Brazil's northern ports - the so-called Northern Arc - will be pivotal in driving the country’s corn and soybean exports over the next decade due to the new investments that will continue to improve the region’s infrastructure, sources said.

The United States plans to “make up for lost time” in the battle against climate change by developing new technologies and investing in the products that will drive the transition to a global, low-carbon economy, according to the country’s Treasury chief, Janet Yellen.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were up across the board this morning, Tuesday May 18, and once again recent dips have been short-lived and not that deep, suggesting sentiment remains robust.

Surging steel demand in the majority of global markets pushed prices up in most regions in the week to Friday May 14. Only the United States deep-sea ferrous scrap market remained inactive, while Chinese scrap prices fell victim to softer prices for finished steel products.

Soybean futures prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed to their highest level since September 2012 after traders positioned themselves ahead of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (Wasde) May report and against a backdrop of continued tight bean supply

Base metals prices on both the LME and SHFE were mainly weaker this morning, Friday May 14, and seem to have got some downward momentum, even though broader markets have seen a buy-the-dip mentality emerge.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were little changed and consolidating this morning, Wednesday May 12, this after some choppy trading in recent days.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange were, for the most part, a lot stronger this morning, Monday May 10, but broader markets were mixed.

Import prices for ferrous scrap in Vietnam increased during the week to Friday May 7 on bullish sentiment in the spot market, and could break the $500-per-tonne-cfr-Vietnam mark for bulk cargoes, industry sources told Fastmarkets.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange were for the most part stronger this morning, Friday May 7, as were broader markets.