Nickel prices continued to the upside during the first half of March, taking a momentary pause from their long-term downtrend. However, prices found a peak by March 13, reaching their highest level since October 2023. Following that, the rally collapsed, and prices returned to the downside. Overall, nickel prices fell 5.56% month over month. The […]
Category: Metal Pricing
Rare Earths MMI: Have Rare Earth Prices Finally Found a Bottom?
Month over month, rare earth metals witnessed new price lows not seen since September 2020. While neodymium oxide and praseodymium oxide witnessed the sharpest drop out of all of the components of the Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index), the index fell by 5.08% overall. But with price points nearing pre-pandemic lows, the index may […]
Automotive MMI: How Will the Port of Baltimore Shutdown Impact Automotive Imports?
Month-over-month, the Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) exhibited little movement. The index trended sideways, only moving up a slight 0.28%. However, recent events continue to raise questions about the future of the industry, especially where automotive imports are concerned. Despite the index itself not witnessing much movement, individual components of the index saw much more […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Rise As China Output Slows
Aluminum prices remain entrenched within a sideways trend. Following a 2.78% month-over-month decline in February, prices retraced throughout the first three weeks of March to where they currently stand: 2.17% above their February close. Overall, the Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, with a 2.36% decline from February to March. AI vastly improves your […]
Renewables MMI: Is U.S. Renewable Energy Facing Backlash?
After several months of slight upward momentum, the Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) broke the sideways-to-upward trend, declining by 8.89%. Neodymium dropping in price proved to be the main culprit for the index dropping. Every other component of the index either moved sideways or slightly down. Meanwhile, renewable energy news sources continue to keep their […]
Stainless MMI: Stainless Market Sees Pick-Up as Nickel Prices Stagnate
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 […]
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, […]