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page is archived news covering the period of April 2016
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Thursday, April 28
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.17/lb
. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Wednesday and now total
just over the 415,750 tonne level. We show nickel support level at $4.01/lb,
with the first line of resistance at $4.28/lb. The recent rally is showing
signs of running out of steam and we could see prices begin to falter further
if the market can not recapture some positive momentum. Much of the recent
increase in price has been based more on speculation than facts, and there
is concern that the signs of recovery the market was betting on, were incorrect.
This is our final update for the week, so we wish each of you a safe and
relaxing weekend and hope to see you back next week. Just a reminder, LME
markets are closed on Monday.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.99/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Bank of Japan Stuns Market by Holding Off on More Stimulus -
more
Regulator says faulty bolts at Indian Point most ever seen -
more
Stainless and chrome scrap prices reach higher ground - Global: Stainless
steel scrap traders are reporting higher levels of demand from the mills
over recent weeks and, as a consequence, prices have improved further to
US$ 1030-1080 per tonne for 304 grade material and to US$ 1330-1380 for the
316 quality. -
more
Temp closure
of plant will affect nickel production in PNG - Papua New Guinea mineral
resource company Highland Pacific says the temporary closure of the Ramu
Nickel processing plant in Madang will affect nickel production this year.
-
more
State mine
owner Terrafame gets temporary environmental permit to discharge waste water
- The Vaasa Administrative Court has amended an environmental permit that
allows the now state-owned Terrafame nickel mine in Sotkamo, eastern Finland
to discharge waste water into the Nuasjärvi lake in northeast Finland.
-
more
Brazil's
Vale back to profit on iron ore, currency - Brazilian miner Vale SA on Thursday
reported a first-quarter net profit of $1.78 billion, beating analyst forecasts
and returning to profit for the first time in three quarters, helped by higher
iron ore prices and a stronger Brazilian real. -
more
Pacific
News Minute: French PM visits New Caledonia to Prepare for Independence
Referendum - French Prime Minster Manuel Valls is on a three-day visit to
New Caledonia. The French South Pacific Territory is scheduled to hold a
referendum on independence in 2018, but what's on the ballot and exactly
who's eligible to vote remain to be decided...details from Neal Conan in
the Pacific News Minute. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Wednesday, April 27
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.16/lb. Indicators at
6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Tuesday and now total
just over the 416,350 tonne level. Slow news day but after last weeks retreat
from the $9500 tonne level, it is showing holding power for most of early
February gains.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.98/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Clive
Palmer is ‘Innocent,’ Says Clive Palmer - Billionaire politician
Clive Palmer is portrayed as someone innocent in an advertisement he launched
about himself. -
more
Valls
poised to tweak Noumea visit - French prime minister Manuel Valls may alter
his programme for this Friday's visit to Noumea by going to the grave of
the late anti-independence politician, Jacques Lafleur, reports from New
Caledonia say. -
more
Exploration
sector sees 19% fall in 2015 worldwide nonferrous metals exploration budgets
- The latest World Exploration Trends report from SNL Metals & Mining
reveals that the global exploration sector continues to struggle against
strong market headwinds. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Tuesday, April 26
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$4.13/lb
. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouse fell on Monday and now total just
over the 418,050 level. The conversation on many metals lips is what is happening
on China - or the question of what is happening in China. No other single
factor is more important in determining when trying to predict where the
price of nickel might go. Signals are mixed and at this point, there are
far more questions than answers.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.98/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
JFE Warns on Steel Price Uncertainty as Profit Beats Target -
more
European Stocks Rally After Earnings; Pound Jumps, Metals Slide -
more
China's
first-quarter metal imports say more about supply than demand: Andy Home
- What is going on in China? That question looms largest of all in determining
whether base metal prices have bottomed out. -
more
France
to lend $340 mln to New Caledonia nickel group - France is set to provide
300 million euros ($340 million) in loans to New Caledonia nickel producer
Societe Le Nickel (SLN) as it struggles with weak prices for the metal, a
French weekly newspaper reported. -
more
China's top
steel making province bans reopening of mills ordered closed - China's top
steel making province will ban the reopening of steel mills that had been
previously ordered to shut down, the official Xinhua News Agency reported
on Tuesday, as soaring steel prices lure back producers. -
more
PolyMet continues
investment - PolyMet Mining Corp. has continued to invest at a high level
into the copper/nickel/precious metals project near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt,
according to the company’s fiscal 2016 statement. -
more
Warnings
stack up for China’s red-hot steel market - Warnings are stacking up
fast after China’s eye-popping steel rally. Fitch Ratings Inc said prices
lifted in part by heightened speculation are destined to slump, while a bank
in Singapore flagged the risk of a boom-bust cycle reminiscent of China’s
equity market. -
more
Ukraine
announces substantial hike in scrap export tariffs - The Ukraine Parliament
has approved the bill proposing hike in scrap export tariffs. -
more
Courtesy AISI
- In the week ending April 23, 2016, domestic raw steel production was 1,684,000
net tons while the capability utilization rate was 72.0 percent. Production
was 1,649,000 net tons in the week ending April 23, 2015 while the capability
utilization then was 69.8 percent. The current week production represents
a 2.1 percent increase from the same period in the previous year. Production
for the week ending April 23, 2016 is down 0.5 percent from the previous
week ending April 16, 2016 when production was 1,693,000 net tons and the
rate of capability utilization was 72.4 percent.
