Market Scan
As Drybulk Goes, So Goes The World Economy
Ruthie Ackerman, 11.30.07, 8:20 PM ET
Shares of drybulk shippers jumped on Friday as the cost of chartering vessels extended its advance, a sign that the global economy -- powered in large part by China -- is expanding at a smart pace.
Drybulk future rates were up about 17% from last week with an average Capesize rate at $137,000 per vessel per day, up from $116,000, said Cantor Fitzgerald analysts. Meanwhile, spot rates for Capesize vessels, which are the largest ships, shot up on Friday to $177,418, up 2.9%, from $172,369 on Thursday, but down slightly from last week. A year ago, however, the rate was below $68,000.
One reason may be that the world’s largest iron ore producer, Brazil’s Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (nyse: RIO - news - people ), said on Thursday that it had begun discussions with its customers over iron-ore prices for next year. China is the world’s biggest iron importer, and it gets 24% of its needs from Brazil. Analysts and investors are expecting significant price increases for iron ore in 2008, indicating strong demand. In turn, dry bulk forward rates for 2008 are also showing increases.
On Friday, dry bulk shipping stocks shot up, with those most exposed to the spot market posting the biggest rises.
DryShips (nasdaq: DRYS - news - people ), which is heavily exposed to spot rates, saw its shares jump 5.0%, or $4.52, to $94.48 at the close, while Diana Shipping (nyse: DSX - news - people ) shot up 4.5%, or $1.52, to $35.41. Excel Maritime (nyse: EXM - news - people ) rose 1.4%, or 76 cents, to $53.54; Quintana Maritime (nasdaq: QMAR - news - people ) gained 3.1%, or 79 cents, to $26.55; and Euroseas (nasdaq: ESEA - news - people ) increased 4.0%, or 58 cents, to $15.20.
http://www.forbes.com/2007/11/30/dry...rtner=yahootix