-Good news is hard to find in the marketplace.  Europe remains a drag on growth and an impediment to robust US exports (scrap, coil, slab). 

-Closer to home seasonal slowness has already affected demand. Input costs are signaling softer prices, too. 

-Though iron is up modestly as of late, scrap prices are poised to drop sharply for the second consecutive month. Although the EAFs have a clear advantage with cliff diving scrap prices, these cost savings won’t be realized immediately

-All of this sour news has many asking how far and for how long will prices fall- maybe, not as long as conventional wisdom would indicate. 

-HRC prices under $600 are compressing the margins of the mini-mills. And if the minis don’t like current pricing, how do you think the integrated mills feel about the state of the market?

-Tough decisions must be made. It could be as simple calculating which option loses less money- keeping the furnaces running, or idling them.