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Iron ore, steel costs mostly fall as need alleviates after China vacation

Rates of iron ore and steel items in China decreased on Thursday, pressured by weaker steel demand as stockpiling needs relieved after China's Labour Day holiday.

The most-traded September iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) closed 1.7% lower at 865.50 yuan ($ 119.79) per metric lot.

The benchmark June iron ore on the Singapore Exchange, however, edged up 0.1% at $114.85 a load, as of 0704 GMT.

Other steel-making active ingredients on the DCE fell, with coking coal down 2.4% at 1,769.50 yuan a lot and coke shedding 2.1% to 2,297 yuan a load.

Demand has been weak post the Labour day long holidays and we've had three consecutive days of physical volumes trading lower, a trader stated.

Steel mills have pressed back versus higher price offers from coking coal plants in the physical market, the trader stated.

Steel criteria on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE). were mostly down however stayed above their technical support. levels, the trader said, adding that whether they can stay above. those levels depends on how the physical need performs.

SHFE rebar moved 0.9% to 3,669 yuan a ton,. hot-rolled coil relieved 0.7% to 3,807 yuan, wire rod. reduced 0.7% to 3,884 yuan, while stainless steel. increased 0.2% to 14,185 yuan.

Embattled Chinese designer Country Garden said it. is unable to pay onshore vouchers due on Thursday, highlighting. the continued issues in China's property sector, a major. customer of steel.

Nevertheless, China's promises to decrease housing stock. supplied some support to ferrous rates.

In the most recent development, China's eastern metropolitan area of. Hangzhou, amongst the country's most successful cities, stated it will. lift all home purchase constraints, raising the possibility of. other cities doing the same.

China's April iron ore imports rose a little from last month. as lower prices in March motivated some purchasers to location orders. for more volumes wagering demand and prices will get later.

(source: Reuters)