Spanish steelmaker Acerinox said on Thursday it returned to profit in the first quarter thanks to its business in the U.S. where steel demand has increased.
Japanese stocks dropped on Monday on disappointing earnings, with semiconductor-related shares among the hardest hit, taking their cue from falls in U.S. tech firms on poor earnings and concerns about the Federal Reserve's tapering.
Chinese coking coal and coke futures surged on Tuesday, fuelled by concerns of tight supply amid Beijing's toughening emissions standards, although demand for the steelmaking ingredients remained tepid as mills cut production.
Thyssenkrupp on Thursday said it had agreed to sell its Italian stainless steel division to Arvedi, the latest step in the conglomerate's efforts to restructure and wean itself off non-core assets.