U.S. Mulls Sanctions on Chinese Officials, Firms Over Hong Kong

The U.S. is considering a range of sanctions to punish China for its crackdown on Hong Kong, people familiar with the matter said, as the Trump administration weighs whether to declare the former colony has lost its autonomy from Beijing. The Treasury Department could impose controls on transactions and freeze assets of Chinese officials and …

Iron ore futures fall as higher shipments ease supply fears

Iron ore futures were softer on Tuesday as data showing higher shipments from Australia and Brazil eased off supply concerns.   According to data by Mysteel, shipments from Australia and Brazil were up by 4.08 million tonnes from a week earlier to 26.03 million tonnes. Furthermore, port overhauls in Australia and Brazil was completed on …

Capesize bull run takes a breather

Capesize market slowed after the recent rally in shipping rates, as trade sources seek for clearer market direction ahead. As such, the Capesize 5 time charter average slid slightly by $56 to $4,140 on Friday, as the market approached the long weekend. There was a prompt selloff of June contracts earlier in trading session, before …

High volatility expected, but iron ore risks reversal

Ferrous Sector Money-flow: DCE iron ore started to soften after open interest reached a yearly-high, indicating previous longs are taking gains. Coke became the leader of ferrous sector during previous week and early this week. DCE September iron ore total contract value was 65 billion Yuan, the peak in 2019 was 75 billion yuan. However, …

Capesize rates drive higher by iron ore prices

Capesize market moved up to higher on higher iron ore prices and robust shipping demand. Due to the stronger physical market, the Capesize 5 time charter average rose by $245 to $4,196 on Thursday. The strong freight market had reflected a surge in iron ore prices which had hovered above the $90/mt for almost two …

China Abandons Hard Growth Target, Shifts Stimulus Focus to Jobs

The Chinese government abandoned its decades-long practice of setting an annual target for economic growth amid the storm of uncertainty unleashed by the coronavirus pandemic, and said it would continue to increase stimulus. Speaking at the National People’s Congress in Beijing on Friday morning, Premier Li Keqiang delivered an annual policy address that instead laid …

Iron ore blips back on supply fears, stimulus hopes

Iron ore futures recovered from yesterday’s blip to trade above $95 as investors become increasingly concerned over the coronavirus crisis in Brazil. Brazil’s iron ore shipments had their slowest start to a year in the last five years. Brazilian miner Vale downgraded its production guidance early in the year, Morgan Financials Ltd noted that more …