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Monday, April 25
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.10/lb. Indicators
at 5:50 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
. Stockpiles of nickel
stored in LME approved warehouses fell on both Thursday and Friday and now
total just under the 419,000 tonne level. Nickel fell sharply on Thursday,
unable to beat the $9500/tonne level. It attempted another rally on Friday,
but this failed as well. Today a stronger Euro appears to be adding some
support and the traded price is mostly sideways at the moment.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.97/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Asia stocks, dollar slip as markets await Fed, BOJ meetings -
more
Nickel market
ends in small deficit during Jan-Feb ‘16 - The global nickel apparent
demand slightly exceeded production during the initial two-month period of
the year. The world nickel market recorded deficit of 4,400 tons during January
to February this year. -
more
Eramet group:
sales are down 14% in first-quarter 2016 compared with first-quarter 2015,
mainly due to the evolution of nickel prices. -
more
Kennecott's
Production of Mo Concentrates in Jan- Mar 2016 = 220,000 lbs in pure Mo
equivalent, down by 96% from year-earlier period = The quantity of molybdenum
concentrates produced at Bingham Canyon Mine by Kennecott Utah Copper in
the period from January to March in 2016 was 100 tons in pure Mo equivalent
(equal to 220,000 lbs), drastically down by 96.3% from 2,700 tons (= 5.95
million lbs) in the year-earlier period. -
more
New
Caledonia's SLN in line for huge French loan - French media reports say the
government will lend $US330 million to stave off the collapse of the loss-making
New Caledonian SLN nickel company. -
more
Mitsubishi
to unload nickel stake in asset reshuffle - Mitsubishi Corp. will sell its
only stake in an overseas nickel project and shift its resource business
toward copper, coal and natural gas. -
more
Credit Suisse
prediction on China's steel demand to bolster iron ore bulls - The Chinese
steel rally driving the price of iron ore is "only starting", with a "major
restocking event" about to deliver a very strong year for steel demand, Credit
Suisse has said. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Thursday, April 21
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.21/lb
. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around$.09/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Wednesday and now total
just over the 423,500 tonne level. Nickel's bullish trend remains in place,
with prices up nearly 7% during the last trading month. Nickel is nearing
the next line of resistance ($4.25/lb). This is our last weekly update so
we wish each of you a safe and relaxing weekend.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.93/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Commodities at Five-Month High Support Miners, Weigh on Bonds -
more
Easy
on the soap: mining firms pinch pennies as downturn bites - From trimming
menus in staff canteens to cutting back on soap and washing detergent at
worker camps, the global mining industry that once lavished perks on employees
is scrimping like never before as a brutal downturn engulfs minerals markets.
