Improving end-user demand boosted the US premium for 4x4 nickel cut cathode in the week ended Tuesday March 26, but European market participants were bearish leading to a flat market, and China was quiet due to a closed import window.
US cut cathode premium moves up again European traders deterred by LME nickel contango China's trade mostly domestic, partly to avail of recent tax cuts US cathodes edge up, briquettes firm, on solid demand The premium for cut cathodes moved up on the bottom end for the second week in a row, again rising by 2 cents per lb, on strengthening demand and continued cathode-cutting delays. Briquettes, which last week had also risen on the low end, this week stayed put. Fastmarkets' assessment of the US nickel 4x4 cut cathode premium, delivered consumer works, was 39-45 cents per lb on Tuesday March 26, up from 37-45 cents per lb on March 19. Fastmarkets assessed the US nickel briquette premium, delivered consumer works, at 25-28 cents per lb on Tuesday, unchanged week on week. One distributor said he could not supply cut cathodes now if asked because there are...