Latest News
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EU Aluminium Producers Push for 30% Scrap Export Levy
The European Union’s aluminium industry is calling on the European Commission (EC) to impose a duty of about 30% on scrap metal exports to prevent it from flooding out of Europe and leaving local producers short. According to the industry group European Aluminium, EU aluminum scrap exports will reach a record 1,26 million metric tonnes in 2024. This is around 50% more than it was five years ago. The majority of these scraps are headed to Asia. According to the EU industry, since then, the situation has worsened because of President Donald Trump’s import tariffs. These were set at a 50% rate for aluminum but only a 15% rate for scrap. This has led to a rise in scrap imports from the United States, and a decrease in exports. Asian buyers are now more focused on EU supplies. Paul Voss, director general of European Aluminium, said that European companies are unable to compete with Asian buyers who can pay more due to lower standards in terms of labour and environment and subsidies. He said: "It is perfectly understandable for scrap traders to prefer selling to the highest bidder. But it is the role of the public policy to correct this kind of market failure in order to protect Europe’s strategic interests." European Aluminium and Eurofer (which represents the steel industry) have met with the Commission in order to press for the export tax. The EU executive started monitoring exports in early July, and will decide if any action is needed by the end third quarter. Recycling aluminium is 95% more energy efficient than mining bauxite to produce metal. European Aluminium reported that European companies invested 800 million euros (821 million dollars) to increase the recycling furnace's capacity to 12 millions tons. Several countries outside the EU limit exports of metal scrap. According to GMK Center, 48 countries, including India, China and South Korea, restrict the export of ferrous scrap. Steel sector says that it is important to keep scrap within Europe, but it also has immediate concerns. These include a new system of curbing finished steel imports which the Commission will announce soon. However, scrap dealers in Europe oppose export restrictions. The recycling industry group EuRIC has said that scrap exports are a result of low demand at home and an insufficient capacity for mixed scrap, such as scrap from shredded cars. Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Editing by Joe Bavier.
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Iron ore to gain for the third week in a row on better China demand and supply problems
Iron ore futures were in a range on Friday and expected to rise for the third week running, helped by an improving demand from China, the top consumer, and concerns about supply over Guinean projects. However, higher ore and metal inventories limited gains. The day-traded contract for January iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange closed 0.06% lower, at 799.5 Yuan ($112.29 per metric ton). The contract showed a weekly increase of 1.6%. As of 0810 GMT the benchmark October iron ore traded on Singapore Exchange had risen 0.54%, to $106.05 per ton. However, this is only a 0.54 percent increase from last week. After the end of the military parade on September 3, steelmakers began to resume production, which boosted iron ore prices. The average daily hot metal production, which is a measure of ore consumption, increased 5% from week to week, reaching a record high of 2,41 million tons on September 11th, according to data provided by consultancy Mysteel. Prices rose earlier this week as fears about the supply of oil from the Simandou project in Guinea grew after local reports that Rio Tinto wanted to build refineries locally. This could limit the amount of ore that can be exported. The sharp decline in shipments by Brazil, a major supplier in the first weeks of September, also helped boost bullish sentiment. Prices fell from their highs of Thursday due to the rising stocks of steel during the peak season for demand in September. According to Mysteel, this, along with an increase of 0.2% in iron ore portside inventories from week-to-week, limited the weekly price increases. Coking coal and coke both saw increases of 0.88% and 0.43 %, respectively. The benchmarks for steel on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have gained ground. Hot-rolled coils rose by 0.66%. Wire rods increased by 0.06%. Stainless steels climbed by 0.43%.
