September 2008

World Steel Output Rises

by Lisa Reisman on September 30, 2008

Style:    Category: Ferrous Metals

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The International Iron and Steel Institute, a global industry association that represents 66 countries and 180 steel producers, recently released steel output figures from August. Since IISI members produce about 85 percent of the world’s steel, these output figures gauge world production. Amounting to 112.2 million tons, these figures reveal a 2.9 percent rise from last August, [...]

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Sinosteel Stake Lifts Murchison Metals

by Lisa Reisman on September 30, 2008

Style:    Category: Inventory Stock Levels, Macroeconomics

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Australian mining group Murchison Metals found their shares lift 16.6 percent last week when China’s Sinosteel bought a 49.9 percent stake in their iron-ore business. Sinosteel requested this controlling stake one week before Wayne Swan, the Australian federal treasurer, approved the application. Originally, Sinosteel requested 100 percent ownership, but the group withdrew that request for [...]

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Angioplasty for the Bail-out!

by Lisa Reisman on September 30, 2008

Style:    Category: Macroeconomics

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What a difference a day makes! We have been discussing what a potential bail-out plan will do to the price of copper. But what we didn’t anticipate was that Congress would not pass the bail-out package hammered out over the weekend. And though we’re likely looking at a short term crash of many key commodities, [...]

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Taking Advantage of the Financial Crisis: A New Take on Payment Terms?

by Lisa Reisman on September 29, 2008

Style:    Category: Sourcing Strategies

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I saw a headline in Crain’s Chicago that really grabbed my attention,“Financial Crisis Hits Sears While It’s Down”.  Specifically, the story mentioned that Bank of America reduced one of Sears’ credit lines from $1b to $5m. No folks that is not a typo. That’s what the article said. Without a loan bailout package, I have [...]

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Iron-Ore Prices Hold Out

by Stuart Burns on September 29, 2008

Style:    Category: Sourcing Strategies, Supply & Demand

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SBB reported in a recent newsletter that car output in Spain fell by 49.9% year-over-year in August, although it was bizarrely only expected to drop 5.5% for 2008 as a whole. That either suggests production has been very much higher year over year during the first six months of this year to make up the difference [...]

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R.I.P. Steel Can

by Stuart Burns on September 29, 2008

Style:    Category: Green

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Have you ever found yourself standing in the supermarket totally perplexed at trying to make a choice between the tuna – in a can or in a pouche? No? Nor me. Truthfully, I grab the nearest pack and scoot but may be we should take a moment to think about it. It’s not just what tastes [...]

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TARP, the Dollar and Metal Prices

by Stuart Burns on September 26, 2008

Style:    Category: Macroeconomics, Supply & Demand

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The dollar and commodity metal prices have gone through a rollercoaster ride these last few months. That ride started from a dollar low against the Euro of nearly 1.60 in early July, to a high of 1.40 in mid September and back to 1.47 now. The metals markets have been so totally focused on the [...]

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Investigation! Possible Silver Market Manipulation

by Lisa Reisman on September 26, 2008

Style:    Category: Inventory Stock Levels, Precious Metals

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Although the agency remains skeptical about manipulations in the silver market, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission took the stage earlier this week and announced plans to investigate the market. As silver prices fell throughout the summer, investors insisted that foul play was behind the price drop. These complaints from investors and stalwarts, convinced that “the truth” is [...]

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