China Targets ‘Speculators and Hoarders’ to Stop Commodity Boom
- ‘Do not collude with each other,’ top metals producers told
- Iron ore, steel lead losses in Chinese commodity markets
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China stepped up its fight against soaring commodities prices, summoning top executives to a meeting that threatened severe punishment for violations ranging from excessive speculation to spreading fake news.
The government will show “zero tolerance” for monopoly behavior and hoarding, the National Development and Reform Commission said after leaders of top metals producers were called to a meeting in Beijing with multiple government departments on Sunday. The push to rein in surging metals prices rippled across markets -- with steel dropping as much as 6% and iron ore tumbling by close to the daily limit -- before prices steadied.