Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
January 6, 2014
We have been advised by our developers that they think they have solved the mobile issues which were impacting our members ability to read the newsletter on their smart phones. I personally have an iPhone and was having problems reading the newsletter (image was being cut off). As of yesterday this was rectified – although I had to clear my cache first (settings, Safari, clear history). It is best viewed in landscape mode as the print is still a little small.
If you have a smart phone – please let me know if you are continuing to have problems – or if they have been solved. You can reach me at: John@SteelMarketUpdate.com. If you have an iPad or other tablet device and you are having issues please let me know.
Earlier today I got an email from one of our members who was looking for our graphic showing the SMU Price Momentum Indicator on our hot rolled pricing graph. It was perhaps sheer luck that I had produced that article last night for this evening’s edition.
We have heard that U.S. Steel has re-started their blast furnace at Fairfield and it will be coming up over the next few weeks. We believe the Fairfield furnace was the last one to come back online and once up and running all of the blast furnaces in North America will be running. For more information about the furnaces when you are logged into the website you can go to the resources tab and look under steel mills – furnace status – blast furnace and we have all the furnaces listed and their status. This is for members only and the public cannot see these tabs when they are on the website.
Arthur, I know you are out there and I do read the comments made on articles when they are read on the website. Arthur missed my photo in Final Thoughts – so, for one day only it is I in the photo contained in this article… in real life I have more hair and my eyes open wider. OK, I lied about my hair.
We have about 8 spots left in our Steel 101 workshop. Please contact our office if you would like to learn more or have any questions: 800-432-3475 or info@SteelMarketUpdate.com
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update. Please take a moment to tell your friends about us as we always can use more good customers just like you.
John Packard, Publisher
John Packard
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Final Thoughts
There are days when this feels like a “nothing ever happens” market. Don’t get me wrong. Plenty is happening in the world. It’s just that none of it seems to matter when it comes to sheet and plate prices.
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Usually, I write about steel in this column because, well, we’re Steel Market Update. But before I get to steel, I want to give a shoutout to my colleagues at Aluminum Market Update (AMU) – SMU’s new sister publication.
Final Thoughts
If I could change something, it’d be this: Political news would get more boring. And news about steel prices and steel demand would get a little more exciting.
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SMU’s latest survey results indicate that steel market participants think sheet prices are at or near a bottom. But most also think there is limited upside once they inflect higher.
Final Thoughts
A recent IIMA meeting in Brazil shows how the US and much of the rest of the world are operating in parallel realities.