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South Sudan opposition claims government is trying to enforce the "one tribe rule"
South Sudan's Opposition has accused the Government of trying to enforce a "authoritarian Control and One-Tribe Rule" after First Vice president Riek Machar, who was suspended for orchestrating militia attacks, was charged. Machar's SPLM -IO party has rejected the charges brought against him, along with 20 other individuals. These included murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. They were accused of participating in raids in the northeast by the White Army militia. Machar’s house arrest under the order of March has sparked international concerns about a possible resurgence of the devastating civil war that raged between his Nuer ethnic forces and Dinka fighters loyal his long-time rival, President Salva Kiir. Kiir served as a member of the unity government that was formed to end that war. However, their relationship remained strained. The charges were fabricated in order to undermine the (peace accord), marginalize Dr. Machar, and the SPLM-IO and establish total government control," Machar’s SPLM-IO said late Thursday night shortly after the Justice Ministry announced the charges. Analysts say that Kiir is trying to replace Machar, his closest ally, with Second Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel. He was sanctioned in the U.S. because of suspicions he had received preferential treatment when securing contracts. Joseph Szlavik told the Washington Post last month that South Sudanese officials had asked for the lifting of these sanctions in recent bilateral talks. Szlavik stated that these conversations also included the possibility of sending more deportees from the United States to South Sudan, following the arrival last July of eight men - including seven from a third country. Nairobi Newsroom, Hereward Holland and William Maclean (Reporting)
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Bali flood waters recede after 16 deaths and two missing
Officials said that two people are still missing in Bali, Indonesia, a resort island. At least 16 people have been killed by flooding this week. Torrential Rains On Tuesday and Wednesday, the rapid rise of floods caused by the rains blocked major roads in Denpasar as well as six out of Bali's eight districts. Some areas also experienced landslides. I Nyoman Maha Putra, an architect and planning expert from the Warmadewa University, Denpasar, stated that the rapid development of the island had not taken into consideration the need for adequate drainage infrastructure. He said, "City planning does not take into account disasters." "All infrastructure construction is designed to make Bali more attractive for tourists and investors." Local media reported that Bali's Governor, Wayan Koster said, "Conversion of land use is not the cause for this week’s flooding in Denpasar." The Bali government's regional planning and development body did not respond immediately to a comment request. Bali's primary source of income is tourism. Last year, more than 6.3 millions international tourists arrived on the island. This was higher than the number of arrivals in 2019, the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that brought ground tourism to an end. Bali was the destination of choice for over 40% of Indonesian tourists last year. I Nyoman, head of Bali's search-and-rescue body, stated that the search for two missing persons was still continuing on Friday.
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Australian critical mineral companies head to Washington
Four sources familiar with the matter said that more than 20 Australian companies, including Trafigura's Nyrstar unit, will be heading to the U.S. to explore possible areas of collaboration next week. The Australian Trade and Investment Commission will lead a delegation to Washington and New York for meetings with senior officials of the Trump administration. The trip was described as routine by sources, but the companies are expected to arrive soon after the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with President Donald Trump about the opportunities for the critical minerals companies of both countries in the last week. Albanese, the Australian ambassador to New York for the United Nations General Assembly later this month, has asked to meet with Trump. No meetings have yet been announced. Australia is trying to establish itself as a major supplier of Western allies, as they develop an alternative supply network to China. Meanwhile, the U.S. prepares to invest in its battery and defense industries. Reports last month indicated that the Trump Administration was considering reallocating at least $2 billion of the CHIPS Act funds, which support semiconductor research and chip plant construction, for critical minerals projects. Last month, Nyrstar won the support of the Australian government to evaluate whether it is possible to produce four essential minerals in two aging smelters. This includes antimony that is used for ammunition and whose exports from China are limited. Nyrstar will need additional funds to put this plan into motion. Some attendees were looking for funding opportunities. The meetings are described as an opportunity to understand the priorities of the Trump Administration, as well as meeting administration officials and building relationships. Other miners include Australia's leading lithium producer Pilbara Minerals, which supplies lithium primarily to China and South Korea. International Graphite, which has a graphite mining operation in Western Australia, is expanding its processing capabilities. Representatives from Pilbara Minerals International Graphite, and Cobalt Blue have confirmed that they will be attending next week. The delegation will be without Australia's Trade and Resources Minister Madeleine King. Requests for comments on the prospects of major announcements were not immediately responded to by the ministers' offices. Australia and the United States have a vital minerals partnership. Under legislation passed late in 2023, Australian deposits will qualify as domestic supplies for U.S. defense procurement. (Reporting and editing by Lincoln Feast; Melanie Burton).
