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Iron ore reaches 3-month high on prospects of improved property need

Iron ore futures rose to their greatest levels in 3 months on Monday, as traders welcomed China's latest support procedures for its crisishit property sector that accounts for a large volume of iron ore.

The most-traded September iron ore on China's Dalian Product Exchange (DCE) traded 1.6% higher at 899 yuan ($ 124.33) per metric heap at the midday break.

Previously in the session, the agreement rose as much as 2.4% to 906 yuan, the greatest because Feb. 20.

China announced historic steps on Friday to stabilise its property sector, with the reserve bank helping with 1 trillion yuan in additional funding and relieving mortgage guidelines, and local governments set to buy some apartment or condos.

Iron ore and steel are greatly used in the building sector and China is the world's greatest customer of the commodities.

The benchmark June iron ore on the Singapore Exchange was 1.8% higher at $119.45 a heap, as of 0326 GMT.

Gains in other metals such as copper and gold, both climbed to record highs on Monday, likewise enhanced trading sentiment in the ferrous complex, said a trader.

Ferrous opened strong today due to pulling effect from other metals, and likewise very positive real estate assistance revealed last Thursday and Friday, the trader said.

However, with Chinese steel mills margin remaining in unfavorable area, prices of basic materials are most likely to fall if mills begin pushing back against their providers, stated the trader.

Unrefined steel output in China in the very first four months of 2024 fell 3% year-on-year, and an expert expected this year's yearly output will not go beyond 2023's level.

The most recent batch of China information for the residential or commercial property sector showed demand stayed weak.

Property investment fell 9.8% year-on-year in the very first four months, and brand-new home prices in April dropped at the fastest month-to-month rate in more than 9 years.

Other steel-making ingredients on the DCE rose on Monday, with coking coal up 1.3% at 1,748 yuan a load, and coke rising 1.3% to 2,285 yuan.

Steel standards on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE). were trading in green.

SHFE rebar strengthened 0.9% to 3,742 yuan a heap,. hot-rolled coil grew 0.6% to 3,869 yuan, wire rod. increased 1.8% to 4,005 yuan, and stainless-steel. gained 1.2% to 14,420 yuan.

(source: Reuters)