Steel billet prices fell in China and other markets last week, and buyers are refraining from closing deals as they wait for a definitive direction.

The Brazilian long steel market continued to show only weak trading activity for both domestic and foreign sales during September.

The downtrend in global billet prices continued over the past week as buyers looked out for bargains amid poor demand for downstream long steel products.

Metal Bulletin proposes to re-align its Brazilian domestic steel prices to reflect market practices, making changes to the calculation of its monthly assessments.

Middle Eastern countries boosted their crude steel output in 2017, with producers calling for more trade protection measures to support self-sufficiency in the sector.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Tuesday June 12.

The London Metal Exchange will introduce three regional hot-rolled coil contracts at the start of 2019, coinciding with a change in attitude towards risk management tools for the ferrous sector, according to the exchange’s business development manager.

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday July 8 that are worth another look.

Prices for billet have started to stabilise in some regional markets around the world following a four-week rally fuelled by rising import scrap prices in Turkey and firm demand for long steel in China.

Some steel product prices in the United States have risen in response to the looming introduction of 25% tariffs on imports, while sentiment in steel markets outside the US has been dampened by fears of potential shifts in trade flows.