Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
December 30, 2015
I want to take a moment to welcome everyone back to your offices and back to the daily reality that is the steel business. I think everyone is happy that 2015 is behind us and that everyone is looking forward to a new year and new opportunities.
I will keep it brief this evening as not much has happened since we last spoke.
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
Best wishes to everyone for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
John Packard, Publisher
John Packard
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Final Thoughts
We’ve talked about tariffs ad nauseam for much of the year. And I’m afraid this topic isn’t going away anytime soon. There’s a feeling that the tariff “can” will just be kicked down the road again and again, and again.
Final Thoughts
Can technology help with pig iron and DRI/HBI tariffs?
Final Thoughts
Tariff-related noise aside, there is one basic factor keeping buyers on the sidelines. Despite recent declines, HR prices remain at historically high levels. And there is no obvious support to keep them there.
Final Thoughts
United Airlines raised eyebrows earlier this month when it provided two forecasts for 2025 – one assuming a relatively stable economy and another assuming a recession. The reason? Uncertainty around the impact of President Trump’s policy shocks on the broader economy. And it sometimes feels like we’re seeing a battle between those two narratives (stable vs recession) play out within in the pages of this newsletter.
Final Thoughts
Despite some scary headlines lately (especially about Trump potentially firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell) this is not October 2008 (financial crisis) or March 2020 (onset of the pandemic). But it sure seems like we’ve taken a relatively strong economy and poured a thick sauce of uncertainty over it.