-
more
China's
'zombie' steel mills fire up furnaces, worsen global glut - The rest of the
world's steel producers may be pressuring Beijing to slash output and help
reduce a global glut that is causing losses and costing jobs, but the opposite
is happening in the steel towns of China. -
more
Market Trend
of Import of Ferroalloy as of 15 April 2016 = Prices of Chinese FeSi and
EMM as well as Indian SiMn get weakened = The market trend of import of
ferroalloy as of 15 April 2016 is as follows. -
more
Botswana's
BCL Mine plans $250m bond to pay for acquisitions - Botswana's largest copper
and nickel producer, BCL Mine Limited plans to raise $250 million through
a bond open to both local and foreign players to finance acquisitions, the
state owned company said on Wednesday. -
more
8 Countries
that Produce The Most Nickel in The World - The value of nickel, lies
in its inaccessibility, which is why the countries that produce the most
nickel in the world spend a significant amount of resources on its extraction
and production. -
more
Canada accounted
for 65% of US Nickel scrap exports in February - The latest statistics released
by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) indicates that the country’s
Nickel scrap exports totaled 2,549 tons during the month of February this
year. Canada accounted for over 65% of the Nickel scrap exports by the country
during the month. -
more
After halted shipment, nickel miner dashes for operating permit - Executives
of Falconbridge on Tuesday visited the Energy and Mines Ministry where they
said they’ll submit the needed documents to expedite the issuing of
the license and resume ferronickel extractions, after Americano Nickel Ltd
acquired a majority stake. -
more
Australia
sees $73 million cleanup bill for nickel plant near Barrier Reef - Australia
estimates it will cost A$93 million ($72.68 million) to begin the clean-up
of environmental damage at the bankrupt Yabulu nickel refinery in the country's
northeast near the Great Barrier Reef, local media said on Wednesday. -
more
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Wednesday, April 20
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.17/lb
. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.03/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel store in LME approved warehouses rose on Tuesday and now total
just over the 425,200 tonne level. The traded price of nickel is now trading
north of the 10, 50 and 100 day moving average, tus sending a bullsiih signal
to traders. China is sending mixed signals about any potential recovery,
but apparently traders are looking at an increase in metals prices there
as a signal things may finally be picking up.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.91/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Following Relief Rally, Allegheny Technologies' Valuation Premium To Comparable
Transactions Is Undeserved -
more
Global Stocks Rally Sputters as Crude Slides, China Shares Sink -
more
U.S. Export
Vlolume of Nickel Scrap in February 2016 = Up by 19% from prior month, which
is due to exports to Japan, Sweden and UK being up = According to the statistics
released by the U. S. Department of Commerce, the export result of nickel
scrap in February 2016 was 2,549 tons, up by 19.2% from 2,139 tons in the
prior month, and the average export unit price per ton was US$3,518.58, up
by 3.2% from the prior month. -
more
Townsville’s problem is pig nickel not Clive Palmer - I am not
defending Clive Palmer’s cash games with Queensland Nickel’s Townsville
plant but it is important that all Australians understand that the problems
of the Townsville plant go far beyond any actions of Palmer. -
more
Queensland
Nickel debts will probably not be paid, former director Clive Mensink tells
court - The structure of Queensland Nickel means Clive Palmer and his related
companies are not responsible for its debts, the company's former director
has told Brisbane's Supreme Court. -
more
Cost of rehabilitating tailings dams at Townsville nickel refinery could
cost almost $100m -
more
Proposed PolyMet
Mine Informational Session - The public is learning more about a proposed
copper nickel mine in the Iron Range -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Tuesday, April 19
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$4.13/lb. Indicators at
6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Monday and now total
just under the 424,100 tonne level. Nickel has traded above the $4/lb level
for a week as of today and the $9000/tonne level for a second day. Traders
are in a bullish mood and we see no reason for this bullish sentiment to
end today.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.90/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Steel producers to urge China to cut output -
more
Stocks Extend Global Rally on Oil, Company Earnings; Yen Drops -
more
It's All Suddenly Going Wrong in China's $3 Trillion Bond Market -
more
AK Steel Announces
Stainless Steel Price Increase - AK Steel said today that it will increase
base prices for all of its stainless steel products, effective with shipments
on May 1, 2016. -
more
Top Botswana
nickel producer starts massive worker lay-off – Botswana’s top
nickel producer Bamangwato Concession Limited (BCL) has started issuing workers
with retrenchment notices in an exercise that is aimed at cutting operational
and salary costs to save the company from collapse. -
more
Dominican Republic halts ‘illegal’ nickel ore shipment -
Santo Domingo - Energy and Mines minister Antonio Isa on Monday said miner
Falconbridge Dominicana (Falcondo) was prevented from "illegally taking out
" a load of the ore ferronickel via Haina port. -
more
The China
Nickel Conference - The trading place for Nickel producers & stainless
steel makers - 24 - 25 May 2016 - Grand Hyatt, Shanghai -
more
Clive
Palmer commissions another audit into Queensland Nickel refinery - Clive
Palmer says he will commission another audit after a damning report into
his beleaguered Townsville nickel refinery in north Queensland. -
more
Polymet supporters,
critics expected at permit info meeting - Groups for and against the proposed
PolyMet copper-nickel mine are expected at a public meeting on the project
Tuesday night in Aurora. -
more
Courtesy AISI
- In the week ending April 16, 2016, domestic raw steel production was 1,693,000
net tons while the capability utilization rate was 72.4 percent. Production
was 1,649,000 net tons in the week ending April 16, 2015 while the capability
utilization then was 69.8 percent. The current week production represents
a 2.7 percent increase from the same period in the previous year. Production
for the week ending April 16, 2016 is up 2.2 percent from the previous week
ending April 9, 2016 when production was 1,656,000 net tons and the rate
of capability utilization was 70.8 percent.
