Metals & Mining: Ux Weekly Uranium Spot Price Indicator Down US$0.50/lb
Impact: Neutral
Ux Weekly reported that its uranium spot price indicator decline by US$0.50/lb to US$89.50/lb as a result of a single transaction representing approximately 100,000 lb U3O8e. The spot market was characterized as being at a stand-off as buyers and sellers continued to test the resolve of their counterparts as they prepare to re-enter the market with more significant volumes. It was also noted that price volatility during the first three weeks in January in both 2007 and 2006 was also muted, however, spot prices began to rise in February. There were no transactions or new offers in the term market during the week, while activity was characterized as lower to moderate with approximately 17 million lb U3O8e on offer.
Ux's editorial theme for the week was centered on a number of industry announcements that, while fundamentally positive longer term, didn't include any announcements of new reactor orders. The most significant were the British government White Paper advocating for increased use of nuclear power and the MOU between AECL and the Nuclear Power Institute of China for Advanced Reactor Technology Development. This MOU could eventually result in CANDU technology being capable of using spent fuel from pressurized light water reactors as fuel.
In the absence of significant spot market activity, we believe that we will likely have to wait several weeks before spot volumes pick-up and a clearer sense of market direction is obtained.
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