December survey results show UBC price expectations becoming more debated even as scrap availability, inventory behavior, and Midwest premium expectations point toward steadier underlying conditions.
The Midwest premium has risen beyond replacement economics, driven by thin liquidity, depleted US inventories, slow import response, and limited near-term substitutes - raising questions about sustainability and forward risk.
There are some tactical resolutions in this list that are essential for the companies involved to achieve their financial results for 2026. Some are aspirational and may take more than 2026 to happen.
Markets pushed higher last week, with both commodities and equities enjoying decent runs. But energy sat things out for a third consecutive week. In the US equity complex, investors waded back into mega-cap and AI names after Micron's blowout Q3 earnings sparked buying in the general chip space. For the week, the S&P 500 ended up 0.1%, the Dow finished down by 0.7%, but NASDAQ tacked on 0.5%.
An explainer on how aluminum options function as price insurance, outlining common strategies and practical use cases for producers and consumers.
As aluminum markets head into 2026, LME prices appear structurally supported while the Midwest premium looks increasingly risky and politically distorted, forcing buyers and sellers to hedge very differently.
Base metals ended mostly lower last week as many complexes were quite overbought and arguably due for a correction.
This piece examines how markets responded over the past 24 hours to the Federal Reserve's latest rate cut, tracking shifts in metals and money markets following Chair Powell's comments.
Industry respondents overwhelmingly expect UBC prices to remain stable in the current month, even as Class scrap and Midwest premium expectations point in different directions.
It was a generally more positive week for most markets as a better tone in US equities ushered in a measure of stability. The bitcoin/crypto sell-off eased somewhat as well. Some of the battered AI-related names also recovered. The likelihood of another December Fed rate cut this week also helped sentiment.