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Monday, April 18
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$4.04/lb. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.05/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell both Thursday and Friday
and now total just under the 423,700 tonne level. While the $4/lb has been
giving the market a psychological barrier, the $9000/tonne level has been
a line of resistance. The traded price has punched thru that level this morning,
and time will tell if it holds. Crude oil is trading lower this morning after
OPEC was unable to agree on a cut in production, but the price is not being
affected as much as we would have expected. Some analysts are predicting
$30 oil within days, and if that does actually happen, we could see nickel
prices buckle from the negative pressure that might bleed over.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.88/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Oil Plunges After Output Talks Fail Amid Saudi Demands Over Iran -
more
Queensland
Nickel: Ewen Jones brought to tears as Federal Government announces help
for former workers - A federal Queensland MP was brought to tears while
describing how the Government will pursue Clive Palmer for money owed to
former nickel refinery workers. -
more
Clive Palmer's nickel refinery to remain shut until end of year -
more
MRA stops
mine operation - The Mineral Resources Authority has ordered Ramu NiCo Management
Ltd to stop the operation of its high pressure acid leach in Basamuk, Madang,
according to the company. -
more
Lazy to blame
China for global steel woes -Xinhua commentary - Blaming China for woes in
the global steel industry is simply a lazy excuse for protectionism, and
such finger-pointing will be counter-productive, China's official Xinhua
news agency said in a commentary on Monday. -
more
How a boardroom
feud left Brazilian steel giant on the brink - On a warm September morning
in 2014, the 10-man board of Brazilian steelmaker Usiminas met on the ninth
floor of a blue glass tower in Sao Paulo. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Thursday, April 14
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$4.06/lb
. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Wednesday and now total
just under the 427,200 tonne level. Nickel has been trending higher since
the 8th, but yesterday's jump broke above the established channel. Today's
slight shift lower has put nickel back into that trend channel. The Euro
is getting hit pretty hard this morning, which also puts negative pressure
on commodities. If you are looking to fundamentals for a reason why nickel
is rallying, you can give up that search as futile. We suggest you look to
crude oil for the speculative reasons why base metals are up in April. OPEC
meets next week so we could see some further swings. This is our last daily
update for the week so we hope our readers have a a safe and relaxing weekend.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.85/l
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Singapore Surprise Policy Easing Spurs Asia-Wide Currency Rout -
more
Quarter of Nickel Miners Seen Battling to Survive in Price Rout - A quarter
of the world's nickel miners are caught in a game of chicken, churning out
the stainless steel ingredient at a loss in the hope that competitors will
shut first, according to research firm IHS. -
more
Greens
say WA taxpayers could be left liable for $60 million mine clean-up bill
- An abandoned nickel mine in the WA Goldfields with an outstanding $6 million
clean-up bill could expose wider issues with how Western Australia rehabilitates
abandoned mine sites. -
more
Abolishing
export duty on Chrome ore to hurt domestic industry - The decision of the
government to abolish 30% export duty on Chrome ore is a big setback for
domestic Ferro chrome producers and stainless steel companies. -
more
Queensland
Nickel should stay open: Palmer - It's in everyone's best interests to save
Queensland Nickel and not have the north Queensland refinery shut down, owner
Clive Palmer says. -
more
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Wednesday, April 13
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$4.03/lb. Indicators at
6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.04/lb
. Stockpiles of nickel
stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Tuesday and now total just over
the 428,700 tonne level. Nickel is trading over the $4/lb level once again,
and appears to be riding a wave that is affecting base metals in general.
