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Iron ore heads for weekly gain on China's property stimulus efforts

Iron ore futures extended gains on Friday and were on track for a weekly gain, supported by resistant demand and a brighter need outlook in top customer China thanks to its newest property stimulus efforts.

The most-traded September iron ore contract on China's. Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) ended early morning trade. 1.32% greater at 884 yuan ($ 122.33) a metric ton. It has logged a. gain of 2% week-on-week.

The benchmark June iron ore on the Singapore. Exchange was 0.6% higher at $117.25 a heap, since 0427 GMT.

Near-term ore demand stayed durable with the average. daily hot metal output amongst steelmakers surveyed climbing by 1%. week-on-week to 2.37 million lots as of May 17, the highest. because November 2023, data from consultancy Mysteel showed.

Reinforcing sentiment is likewise news that China's real estate and. monetary regulators will hold a conference on Friday to discuss. policies to ensure housing delivery.

However, a batch of staying weak information in the residential or commercial property. sector, China's biggest steel customer, capped gains.

Home financial investment in China in the first 4 months of. 2024, fell 9.8% from a year earlier, after dropping 9.5% in the. first quarter.

Also, China's brand-new home prices dropped at the fastest monthly. rate in over nine years in April.

Other steelmaking active ingredients on the DCE advanced further,. with coking coal and coke up 2.23% and 2.5%,. respectively.

Steel benchmarks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were. greater. Rebar added 1.04%, hot-rolled coil. increased 0.79%, wire rod climbed 1.08% and stainless steel. gained 1.17%.

China's crude steel output in April fell 2.6% from the. previous month and dropped 7.2% from the previous year to 85.94. million tons, stats bureau data showed, missing. expectations.

Overall output from January to April declined by 3% to 343.67. million heaps.

(source: Reuters)