News Brief:

Shipbuilding News:

* Chengxi bags first chemical TK

* CSSC Shipping clinches $245m financing for six bulkers

* Aqualis-CSDC join forces

* SCI in talks for Suezmax tanker duo

* Experts hold negative to Big3 merger

Shipping News:

* Hanjin Shipping applies for autonomous arrangement

* Crude tankers rates edging downwards due to souring forward sentiment

Steel News:

* Fitch: Chinese Steel Price Surge Not Sustainable

Energy News:

* Oil markets ‘will re-balance in the second half of 2016’

Biz China:

* Micro-loans fall

* Baltic Dry Index

BDI      690         (+2)

BCI    1,087        (+2)

BPI      727         (-9)

BSI      562         (+4)

BHSI    356         (+2)

* TC Avg ($/day)

BCI  5T/C     8,276        (+60)

BPI  4T/C     5,795         (-73)

BSI  6T/C     5,872        (+38)

* Exchange Rate

USD / KRW   1,149.7

USD / RMB    6.4882

* Crude Future ($/barrel)

WTI       42.98

Brent     44.69

* Buker  (Singapore, $/ton)

IF380      IFO180     MDO     MGO

201.00      211.00     367.00   377.00