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China steel, iron ore fall for 2nd day as rally loses steam

Published 15/12/2016, 02:08 pm
© Reuters.  China steel, iron ore fall for 2nd day as rally loses steam

* Rebar, iron ore retreat further from multi-year peaks

* Investors feel prices have surged too high, too fast -ANZ

By Manolo Serapio Jr

MANILA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Chinese steel and iron ore futures dropped for a second session on Thursday as investors pared bullish bets after lifting the two commodities to multi-year highs.

Improved steel supply in parts of China prompted some traders to cut price offers, dragging down rates on raw material iron ore which had piggybacked on the strength in the steel market.

The most-active rebar on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SRBcv1 was down 1 percent at 3,378 yuan a tonne by 0256 GMT. The construction steel product touched 3,557 yuan on Monday, its highest since April 2014.

Iron ore on the Dalian Commodity Exchange DCIOcv1 slipped 1 percent to 610 yuan per tonne. It climbed to a nearly three-year high of 657 yuan on Monday.

Both commodities fell back from Wednesday despite data suggesting that Chinese banks looked set to lend a record amount this year as Beijing boosts the economy to meet economic growth targets. decline indicates that "investors felt the price had surged too high, too fast," ANZ analysts said in a note.

China's efforts to curb overcapacity in its steel sector and stimulate economic growth with increased infrastructure spending had fueled an 88-percent rally in Shanghai rebar futures this year.

But data released on Tuesday showed China's crude steel output rose for a ninth straight month in November, suggesting that Beijing's closure of excess capacity has not stopped mills from producing more to chase rising prices. retreat in futures again pulled back spot iron ore below $80 a tonne after staying above that level for five days.

Iron ore for delivery to China's Qingdao port .IO62-CNO=MB slid 5.1 percent to $79.18 a tonne on Wednesday, according to Metal Bulletin. The spot benchmark peaked at $83.58 on Monday, its strongest since October 2014.

An increase in the supply of billet in Tangshan led to prices for the semi-finished steel product dropping late on Tuesday, said Metal Bulletin which tracks Chinese trades.

Rebar futures followed on Wednesday, which resulted in buyers delaying their procurement plans, it said.

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