Typically a second close above $4/lb would signal further gains, but nickel
hasn't been acting like it should for some time now - so traders will continue
to invest cautiously until this pattern proves itself.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.83/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Half of all microcredit lenders in Guangdong deemed insolvent -
more
Iron
Ore Powers Toward $60 as Rally in Steel Fires Up Demand - Iron ore has surged
toward $60 a metric ton, climbing to the highest level in a month, as purchases
from steel mills in China picked up amid improving profitability in the
world’s largest user. -
more
Ramu ops
suspended after fatality - Operations at the Ramu nickel plant, in Papua
New Guinea, have been suspended following a fatality.-
more
Clive
Palmer brands damning report into Queensland Nickel as a ‘beat up’
as workers left jobless wait for news on pay out - Clive Palmer has released
a document he claims proves he was not acting as a shadow director or doing
anything untoward at his embattled nickel refinery. -
more
Queensland Nickel was Clive Palmer’s secret ‘piggy bank’ -
more
Cheap Chinese
steel: If you can’t deal with it, call it dumping - Tata Steel’s
UK business is up for sale as it could not compete with cheap Chinese
competition. HT decodes dumping and how it’s not just about China. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Tuesday, April 12
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$3.87/lb. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.07/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Monday and now total
just under the 428,650 tonne level.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.81/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Stocks Showing Draghi Can't Count on Europe CEOs for Growth -
more
Clive
Palmer's Queensland Nickel should be liquidated, administrators tell creditors
- Clive Palmer's Townsville refinery could have survived the drop in nickel
prices if millions of dollars had not been shifted from it to the federal
MP's other businesses, administrators say. -
more
New
Caledonia urgently looking for nickel clients as QNI liquidation looms -
Creditors are being urged by administrators to liquidate Australian MP and
businessman Clive Palmer's cash-strapped Queensland Nickel company, a mainstay
of New Caledonia's economy. -
more
Russian
tycoon Abramovich offers to buy Norilsk shares worth $158 mln - A company
controlled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and partners has offered
$158 million to buy 0.79 percent of shares in Norilsk Nickel to increase
its stake in the mining giant to more than 6 percent, Norilsk said on Tuesday.
-
more
Courtesy AISI
- In the week ending April 9, 2016, domestic raw steel production was 1,656,000
net tons while the capability utilization rate was 70.8 percent. Production
was 1,649,000 net tons in the week ending April 9, 2015 while the capability
utilization then was 69.8 percent. The current week production represents
a 0.4 percent increase from the same period in the previous year. Production
for the week ending April 9, 2016 is up 0.4 percent from the previous week
ending April 2, 2016 when production was 1,650,000 net tons and the rate
of capability utilization was 70.6 percent.
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Monday, April 11
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$3.89/lb. Indicators at
6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.03/lb
higher. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on both Thursday and Friday
and start the week just under the 428,450 tonne level. Nickel finally made
a nice bounce on Friday and is holding those gains today. The $4/lb level
remains elusive.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.80/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
European Stocks Rise Led by Italian Banks; Emerging Markets Gain -
more
China steel
exports hurt market economy status, industry official says - A flood of Chinese
steel product exports is damaging to the country's market economy status,
the head of the steel association said in comments at a conference in Beijing
on Saturday. -
more
Forecast
on Demand for Special Steel During April to June 2016 - The Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry made clear its forecast on the demand for special steel
products during April to June in 2016 in its lecture made in the meeting
held on April 4 by Special Steel Association of Japan. -
more
Solutions sought to New Caledonia nickel crisis - Reports from France
say talks have been held between the government and the Eramet mining
conglomerate about moves to sustain New Caledonia's SLN nickel company. -
more
Chrome ore:
Firms seek export duty re-imposition - Ferro chrome producers such as Jindal
Stainless and Visa Steel have urged the government to re-impose 30% export
duty on chrome ore as India's insufficient reserves have been depleting fast.
-
more
Queensland
Nickel: Alan Jones leads public meeting for sacked Townsville refinery workers
- A public meeting for sacked workers of Clive Palmer's Queensland Nickel
(QNI) refinery has voted to immediately liquidate the operation. -
more
ASIC is investigating Clive Palmer over his involvement in Queensland Nickel
-
more
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Thursday, April 7
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Wednesday's trading session at
$3.87/lb. Indicators at
5:45 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Wednesday and now total
just under the 431,150 tonne level. The Dollar remains under pressure and
this appears to be the giving nickel some positive foundation. This is our
final update for the week, so we wish each of you a safe and relaxing weekend.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.79/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Global Nanocoatings Market Poised to Surge from USD 1.50 Billion in 2014
to USD 6.85 Billion by 2020 -
more
Yen Climbs With Gold as S&P 500 Futures Drop on Growth Concern -
more
Dollar sinks again after Fed remains cautious -
more
New
Caledonia allows two miners to export nickel ore to China - New Caledonia
will allow two companies to export nickel ore to China, ending a long-standing
ban as its economy wrestles with weak commodity prices and the potential
loss of a struggling Australian customer. -
more
Nickel
miner Marcventures eyes Philippines' third processing plant - Marcventures
Holdings Inc, one of the Philippines' biggest nickel miners, said on Thursday
it was considering building a processing plant and acquiring a mining company
to boost output and exports. -
more
Vale cuts
spending, management salaries - Brazil’s Vale , the world’s largest
iron ore and nickel producer, is once again reducing its expected capital
spending for the year to $5.5 billion from the previously forecast $6.2 billion.
