In the closing session of this year’s International Ferroalloys, which was held virtually November 9-11, Fleur Ritzema, global minors, ores and alloys editor at Fastmarkets, and Fastmarkets' analysts Amy Bennett and Robert Cartman summed up the key market drivers for the rest of 2020 and beyond.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Thursday October 8, while equity markets were mainly upbeat because US fiscal packages may still be forthcoming.

Markets were generally buoyant this morning, Thursday November 26, with more certainty on the horizon than of late, helped by US president-elect Joe Biden’s transition to the White House and with a rollout of the vaccines now insight, if things go according to plan.

Nearly two months after Chinese steel mills were verbally notified to halt imports of Australian coal, market participants and industry analysts tell Fastmarkets about the consequences of the ban and their predictions for its future.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly up at the close of the morning trading session on Thursday January 16, with market sentiment buoyed by the signing of a “phase one” trade agreement between China and the United States on Wednesday.