|

Steel prices dive further on accelerating recession fears as inflation scorches

  • Steel prices are witnessing a sell-off as the Fed is preparing for a 1% rate hike.
  • Escalating demand for automobiles in China could be a game changer.
  • Monsoon arrival in Asia has postponed the construction activities.

Steel prices are dropping strongly as scorching inflation in the global economy has bolstered the odds of a recession situation. The inflation rate is sky-rocketing in the global economy and in order to tame the same central banks are hiking their interest rates like there is no tomorrow.

On Wednesday, the inflation report by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics spooked the market sentiment.  The release of the red-hot inflation soared has strengthened the odds of 100 basis points (bps) by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The annual US Consumer Price Index (CPI) print of 9.1% is going to force the Fed to make a historic move and dictate a rate hike by 1%.

Well, the Bank of Canada (BOC) has accelerated its interest rates by 1%. Therefore, the fed won’t look for mental support further and will announce the unusual.

On the demand front, escalating demand for automobiles in China is expected to spurt the demand for steel going forward. June’s production of automotive vehicles in China has been recorded at 2.499 million units, which is higher by 29.7%, as per China’s Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). The advancing pattern of automobile production could be a game changer for steel prices.

However, the catalyst which is trimming the demand for steel is the monsoon arrival as construction activities get halted in the same period. The monsoon has hit many provinces of China and other Asian nations, which is resulting in a postponement of housing construction, infrastructure, and other related activities.

                                           

Author

Sagar Dua

Sagar Dua

FXStreet

Sagar Dua is associated with the financial markets from his college days. Along with pursuing post-graduation in Commerce in 2014, he started his markets training with chart analysis.

More from Sagar Dua
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD recovers to 1.1750 region as 2025 draws to a close

Following the bearish action seen in the European session on Wednesday, EUR/USD regains its traction and recovery to the 1.1750 region. Nevertheless, the pair's volatility remains low as trading conditions thin out on the last day of the year.

GBP/USD stays weak near 1.3450 on modest USD recovery

GBP/USD remains under modest beairsh pressure and fluctuates at around 1.3450 on Wednesday. The US Dollar finds fresh demand due to the end-of-the-year position adjustments, weighing on the pair amid the pre-New Year trading lull. 

Gold retreats to $4,300 area, looks to post monthly gains

Gold stays on the back foot on the last day of 2025 and trades near $4,300, possibly pressured by profit-taking and position adjustments. Nevertheless, XAU/USD remains on track to post gains for December and extend its winning streak into a fifth consecutive month.

Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP prepare for a potential New Year rebound

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple are holding steady on Wednesday after recording minor gains on the previous day. Technically, Bitcoin could extend gains within a triangle pattern while Ethereum and Ripple face critical overhead resistance. 

Economic outlook 2026-2027 in advanced countries: Solidity test

After a year marked by global economic resilience and ending on a note of optimism, 2026 looks promising and could be a year of solid economic performance. In our baseline scenario, we expect most of the supportive factors at work in 2025 to continue to play a role in 2026.

Crypto market outlook for 2026

Year 2025 was volatile, as crypto often is.  Among positive catalysts were favourable regulatory changes in the U.S., rise of Digital Asset Treasuries (DAT), adoption of AI and tokenization of Real-World-Assets (RWA).