Home sales surged in May and major producer Australia cut its iron ore forecast further.

US Home Sales Hit 9-Year High

Contracts to buy existing homes in the US rose in May to their highest level in over nine years, boosting the housing market and the broader economic outlook.

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The National Association of Realtors said on Monday that its pending home sales index, based on contracts signed last month, increased 0.9% to 112.6, the highest level since April 2006. Contracts have now increased for five straight months.

Australia Cuts Iron Ore Price Forecast

Australia, on Tuesday, cut its price forecast for iron ore in 2015 by 10% to $54.40 a metric ton, citing a weak outlook for the commodity’s main market, China’s steel sector. The forecast by the Department of Industry and Science is a sharp decrease from the $60.40 per mt predicted three months ago and is way off the $94 a mt touted in January.

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