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Baltic index strikes near two-week low as vessel demand dips

The Baltic Exchange's primary sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, slipped to its least expensive level in nearly 2 weeks on Thursday, weighed down by weaker rates throughout all segments.

* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 72 points, or 3.81%, to 1,817.

* The capesize index slipped 141 points, or 5.22%,. to 2,558.

* Average day-to-day earnings for capesize vessels,. which usually transfer 150,000-ton freights of iron ore and. coal, among others, decreased $1,165 to $21,218.

* Iron ore futures rates rebounded on Thursday as news of. Chinese authorities thinking about government purchases of unsold. homes raised investor sentiment and demand outlook for the secret. steelmaking component.

* The panamax index was down 60 points, or about. 3.15%, at 1,845, its most affordable level given that April 30.

* Typical daily incomes for panamax vessels, which. generally bring about 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain freight,. fell $539 to $16,602.

* Among smaller vessels, the supramax index alleviated 28. points, or 1.93%, to 1,425.

* Meanwhile, U.S. navy's destroyer, the USS Mason,. intercepted an incoming Houthi anti-ship rocket over the Red Sea. on Monday, U.S. Central Command stated in a statement, after. Yemen's Houthis said on Wednesday they had targeted the warship.

(source: Reuters)