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Iron ore retreats from 3-week high as investors await indications of need healing

Costs of iron ore futures drew back on Wednesday from nearly threeweek highs, as investors turned cautious ahead of data this week that could better assess whether steel need in leading consumer China has revealed signs of healing.

The most-traded January iron ore contract on China's Dalian Product Exchange (DCE) recouped early losses to end daytime trade flat at 754.5 yuan ($ 105.81) a metric heap, following an increase of more than 3% in the previous session.

The benchmark September iron ore on the Singapore Exchange was down 0.64% at $100.95 a ton, as of 0716 GMT, after striking an intraday high of $102.5 a heap earlier in the session.

Both benchmarks touched nearly three-week highs on Tuesday, when they had actually increased for two straight sessions.

The evaluation of the ferrous market has actually recovered a bit thanks to the relentless price rally and futures prices of steel products and iron ore are somewhat higher than their equivalents in the spot market, said Cheng Peng, a. Beijing-based analyst at Sinosteel Futures.

A further uptrend will require more stimulus policies or a. clear sign of downstream need recovery.

It's primarily the strong expectations of improving demand. after mills resume production for the approaching peak intake. season that had actually driven this wave of price rebound, experts at. Guotai Junan Futures said in a note.

Steel standards on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were. combined. Rebar ticked up about 0.2%, wire rod. acquired nearly 0.9%, while hot-rolled coil edged almost. 0.2% lower, and stainless steel dipped 0.14%.

Other steelmaking active ingredients on the DCE gained further. ground, with coking coal and coke up 0.8% and. 0.69%, respectively.

(source: Reuters)