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UBS increases gold price target to 3,800 oz by the end of 2025
UBS increased its gold price forecast on Friday by $300 per ounce to $3800 by the end 2025 and by $200 per ounce to $3900 by mid-2026. It cited anticipated Federal Reserve easing, U.S. Dollar weakness linked to rate reductions and geopolitical risk. The Swiss bank revised its estimate of gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) holdings. It now projects levels to surpass 3,900 metric tonnes by the end 2025. This is close to the previous record set in October of 2020 of 3,915 metric tons. We maintain an attractive view on gold, and remain long the metal as part of our global asset allocation. UBS stated that a percentage of gold in the mid-single digits is optimal. Bank of America highlighted geopolitical issues and differences in policy between the U.S. Administration and the Federal Reserve, as well as U.S. president Donald Trump's preference for lower interest rates. UBS anticipates that central bank gold purchases will remain strong at around 900 to 950 tons in this year. This is slightly less than last year's record-breaking purchases just over 1,000 tons. UBS said that the Fed could be forced to increase rates if inflation surprises lead to higher interest rates. The price of non-yielding gold, which is often viewed as a safe haven during times of economic and political uncertainty, and also known to perform well when interest rates are low, reached a new record of $3,673.95 Tuesday, and has gained over 39% in the past year. (Reporting and editing by Jacqueline Wong, Rashmi aich and Anmol Choubey from Bengaluru)
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Japan increases sanctions on Russia by reducing the price of Russian oil to $47.50
A government spokesperson announced that Japan had decided to reduce its price cap for Russian crude oil from $60 per barrel to $47.60 starting Friday to punish Moscow's continued war in Ukraine. This move follows the European Union's decision in July to lower its cap on Russian crude oil to $47.60, as part of their 18th package of sanctions against Moscow. Yoshimasa Haiashi, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, said at a regular press briefing that Japan would also impose further asset freezing and export control restrictions on entities in Russia as part of an international effort to bring peace to Ukraine. An official from the Industry Ministry said that the reduced oil price cap is not expected to affect Japan's crude acquisition. Tokyo and other G7 nations have agreed to reduce Russian oil imports as a response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan still buys Sakhalin Blend crude. This is a by-product of the liquefied gas produced at the Sakhalin-2 Project. It's vital for Japan's energy safety as it represents about 9% its LNG imports. The official from the Ministry said that transactions related to the Sakhalin Project are exempted from the price-cap rule. Japan imported 95,299 barrels of crude oil from Russia in the period between January and July. This represents just 0.1% of Japan's total imports. (Reporting and editing by Himani Sarkar, Tom Hogue and Kantaro Obayashi)
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French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. EURONEXT Euronext, the pan-European stock exchange operator, announced on Thursday that it would be added to France's CAC 40 blue-chip index. Euronext announced that Teleperformance, a French call centre and office services company, will be excluded from the CAC 40 index. The SBF 120 index, which measures the most traded stocks, will now include Abivax and Exail Technologies, instead of Esso and OVH. The changes will take effect on September 22. ROBERTET The French fragrance group announced half-year revenue of 446.3 millions euros on Thursday and confirmed its outlook for the year. VALLOUREC Pan-European market data: European Equities speed guide................... FTSE Eurotop 300 index.............................. DJ STOXX index................................................ Top 10 STOXX sectors................................... Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors......................Top 10 Eurotop 300 sector..................... Pan-European market data: European Equities speed guide................... FTSE Eurotop 300 index.............................. DJ STOXX index...................................... Top 10 STOXX sectors........................... Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors...................... Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors..................... Top 25 European pct gainers....................... Top 25 European pct losers........................ Main stock markets: Dow Jones............... Wall Street report ..... Nikkei 225............. Tokyo report............ FTSE 100............... London report........... Xetra DAX............. Frankfurt items......... CAC-40................. Paris items............ World Indices..................................... survey of world bourse outlook......... European Asset Allocation........................ News at a glance: Top News............. Equities.............. Main oil report........... Main currency report.....
