European Highlights

摘要

After finally seeing base prices move up last month, for the first time since March, European stainless steel producers were hoping to sustain these increases and in some cases extend them further. A number of factors have seen them slide back somewhat this month, however. With European prices still high relative to those elsewhere, producers have found it difficult to push through further increases. Secondly, buying from large stockholders has begun to slow again, with a number of consumers along the supply chain wishing to limit inventory levels for year-end purposes. Price stability, particularly with regard to nickel prices, is also thought to be limiting speculative buying.