Latest News

Iron ore hemmed in tight range as financiers reassess China demand potential customers

Iron ore futures held in a. tight variety on Thursday as financiers reassessed nearterm demand. potential customers in leading consumer China amid expectations of steel mills. increase production despite lingering concerns about the. residential or commercial property sector.

The most-traded May iron ore agreement on China's Dalian. Commodity Exchange (DCE) closed daytime trade 0.17%. lower at 892 yuan ($ 124.00) a metric lot.

The benchmark March iron ore on the Singapore. Exchange was 0.46% higher at $116.55 a heap, since 0700 GMT.

Chinese developer Nation Garden said on Wednesday. a liquidation petition had been filed, clouding its debt revamp. prospects and undermining Beijing's effort to restore self-confidence. in the home sector, the largest steel customer.

A slower-than-usual downstream need recovery has actually moistened. Chinese steelmakers' interest in increase production after. the week-long Lunar New Year holiday break, stated analysts.

The country is entering its peak building and construction period, however. there is little indication of steelmakers increasing output, experts. at ANZ bank said in a note.

Daily usage of sintered ore among steelmakers surveyed. dropped by 0.8% on week to 1.06 million lots as of Feb. 29, information. from consultancy Mysteel showed.

A watchful position prevailed with the approaching of the. essential meeting ... ore demand has not yet materially. enhanced, analysts at Shengda Futures said in a note, referring. to China's yearly parliamentary meeting - the National People's. Congress.

Numerous market participants expect ore demand to increase in the. coming weeks when mills need to restock to sustain production. requirements.

Hot metal output is already at a low level. So it's more. likely to pick up later compared to the possibility of a further. decline, stated a Chinese expert, requesting anonymity as he is. not authorised to talk to media.

Other steelmaking ingredients on the DCE were likewise mixed,. with coking coal rising 1.16%, while coke was. little altered.

Steel benchmarks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were. divergent. Rebar shed 0.66%, hot-rolled coil. dipped 0.38%, while wire rod added 0.3% and stainless. steel was flat.

(source: Reuters)