IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from August 26

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday August 26 that are worth another look.

China’s hot-rolled coil prices dropped in both the spot and futures markets on August 26, amid escalating trade tensions between that country and the United States.

While the major Chinese stainless steel mills are expected to release their September tender prices for domestic ferro-chrome this week, the majority of market participants expect a price increase in near future tenders, including for September, Fastmarkets understands.

Brazilian aluminium producer Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) has signed an agreement to buy Arconic’s operations in Itapissuma, in Brazil’s northeastern state of Pernambuco, for $50 million, CBA announced on August 26.

Glencore AG has provided a $5-million loan facility to First Cobalt Corp to complete work associated with a recommissioning and expansion of its refinery in Canada.

China’s imports of copper scrap totaled 130,000 tonnes in July, down by 39.3% from the same month last year, according to the latest Chinese customs data.

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Chinese lead smelters turned more bearish on the procurement of raw materials in the week to Friday February 13, amid heightened price volatility in silver, which is often contained in lead ores as an important by-product and contributor to smelter profits, sources told Fastmarkets.