Steel Products
SMU MoMo Negative for Sixth Week
Written by John Packard
February 22, 2013
Utilizing a trailing average hot rolled coil (HRC) price, the SMU Price MoMo Index for flat rolled steel in the U.S. remained below zero percent this week for the sixth week after eight consecutive weeks of positive momentum readings.
MoMo is based upon the current hot rolled coil price weighed against the previous 12 week average spot price as recorded by Steel Market Update. MoMo, as we like to call it so as to not confuse it with our SMU Price Momentum Indicator, was measured at -2.01 percent this week. MoMo increased 0.39 percent over last week’s measurement of -2.40 percent. The graph below demonstrates the relationship between hot rolled coil and the momentum in pricing.
The SMU MoMo meter – now negative– serves as a lagging indicator demonstrating the historical price momentum trend.

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products

UAW Has Upper Hand vs. Automakers: Schenker
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has more leverage than the Detroit Three automakers in the current strike that started Sept. 15, according to Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics.

US Rig Count Drops, Canada Unchanged
The number of active oil and gas drilling rigs in the US dropped this week, while Canada’s count remains unchanged, according to the most recent data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes.

CRU: Demand-side Factors to Create Drag on Global Sheet Markets
Demand will be the determining factor in what happens to steel sheet prices globally for the remainder of the year, and most risks right now are to the downside. An autoworkers strike has started in the USA and could increase price volatility in the domestic sheet market. The longer and more severe this strike is, […]

Driving the Debate: Auto Worker’s Wage Demands in an Era of EV Transition
The LME aluminum 3-month price was up 0.8% on the morning of Friday Sept. 22. It was last seen trading at $2,238/metric tons, remaining above the $2,200/t mark for most of the past week.

Zekelman Industries Expanding ZI-Strut Line
Zekelman Industries has announced an expansion of its its ZI-Strut™ metal framing and accessories product line.