The spot price of the US HRC futures contract saw the biggest upwards shift on MetalMiner’s daily steel price index, rising 0.8 percent to close at $645.00 per short ton on Jan. 4, 2013.

The US HRC futures contract 3-month price saw little movement last Friday, closing out around $655.00 per short ton.

Chinese steel prices closed flat for the day. The high price of iron ore 58% fines from India inched closer to $135 per dry metric ton. For the fifth consecutive day, the price of Chinese HRC held flat. For the fifth day in a row, the price of Chinese coking coal remained essentially flat as well.

On the LME, the cash price of steel billet saw little movement last Friday at $280.00 per metric ton. Also on the LME, the 3-month price of steel billet remained essentially flat at $290.00 per metric ton.