MEPS International US steel market consultant Laura Hodges told the latest episode of the Market in Minutes podcast that the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cut and mill maintenance outages should mitigate the downward pressure on US steel prices.

Drawing on research featured in MEPS’s International Steel Review, Hodges presents a 12-minute overview of the factors influencing the United States market in the new episode, part of MEPS's regular Speaking of Steel podcast series.

Among the other recent US steel market developments explored, in conversation with MEPS managing editor Tom Sharpe, were: Nippon Steel’s planned acquisition of US Steel; port workers’ strikes on the US East Coast; market uncertainty ahead of the presidential elections; a trade case against galvanised steel imports from 10 countries; and weakness in the automotive and construction sectors.