HOW TO PREDICT THE UNPREDICTABLE

摘要

Roller coasters used to be considered a good time. Being violently jostled about in rickety little carts once produced shrieks of pure excitement. But for many, the thrill is gone. The carbon flat-rolled market experiences similar ups and downs. Prices will steadily make their way to the top and then, just like a roller coaster, suddenly they're heading back down. Some say, though, that for the time being, the ride is over. "My forecast is that things will be very stable," says Steve Gottlieb, executive vice president of Ratner Steel Supply, Roseville, Minn. "I don't see the market going up any further this year, and if it goes down, it will go down minimally." He attributes his prediction to a healthy amount of demand, non-competitive foreign prices and industry consolidation.