-
more
Sumitomo
Metal Mining's FY2016 Plan for Nickel Production = Production of Fe-Ni decreases
to 14,200 tons, whereas production of electrolytic Ni increases to 65,100
tons = According to the summary of the plan for metal production Sumitomo
Metal Mining Co., Ltd. released on April 1, the Company's production volume
of ferro-nickel (in pure Ni equivalent) planned for the fiscal year 2016
(April 2016 - March 2017) is 14,200 tons (7,400 tons in the former half and
6,800 tons in the latter half). -
more
Hong
Kong's Lee Kee sees potential for possible spot HKEx metals market - Hundred
of thousands of small- and medium-sized factories in China may use a spot
commodity platform that Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing is considering building,
said the head of one of the biggest metals merchants in Hong Kong. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Wednesday, April 6
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Tuesday's trading session at
$3.85/lb. Indicators at
6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses rose on Tuesday and now total
just over teh 432,000 tonne level. Nickel continues to drift aimlessly -
unable to hold above $4/lb, yet a weakening US Dollar is helping it hold
off negative pressure.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.77/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Global Profits Recession Leaves Investors With Nowhere to Hide -
more
New
Caledonia okays nickel export to China - The New Caledonian government has
authorized the exportation of low grade nickel ore to China to offset the
loss of exports to Australia. -
more
Upturn
in alloy surcharges will not kick start Stainless Steel market - The London
Metal Exchange Nickel Cash price climbed by more than 17 percent between
February 15 and March 11, this year, peaking at more than $9000 per tonne,
before softening and stabilising at around US$8600 per tonne. -
more
Market Trend
of Import of Ferroalloy as of 31 March 2016 = Prices of Chinese Si metal,
EMM and Indian SiMn are rising = The market trend of import of ferroalloy
as of 31 March 2016 is as follows. -
more
Vale
Indonesia: Tough Times as Long as Nickel Prices Remain Low - Vale Indonesia,
Indonesia's largest nickel producer, is one of those mining companies that
has been plagued by low commodity prices. -
more
Mining costs
set to remain low despite firmer oil prices: SocGen - Base metals mining
costs are set to remain low over the next 12 months, despite expectations
of strengthening oil prices, Societe Generale said Tuesday. -
more
Queensland
Nickel: More ammonia detected in nearby waterways - More ammonia has been
detected in waterways near Clive Palmer’s North Queensland Nickel refinery.
-
more
In mining
slump, used equipment dealers stockpile in rebound bet - Dealers of used
mining equipment, from the United States to Chile and Australia, are making
a risky bet that an end to the industry's four-year slump may be in sight,
stocking up on a glut of crushers and conveyors. -
more
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Tuesday, April 5
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Monday's trading session at
$3.80/lb. Indicators at
6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.03/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses fell on Monday and now total
just over the 430,500 tonne level. Equity markets around the world are trading
or have traded in the red today and commodities are quietly following the
leader.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.78/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Yen Rises With Bunds as Economic Concerns Mount; Stocks Decline -
more
BCL loses
P33 per pound of nickel mined - The minister of Minerals, Energy and Water
Resources, Kitso Mokaila told parliament this week the current depressed
international nickel prices are below the cost of mining, leading BCL to
lose as much as $3 (P33) per every pound of nickel it mines. -
more
Japan’s
Sumitomo Metal to boost FY16 copper output by 6.1 pct - Sumitomo Metal Mining
Co Ltd , Japan’s No.2 copper smelter, plans to boost its copper output
in the financial year that started on Friday by 6.1 percent from a year earlier
when production was affected due to a maintenance activity. -
more
“Nickel
inventories are not really moving in the right direction. We’ve still
got about 505,000t in LME and Shanghai” - Citi analyst David Wilson’s
reading of a key reason the brief rally in nickel prices (up 0.6% earlier
this week to US$8,730/t) in the wake of recent lows looks like quickly running
out of steam, comes amid similar uncertainty about the direction of copper
and aluminium prices. -
more
Russia's
Norilsk to link dividends to net debt to earnings ratio - Russia's Norilsk
Nickel will approve a new dividend policy at a board meeting on April 11
linking payments to the ratio of its net debt to core annual earnings, the
company said on Monday. -
more
Courtesy AISI
- In the week ending April 2, 2016, domestic raw steel production was 1,650,000
net tons while the capability utilization rate was 70.6 percent. Production
was 1,615,000 net tons in the week ending April 2, 2015 while the capability
utilization then was 68.3 percent. The current week production represents
a 2.2 percent increase from the same period in the previous year. Production
for the week ending April 2, 2016 is down 1.5 percent from the previous week
ending March 26, 2016 when production was 1,675,000 net tons and the rate
of capability utilization was 71.6 percent.
