Nickel prices inverted to the upside in February, with an 8.71% month-over-month rise. Following a 3.53% increase during the first weeks of March, prices appeared to stagnate after they found at least a short-term peak on March 13. Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) remained sideways, with a modest 1.95% rise from February to […]
Category: Metal Prices
European Steel Prices Decline as Economic Woes Mount
Market sources report that hot rolled coil steel prices in northern and southern Europe continued to decline in recent weeks due to slowing economies in Europe as well as overcapacity. “I’m a little scared about Germany,” one trader told MetalMiner, referring to that country’s current economic situation. Germany’s economy is the largest in the European […]
Copper MMI: Copper Prices Rise to Highest Level Since April Amid Supply Concern
By mid-March, copper prices hit their highest level since April 2023. Prices previously found a bottom in early February before strong upside momentum saw them topple previous peaks within their long-term sideways trend. While prices clocked a moderate1.74% month-over-month decline throughout February, they rose 4.12% during the first two weeks of March. Overall, the Copper […]
Global Precious Metals MMI: Gold Sees a Strong Rally
Once again, the Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) failed to exhibit strong bearish or bullish pressure. The index remained sideways throughout February, budging down a mere 0.65%. Despite this, some bullish pressure did seep into precious metal prices at the beginning of March, when numerous precious metals began to rally. Gold prices, in […]
Raw Steels MMI: Mills Lob Price Hikes at Bearish Steel Prices
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways amid bearish steel prices, with a modest 1.75% increase from February to March. U.S. flat rolled steel prices stayed bearish over the past few weeks. Meanwhile, HRC prices remained 22% beneath their peak at the close of 2023 as they search for a new bottom. However, […]
Construction MMI: Potential Manufacturing Boom Could Impact Steel Prices
Month-over-month, the index experienced little movement. Overall, the Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways, inching down just 1.2%. Steel prices moving downward placed some bearish pressure on the index. However, several significant factors continue to press on construction from both a bearish and bullish standpoint, including the Fed holding off on adjusting interest rates, […]
Automotive MMI: Automotive Market Improves, but Bears Show Up for Steel Prices
Month-over-month, the Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) dropped by 3.03%. While the automotive market continued to improve overall, bearish pressure on certain steel prices like hot-dipped galvanized steel, ultimately forced the index down. Experts anticipate this bearish pressure to continue impacting both steel prices and automotive manufacturing in the short term. Despite this, the automotive […]
Rare Earths MMI: Is China Moving Down the Rare Earths Totem Poll?
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) experienced a pretty significant drop month-on-month, falling 24.73%. Save for cerium oxide, all components of the index either fell or moved sideways. Weaker than anticipated downstream demand ended up hitting certain metals related to rare earth magnets particularly hard, causing a plummet in the index. Another significant factor […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Sideways After U.S. Smelter Closure
Following a 4.7% month-over-month decline during January, aluminum prices fell an additional 1.9% throughout the first half of February. Despite these declines, aluminum prices continued to trade in their long-term sideways range. Meanwhile, the Midwest Premium also remains consolidated, with prices retracing to the downside following a short-lived bounce at the end of January. Overall, […]
Global Precious Metals MMI: Precious Metal Prices Edge Further Down Month-on-Month
After almost a year of sideways movement, the Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) broke its trend, declining by 4.71%. Despite the break in sideways movement for precious metal prices as a whole, most individual commodities still lack strong bullish or bearish movement as they move through Q1. Most gold and other precious metals […]
