.6 million Chilean pesos ($19.06), a pay increase of 35,000 pesos and a loan of 3 million pesos per worker, th...Read More
Unionized workers at the Escondida copper mine in Chile have accepted an invitation to begin early talks with management on a new collective bargaining agreement.Direct negotiations with the company could begin starting next week, Escondida's Union No. 1 said in a statement on Saturday March 24. The union will "explore an agreement with the company based on the defense...Read More
Comex copper prices on Monday March 26 remain at a December 2017 low with a potential trade war between the United States and China, along with increased warehouse stocks, weighing on the complex. Copper for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange declined a further 1.80 cents or 0.6% to $2.9750 per lb. The red metal was pressured by a 37,575 tonne delivery into Lo...Read More