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    Analysis

    Ethan Bernard, SMU Team

    February 3, 2026

    Final Thoughts

    Written by Ethan Bernard

    The rapid-fire events since January 2025 have made it easy to get a case of tunnel vision. Still, despite the policy swings on the tariff front and uneven demand in the market, there are certain events you can set your clock on.

    Of course, the quarterly calendar is one of them. We’re always excited to kick off earnings season here at SMU. Red or black ink? We let the numbers do the talking. But another regular marker in the industry is union contracts. And those negotiations have proven hard to predict as well.

    Ethan Bernard

    Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

    Read more from Ethan Bernard

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