Final Thoughts
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Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
October 6, 2014
On Tuesday (today) Steel Market Update (SMU) adjusted our Price Momentum Indicator from Neutral to Lower. I explain our reasoning in the first article above regarding our price indices. I will do a more detailed explanation as to why we are making a change at this point in time in the coming days.
Today Steel Market Update conducted the first day of our two day workshop on the steel making and rolling process. Part of the program was an exceptional tour of the Steel Dynamics Butler, Indiana mill. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will concentrate our instruction on qualities and how they are made, how steel is bought and sold (both long and flat products) and we will look at market fundamentals. If you have an interest in joining SMU for our next workshop it will be held in Charleston, South Carolina and we will tour the Nucor Berkeley steel mill. This workshop will be held in the later part of January 2015 (Exact date and hotel information to be announced soon).
We are still hearing that there is pressure on scrap prices – down $20 per gross ton in many markets. We will have more about scrap in Thursday evening’s issue of Steel Market Update.
I want to welcome our newest members (subscribers) as we have added a number of new Premium and Executive level members over the past few days. I want to not only welcome you but I want to let you know that we are hear to assist you if we can. You can ask questions, make comments about content or make suggestions as to what you would like to see in our newsletter, website or our workshops/conferences. We are here to help and we appreciate your comments as many times they lead to articles or ideas for speakers/workshops. You can send your questions/comments/suggestions to info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher
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John Packard
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Final Thoughts
Some of you have told me that the current market feels about as crazy as early 2021 when demand snapped back after the initial outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Others have said it might be more like late February/early March 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine – and, in the process, caused […]
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Final Thoughts
To say we’ve entered a “Brave New World” since Jan. 20 might be an exaggeration, but we’ve definitely entered a different one.
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Final Thoughts
I think it’s fair to say that the last few weeks – and last week especially – have been among the most intense for any of us covering steel (or aluminum).
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Final Thoughts
A look at how SMU survey respondents are reacting to President Trump's recent actions on tariffs.
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Final Thoughts
A lot of the changes basically entail rolling back what I’ll call, for fun, Section 232 Lite. S232 Lite resulted from watering down what I’ll call OG S232 – the one first imposed in March 2018 - with exemptions and exclusions over the years. Now, OG Section 232, is back with its across-the-board 25% tariffs against everyone.