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Baltic index snaps 14-session losing streak on firm capesize rates

The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk products, snapped a 14session losing streak on Wednesday, assisted by more powerful capesize vessel rates.

* The total index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, increased by 17 points, or 1.1%, to 1,587 points.

* The capesize index got 49 points, or 2.3%, to 2,202.

* Average daily earnings for capesize vessels, which normally transfers 150,000-ton cargoes such as iron ore and coal, increased by $412 to $18,266.

* On the capesize front, the week started on a slower note post-Easter, slowly acquiring momentum regardless of limited activity from miners in the Pacific, Intermodal Research Analyst Chara Georgousi said in a weekly note on Tuesday.

* Dalian iron ore futures rates rose for a third straight session, assisted by expectations that building and construction activity is picking up in leading consumer China, however gains were capped by financier caution over the scale of the demand healing.

* The panamax index edged down to 1,631 points.

* Average day-to-day profits for panamax vessels, which typically carries about 60,000-70,000 lots of coal or grain cargo, fell $19 to $14,680.

* Among smaller sized vessels, the supramax index edged up about 0.1% to 1,260 points.

(source: Reuters)