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
Monday, April 4
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
Three month nickel closed Friday's trading session at
$3.77/lb. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.03/lb
lower. Stockpiles
of nickel stored in LME approved warehouses grew both Thursday and Friday
and now total just over the 431,850 tonne level. It's inability to punch
thru the $4/lb level after a concerted effort, has turned the overall sentiment
negative again, and crude oil's inability to hold onto the $40/barrel level
- is hurting commodities overall.
Average price of cash nickel so far this month - $3.80/lb
Average price of LME traded nickel in 2014 - $7.65/lb / 2013 - $6.80/lb /
avg 2012 - $7.95/lb /
(USGS) Metal Prices in the United States Through 2010 -
pdf
here
Asian shares firm after solid U.S. jobs data, dollar soft -
more
Nickel Prices:
Market Remains Depressed – Major Supply Cutbacks Loom - Nickel prices
continue to trade in a tight range, a pattern that has persisted through
the month of March. -
more
Dampened
expectations in stainless sector - Global: Although ferrous scrap prices
have improved significantly over recent weeks, the greater sense of positivity
has yet to filter through to the stainless sector. -
more
France
considering capital increase for Eramet - newsletter - The French government
is looking at a comprehensive solution to revive Eramet which could include
a capital increase of the ailing mining group, newsletter Lettre de l'Expansion
said on Monday. -
more
Supply
the differentiator for base metals in first quarter: Andy Home - After last
year's collective slump base metals showed signs of bottoming out over the
first three months of 2016. -
more
The loading, and subsequent discharge, of unsafe nickel ore – all time
to ‘count’ - In a recent, published, London arbitration award the
English tribunal has held that all time lost as a result of loading, and
then discharging, a confiscated (unsafe) cargo will be for the charterer’s
account. -
more
'Laudato si' comes alive in Philippine mining town - Residents of Santa
Cruz town in the northern Philippine province of Zambales say they are putting
into practice the teachings in Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato si" in their
struggle against nickel mining operations. -
more
Clive
Palmer aims to avoid Queensland Nickel's debts - Federal taxpayers will have
to pick up the tab for most of Queensland Nickel's $110 million in debts
if it is placed in liquidation later this month. -
more
Morning Nickel Price Statistics &
Figures
Today's almost official prices
here / Yesterday's actual
LME official prices
here
or
here
Shanghai Jinchuan nickel price - available
here
or
here(updated)
Please let us know if any of these links stop working, stop carrying
info, or become available to subscriber's only. We encourage our readers
to use the services of those companies who supply news and information free
of charge.Contact
us
"A Guide To LME
Trading"...pdf here(all ton listings are metric
tons = 2204.622 pounds ) Updated Monday thru Thursday before 8 am CST -
DisclaimerOriginal content and opinions copyright
www.estainlesssteel.com. All prices shown on this page
are indications only. Note - For real time and official LME prices, LME requires
a user subscribe to an authorized LME vendor.
Daily
Nickel/Stainless Steel Briefing
(8:00 AM CST is 1PM in London)
. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.02/lb
Reports
Commodity/Economic Comments
Stainless and chrome scrap prices reach higher ground - Global: Stainless
steel scrap traders are reporting higher levels of demand from the mills
over recent weeks and, as a consequence, prices have improved further to
US$ 1030-1080 per tonne for 304 grade material and to US$ 1330-1380 for the
316 quality. -
Temp closure
of plant will affect nickel production in PNG - Papua New Guinea mineral
resource company Highland Pacific says the temporary closure of the Ramu
Nickel processing plant in Madang will affect nickel production this year.
-
State mine
owner Terrafame gets temporary environmental permit to discharge waste water
- The Vaasa Administrative Court has amended an environmental permit that
allows the now state-owned Terrafame nickel mine in Sotkamo, eastern Finland
to discharge waste water into the Nuasjärvi lake in northeast Finland.
