Of particular note this week read those items below marked with “*”:
SUMMARY
Copper * China’s mfg growth picked up post -‘winter restrictions’.
Nickel * Inventories continue downward, ‘quicker than expected’.
Zinc * & Lead * “Price is a prime factor that differentiates Li-ion batteries from lead-acid batteries”. NCZ.
Tin Industrial metal priced dipped on reduced USA PMI & China’s Caixin manufacturing data.
Aluminium Al price bounced upon USA sanctions against Russian interests. .
Gold Price up on risks and fears of trade war. ETF holdings up notably in USA.. PGR & SLR.
Platinum & Palladium Platinum price greater than palladium’s again.
Oil * Oil production across OPEC is down. Output from USA is up.
Coal Indonesia to enforce domestic insurance requirement. June18Qtr LVPCI contract price set.
Iron Ore Trade tensions between USA & China find Australia in the middle.
Shipping Cape rates down significantly. Panamax rates down.
General
Port Hedland – iron ore shipments: Well up yr-on-yr, though February had a higher avg daily rate.
Pinch-point Updates – Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Al.
USA – PMI, & Construction Spending: PMI down but still high. Construction steady growth rate.
Baker Hughes Rig Counts – Worldwide & North American: Counts up in USA and international.