Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
Wall Street Reaches New Record Highs as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Markets 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
Mega IPOs Like SpaceX and OpenAI Could Reshape S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Portfolios in 2026 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
European Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Offsets U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Iron ore futures fell on Friday, poised for modest monthly losses as U.S. tariffs and escalating trade tensions pressured Chinese steel exports.
The most-traded May iron ore contract on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) dropped 0.43% to 802 yuan ($110.07) per metric ton as of 0250 GMT, losing 0.93% in February. Singapore’s benchmark March iron ore contract declined 0.89% to $104.15 a ton, marking a 0.59% monthly loss.
U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian imports starting March 4, alongside an additional 10% duty on Chinese goods, totaling a cumulative 20% tariff. Trump also announced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, exacerbating trade tensions with China.
Vietnam and South Korea have implemented temporary tariffs on Chinese steel, further pressuring China’s struggling steel sector. The U.S. steel tariffs are expected to disrupt China’s $7 billion steel transshipment market, impacting a crucial revenue source.
Meanwhile, concerns over China’s trade-in scheme inefficiencies could prompt consumer-focused policies when the annual parliamentary meeting begins on March 5.
Steel futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange mostly declined. Rebar fell 0.42%, hot-rolled coil dipped nearly 0.5%, and wire rod lost 0.34%, while stainless steel gained 0.3%. Domestic steel demand showed signs of recovery, with major steel product inventories decreasing 2.3% to 5.37 million tons, according to consultancy Mysteel.
Other steelmaking ingredients on the DCE edged up, with coking coal rising 0.09% and coke increasing 0.3%.
As global trade tensions persist, investors remain cautious about iron ore and steel market trends.
