Baltic index gains on higher capesize rates The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index rose for a fourth straight session on Monday, helped by higher demand for capesize vessels. The index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels carrying dry bulk commodities, rose 11 points, or 0.3%, to 3,210. The capesize index added 35 points, or nearly 1%, to 3,950, its highest since June 29. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes of iron ore, jumped by $286 to $32,755. Dalian and Singapore iron ore futures rebounded on Monday after a five-day slump, due to a recovery in steel margins in China, the world’s biggest buyer of the steelmaking ingredient.