Buying activity in the global steel billet market was muted last week as most of the potential customers were on religious holidays.

Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories affecting the steel market over the past week.

Prices in the global steel billet market remained largely unchanged over the past week, as some customers continued to accept high offer prices.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are broadly higher this morning, Thursday October 19. Nickel prices lead the gains with a 1.2% increase to $11,770 per tonne, while tin, aluminium and copper prices are up by between 0.1% and 0.4%, with three-month copper prices at $7,005. Lead and zinc are bucking the trend, with prices down by 1.1% and 0.5%, respectively.

Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories affecting the steel market over the past week.

The base metals on the London Metal Exchange are down across the board by a fairly uniform amount of between 0.1% and 0.3% this morning, Thursday June 1, with three-month copper prices off 0.3% at $5,677 per tonne.

Base metals prices are weaker this morning, Wednesday May 24, with prices down an average of 1.1% on the London Metal Exchange, as Moody’s Investors Services has cut China’s debt rating to A1 from Aa3 – the first cut since 1989.

A weaker tone has returned to the base metals on the London Metal Exchange this morning, Thursday May 18, with all the metals prices, except tin, lower.

Base metals prices are weaker again this morning, Monday May 8, with prices down an average of 0.9% on the London Metal Exchange.

US president-elect Donald Trump has vowed to kick-start funding of up to $1 trillion on infrastructure projects, and the steel and metals industry has been cheering. But analysts remain unconvinced.