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FOCUS: LME nickel price soars to 2017 high on rising stainless, battery demand

The three-month nickel price on the London Metal Exchange hit its highest level so far this year on Monday August 21 at $11,270 per tonne, with the rise attributed to stronger demand from the stainless steel and battery sectors and environmental controls affecting supply in China.

August 21, 2017
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By Ellie Wang

Insights
GLOBAL CHROME WRAP: Prices rise in China on tightening supply, high producer offers

Chinese chrome ore and ferro-chrome markets rose last week on the back of strong stainless steel demand, lending support to Korean and Japanese alloy prices, while tightness in the US market continued to boost the in-warehouse Pittsburgh assessment.

August 21, 2017
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By Generic people page

Insights
GLOBAL SILICON WRAP: Supply disruptions continue to support Chinese price; European market stagnates in summer lull

China’s silicon price leapt up for another week due to supply disruptions at several key production hubs as a result of strict environmental inspections, while the European spot market was subdued due to weak consumption over the summer.

August 21, 2017
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By Generic people page

Insights
GLOBAL ANTIMONY WRAP: European prices push higher on tightening availability; Chinese market stabilises

Antimony prices in Europe continued to move up last week on tightening availability and improved sentiment as market participants have started to return from summer holidays.

August 21, 2017
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By Anna Xu

Insights
METALS MORNING VIEW 21/08: Base metals continue to enjoy bright sentiment after last week’s solid gains

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are off to a good start to the week this morning, Monday August 21, posting an average gain of 1.0% as we write. This reflects a slight pick-up in sentiment, perhaps stemming from easier Chinese financial conditions after the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) injected a net 50 billion yuan ($7.49 billion) into the country’s financial institutions earlier today.

August 21, 2017
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By Generic people page

Insights
GLOBAL BILLET WRAP: Prices rise further but show signs of reaching peak

Prices for steel billet rose again in most global locations this week, amid a new round of increases in the costs of raw materials, but market participants reported weak buying activity and fears that prices could be close to a peak.

August 21, 2017
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By Generic people page

Insights
WEEKLY SCRAP WRAP: Turkish demand continues to push up global scrap prices

Scrap prices in the global markets continued to increase during the working week from Monday August 14 to Friday August 18, on strong demand in the major markets and tight supply.

August 18, 2017
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By Generic people page

Insights
METALS MORNING VIEW 18/08: Base metals resilient in spite of return to risk-off mode

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are ticking higher this morning, Friday August 18, which could reflect some tactical short-covering ahead of the weekend in spite of a return to risk-off mode, evidenced in losses across Asian equities and the appreciation in funding currencies such as the yen. Zinc (+1.4%) is the strongest performer while copper (-0.1%) and tin (-0.1%) are the laggards of the complex.

August 18, 2017
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By Generic people page

Insights
METALS MORNING VIEW 17/08: The bulls are in charge

The base metals remain in a buoyant mood, as dollar weakness has supported follow-through buying after the minutes of the July US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting showed growing division among policy setters over the path of interest rates given the lack of inflationary pressures.

August 17, 2017
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By Generic people page

Insights
METALS MORNING VIEW 16/08: Further volatility expected as aluminium, zinc push to new highs

The base metals are in a stronger mood this morning, Wednesday August 16, as markets stabilise following the recent spate of risk aversion created by rising tensions between the USA and North Korea, while a slightly softer tone in the dollar has lent modest support to the precious metals.

August 16, 2017
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By Generic people page

Insights

Top stories across markets

MORNING VIEW: Base metals prices mixed, while broader markets buoyant

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mainly weaker this morning, Monday February 8, while those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly firmer, but this comes after a strong performance on the LME on Friday, when prices closed up by an average of 1.7%.

February 8, 2021

By: William Adams

US hot-rolled coil index steady at all-time high

Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States have remained at an all-time high while mills have benefited from a tight market, Fastmarkets has learned.

February 6, 2021

By: Mark Shenk

STEEL SCRAP WRAP: Downtrend in global markets continues

Turkey came back to the deep-sea export markets in the week ended Friday February 5, capitalizing on lower prices, while buying appetite in the Asian markets was subdued by the imminent Lunar New Year holiday.

February 5, 2021

By: Amy Hinton

SOUTH ASIA STEEL SCRAP: Market ‘sleeping’ in poor trading conditions

The price of shredded steel scrap imported into India and Pakistan moved down in the week to Friday February 5 as a result of poor trading conditions, sources have told Fastmarkets.

February 5, 2021

By: Carrie Bone

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