-
Brazil's
Vale back to profit on iron ore, currency - Brazilian miner Vale SA on Thursday
reported a first-quarter net profit of $1.78 billion, beating analyst forecasts
and returning to profit for the first time in three quarters, helped by higher
iron ore prices and a stronger Brazilian real. -
Pacific
News Minute: French PM visits New Caledonia to Prepare for Independence
Referendum - French Prime Minster Manuel Valls is on a three-day visit to
New Caledonia. The French South Pacific Territory is scheduled to hold a
referendum on independence in 2018, but what's on the ballot and exactly
who's eligible to vote remain to be decided...details from Neal Conan in
the Pacific News Minute. -
Morning Nickel
Price Statistics & Figures
Clive
Palmer is ‘Innocent,’ Says Clive Palmer - Billionaire politician
Clive Palmer is portrayed as someone innocent in an advertisement he launched
about himself. -
Exploration
sector sees 19% fall in 2015 worldwide nonferrous metals exploration budgets
- The latest World Exploration Trends report from SNL Metals & Mining
reveals that the global exploration sector continues to struggle against
strong market headwinds. -
China's
first-quarter metal imports say more about supply than demand: Andy Home
- What is going on in China? That question looms largest of all in determining
whether base metal prices have bottomed out. -
PolyMet continues
investment - PolyMet Mining Corp. has continued to invest at a high level
into the copper/nickel/precious metals project near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt,
according to the company’s fiscal 2016 statement. -
Ukraine
announces substantial hike in scrap export tariffs - The Ukraine Parliament
has approved the bill proposing hike in scrap export tariffs. -
. Indicators
at 5:50 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.01/lb
Nickel market
ends in small deficit during Jan-Feb ‘16 - The global nickel apparent
demand slightly exceeded production during the initial two-month period of
the year. The world nickel market recorded deficit of 4,400 tons during January
to February this year. -
Eramet group:
sales are down 14% in first-quarter 2016 compared with first-quarter 2015,
mainly due to the evolution of nickel prices. -
Mitsubishi
to unload nickel stake in asset reshuffle - Mitsubishi Corp. will sell its
only stake in an overseas nickel project and shift its resource business
toward copper, coal and natural gas. -
Credit Suisse
prediction on China's steel demand to bolster iron ore bulls - The Chinese
steel rally driving the price of iron ore is "only starting", with a "major
restocking event" about to deliver a very strong year for steel demand, Credit
Suisse has said. -
Botswana's
BCL Mine plans $250m bond to pay for acquisitions - Botswana's largest copper
and nickel producer, BCL Mine Limited plans to raise $250 million through
a bond open to both local and foreign players to finance acquisitions, the
state owned company said on Wednesday. -
Canada accounted
for 65% of US Nickel scrap exports in February - The latest statistics released
by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) indicates that the country’s
Nickel scrap exports totaled 2,549 tons during the month of February this
year. Canada accounted for over 65% of the Nickel scrap exports by the country
during the month. -
After halted shipment, nickel miner dashes for operating permit - Executives
of Falconbridge on Tuesday visited the Energy and Mines Ministry where they
said they’ll submit the needed documents to expedite the issuing of
the license and resume ferronickel extractions, after Americano Nickel Ltd
acquired a majority stake. -
. Indicators
at 6:00 am CST today show 3 month nickel trading around $.05/lb
Abolishing
export duty on Chrome ore to hurt domestic industry - The decision of the
government to abolish 30% export duty on Chrome ore is a big setback for
domestic Ferro chrome producers and stainless steel companies. -
Russian
tycoon Abramovich offers to buy Norilsk shares worth $158 mln - A company
controlled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and partners has offered
$158 million to buy 0.79 percent of shares in Norilsk Nickel to increase
its stake in the mining giant to more than 6 percent, Norilsk said on Tuesday.
-
Nickel
miner Marcventures eyes Philippines' third processing plant - Marcventures
Holdings Inc, one of the Philippines' biggest nickel miners, said on Thursday
it was considering building a processing plant and acquiring a mining company
to boost output and exports. -
Vale
Indonesia: Tough Times as Long as Nickel Prices Remain Low - Vale Indonesia,
Indonesia's largest nickel producer, is one of those mining companies that
has been plagued by low commodity prices. -
In mining
slump, used equipment dealers stockpile in rebound bet - Dealers of used
mining equipment, from the United States to Chile and Australia, are making
a risky bet that an end to the industry's four-year slump may be in sight,
stocking up on a glut of crushers and conveyors. -
