IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from February 3

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday February 3 that are worth another look.

The sell-off of Chinese steel futures this morning is a sign that “worse is to come” for global steel prices, market sources told Fastmarkets on February 3.

Canadian copper producer Taseko has decided to take action to protect itself against the tumbling London Metal Exchange copper price.

The UG2 chrome ore and ferro-chrome alloy markets in China were stable over the week ending on Friday January 31, although some market participants think travel restrictions could push up prices when buyers return from the Chinese New Year holiday.

The seaborne prices for both high and low-grade manganese ore in China ticked down in the week to January 31 in response to weakening sentiment amid the worsening coronavirus outbreak.

Cobalt prices held on to their recent gains on February 3, finding support because of the limited supplies of readily available material.

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Fastmarkets wishes to clarify that it accepts data submissions in outright price and as a differential to the Mineral Benchmark Price (HPM)-plus-premium for its Indonesian domestic trade nickel ore price assessments. Fastmarkets is also seeking market feedback on recent changes to the Indonesian government’s HPM specifications.