SMU Data and Models

SMU MoMo Index Signals End to Higher Price Momentum
Written by Brett Linton
February 22, 2017
The Steel Market Update Steel Price Momentum Index (MoMo) for hot rolled steel in the United States turned negative this week, following a long 14 week positive streak. MoMo is a trailing indicator and shows the relationship between the current U.S. hot rolled coil price movements against the previous 12-week average price as a percentage. A positive MoMo index indicates hot rolled steel prices are moving in an upward direction compared to the previous 12 week period, while a negative index number indicates a downward direction in prices.
MoMo should not be confused with the SMU Price Momentum Indicator which is a forward looking indicator. The SMU Price Momentum Indicator is currently at Higher indicating that steel prices are expected to rise over the next 30 days.
MoMo was measured at -0.62 percent this week, meaning that the current HRC price is now lower than the average price over the last 12 weeks. This is the lowest reading since November 8, 2016 when MoMo was -3.81 percent.
The change in MoMo can be a useful indicator in depicting the severity of price movements and evaluating the directional trend for flat rolled steel prices. The week-over-week change in MoMo was -1.58 percent, following a change of -0.91 percent last week. This indicates that there continues to be a downward movement in hot rolled price momentum and that movement is gaining speed compared to one week ago.
To get a wider sense of the change in the MoMo Index and eliminate weekly fluctuations, we take an average of the MoMo changes over the past three weeks, a three week moving average (3WMA). The 3WMA change in the MoMo Index is -1.73 percent, following a change of -2.40 percent the week. This also shows that there is a downward movement in hot rolled price momentum, and that movement is at a slightly lesser downhill pace than the previous week.
The graph below demonstrates the relationship between the SMU hot rolled coil price, the SMU Price MoMo Index, and the three week moving average change in the MoMo Index. Click here to view and interact with it on our website. As published in our Tuesday evening newsletter, the latest SMU HRC price range is $580-$630 per ton with an average price of $605, down $5 over the previous week.

Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in SMU Data and Models

SMU’s July at a glance
SMU’s Monthly Review provides a summary of our key steel market metrics for the previous month, with the latest data updated through July 31.

SMU Survey: Mills maintain short lead times on sheet
Mill production times for sheet products are holding just above multi-year lows, while plate lead times remain elevated.

SMU Survey: Most buyers say mills are willing to talk price
Most steel buyers continue to report that mills are open to negotiating spot prices. Negotiation rates have remained high for most of the past three months.

SMU Scrap Survey: Sentiment indices slip in August
Current and future scrap sentiment indices declined this month, according to SMU’s latest ferrous scrap survey data.

SMU scrap market survey results now available
SMU’s August ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.