Iron Ore’s Record Rout Threatens Surge in Volatility to Come
- Prices are now 40% lower than the record reached in mid-May
- Market buffeted by sometimes conflicting policies in China
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Iron ore’s most spectacular collapse on record portends more volatility to come as investors grapple with a complex policy backdrop in China and an uneven recovery in global demand.
Once one of the hottest commodities in this year’s raw-material boom, iron ore’s ructions swiftly made it one of the most volatile. A brutal five-week rout for futures, and a 14% slump in the spot market on Thursday, has seen it lose about 40% of its value since May’s record as China seeks to reduce steel production to curb pollution.