Metal Price Trends Positively Point Up in the April MMI

by Jeff Yoders on APRIL 14, 2016

With eight of our 10 monthly MMI sub-indexes gaining, and even the other two holding their value, April was the most positive month we’ve seen since 2014.

We felt a bit like Oprah reporting this month’s prices. You get an increase, copper! You get an increase, aluminum! EVERYONE gets a price increase! Except you, of course, rare earths and stainless, but at least you held your value, eh? That’s progress in your markets. Especially for you, stainless.

The standout performer (our “Biggest Winner”) was our Raw Steels MMI®, which posted an

impressive 8.5% increase, egged on — at least in the U.S. — by anti-dumping measures that

have in large part spurred demand for domestic rebar, cold-rolled and hot-rolled coil and even

specialty steel. Specifically, the Korean and U.S. shredded scrap prices tracked by this sub-

index bumped up significantly, with Chinese and U.S. finished prices also rising for the month.

Our Global Precious Metals MMI® also posted a healthy 1.2% increase on top of its 10%

jump in March for an 11% increase over the last two months. This is no thanks to gold, which

acted as a drag on the basket – instead, silver and the platinum group metals drove the

increase. Global precious is our biggest winner, leading all of the other sub-indexes at 78.

The Rare Earths MMI® is still lagging behind the rally at a lowly 16, making it our “Biggest Loser” this month, but just reporting a month with no price declines is a moral victory after the losses of 2015. Check out the entire report for a more in-depth at all 10 metal categories tracked in the monthly MMI.

Source: MetalMiner