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Will February’s Increase Be the Start of an Upward Trend for the Copper Industry
From
electrical wires and plumbing pipes to roofing sheets and machinery, copper is a familiar metal to
the construction and manufacturing industries. The copper business, in general, has had its ups and
downs in recent years — and prices of copper have followed. After copper More >

Utilizing a trailing average Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) price, the SMU/Steel Reality price momentum
meter for flat rolled steel in the US remained below 0% this past week for the 13th straight week
of negative readings….

There is no sign of a bottoming in Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) futures prices, in fact the price decline
accelerated today as worries intensified about the European financial system….

Like gold and silver, some traders feel that the platinum market has extended this week’s recovery
but at a less aggressive pace. Like silver, platinum is probably finding support from large gains
in gold prices, but platinum is not expected to receive a full measure of…

Gold futures bucked the trend of the broader market and jumped $38 or 2.5% on Thursday, the largest
percentage increase since 25 October, 2011. S&P fell almost 2% while Stoxx and crude oil both
dropped 1.5%. Dollar index rose for 14 consecutive days….

The platinum market has traded higher during this morning, and has risen clear of yesterday’s lows
for the move. Many traders feel that stronger equities and positive US economic data could provide
the market will additional support….

Japan’s trading houses are targeting deals to secure platinum and palladium supplies to meet
expected shortages later this decade, when tighter rules on auto pollutants and higher car sales
boost demand for the metals used in autocatalysts.

Prices continued to slide this week on virtually all of the flat rolled steel products SMU indexes
on a regular basis. We have not seen any evidence of other North American mills following the AK
Steel lead and attempting to raise prices….

With sluggish world equity markets, a stronger Dollar and a very uncertain situation in the Euro
zone, platinum has continued to be under pressure this morning….

Gold futures continued its decline this week after falling 3.7% last week. As of Wednesday Asia
open, gold futures is trading around $1,543, falling about 2.6% this week….