Health Rounds - Microplastics can contribute to drug resistant bacteria
According to new research, microplastics can cause bacteria to become resistant.
Researchers from Boston University said that E. coli bacteria exposed in test tubes to microplastics became resistant to several types of antibiotics commonly used. The report was published on Tuesday in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
In a press release, Neila Gross, the study leader explained that these tiny bits of plastic provide a surface to which bacteria can attach and colonize. They create a biofilm, a sticky substance which acts as a shield to protect the bacteria and keep them firmly affixed.
Gross stated that "we found the biofilms on the microplastics are thicker and stronger than other surfaces, such as glass," which prevents antibiotics from penetrating through the shield.
Researchers found that even after removing the microplastics from the test tubes the bacteria still retained their ability to form biofilms.
In a press release, coauthor Muhammad Zaman stated that plastics do more than provide a surface on which bacteria can adhere. They also lead to the development and spread of resistant organisms.
Researchers said that the findings were especially alarming for those living in areas of high density and poverty, such as refugee camps, where plastic waste accumulates and bacterial infection spreads easily.
The researchers said that such environments should be checked for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, viruses and microplastics.
Less dietary butter leads to fewer deaths
According to data from an extensive study, adults who use plant-based oils in place of butter are less likely to die from cancer, heart diseases, or other causes.
Researchers tracked 221,000 health professionals over a period of 33 years. All participants were healthy when the study began. They found that those with the highest butter consumption had a higher mortality rate of 15% compared to those with the lowest intake.
Researchers reported that those who consumed the most total plant-based oil had a lower risk of death from any cause, during the study. This was presented at the American Heart Association's EPI/Lifestyle scientific sessions in New Orleans.
In an email, Dr. Yu Zhang of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, said via email. "Instead of reducing butter consumption even modestly and replacing it with oil-based plant products, can provide significant health benefits over the long term."
Each 10-gram reduction in butter consumption and each increase in plant-based oil was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of dying from cancer, heart disease or any other cause. These data were also published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study is not a randomised trial, and therefore cannot prove that deaths are due to diet choices. An accompanying editorial points out that, even for participants with poor diets, butter and plant-based oils are associated with lower mortality.
The editorial stated that "this suggests that substituting butter with plant-based oil may offer meaningful benefits to health even when dietary patterns are less than optimal."
WILDFIRE SMOKE CAN IMPAIR SKIN PROBLEMS
Doctors from San Francisco reported that short-term exposure to wildfire pollution was associated with an increase in acne clinic visits and prescriptions of acne medication by pediatric patients. This finding was presented at the American Academy of Dermatology's annual meeting held in Orlando.
After the Camp Fire of 2018, researchers tracked California residents to see if they had increased their doctor visits for acne vulgaris or acne rosacea. They found that the increase began five weeks after it started.
Three weeks after the fire began, the number of adult acne clinic visits increased, but this increase was not statistically significant.
The same team of researchers had found previously that short-term air pollution associated with wildfires was linked to an increase in clinic visits due to atopic skin dermatitis or psoriasis.
They concluded that the current study, which shows a similar effect on acne, supports their hypotheses that wildfire smoke is likely to affect most, if no all, inflammatory diseases of the skin. (Reporting and editing by Bill Berkrot; Additional reporting by Shawana Allyne Morris; Reporting by Nancy Lapid)
(source: Reuters)