China’s steel market is not collapsing despite the property downturn. Instead, demand is stabilising at a lower level as manufacturing, exports and new energy sectors gradually replace construction-driven demand. This is not a demand collapse, it’s a structural shift from property to industrial and export-driven demand. What’s Really Happening The sharp drop in construction activity has clearly hurt steel demand: Property-related steel (like rebar) has fallen significantly Construction’s share of demand is shrinking But the broader market tells a different story: Total steel demand is only slightly below past peaks Manufacturing, shipbuilding and energy transition sectors are absorbing demand Exports are acting as a key buffer Instead of a sudden crash, the industry is entering a long plateau . Why This Matters The market had expected a sharp collapse but reality is more gradual: Demand is declining slowly, not falling off a cliff China is shifting from construction-led growth to ...
KUALA LUMPUR (June 8): The FBM KLCI closed 0.35 point or 0.02% lower at 1,785.57, as investors keep an eye on global events, including the UK elections, the upcoming testimony by former FBI director James Comey and the developments in the Middle East.
Public Investment Bank Bhd head of research Ching Weng Jin said market participants are taking a wait-and-see attitude, amid the various global uncertainties.
“Investors are not taking any risks amid the UK elections, Comey’s testimony in the US and the diplomatic row in the Middle East. With all these external uncertainties, people are not willing to take any chances,” he said.
Ching noted the low volume of trades today, but said these external factors should not significantly impact the local market.
Across the board, some 1.95 billion shares, worth RM2.15 billion, were traded. Decliners beat gainers at 459 versus 419, while 389 counters were unchanged.
United Plantations Bhd led decliners, while Hartalega Holdings Bhd was top gainer. The top actively-traded counter was AT Systematization Bhd.
Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.34%, South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.15%, while Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.38%.
Reuters reported Asian shares wobbled today, as investors braced for surprises from the UK election, a European Central Bank policy meeting and Comey’s testimony.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was little changed, though China edged up on unexpectedly solid trade data.
Source: The Edge
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