News Brief:

Shipbuilding News:

* Cosco Shipyard seals $3.1bn financing from China Development Bank

* Kouan bags feeder boxships

* CMES approves VLOC order

* DSME bags Greek VLCC order

* HHI saw 23% drop in new orders

* Japan NB orders continue upwards

Shipping News:

* Sinotrans shipping unit to have new owner after merger

* Cross-Med Dirty Handysize rates rise to 3.5-month high on tight tonnage

Steel News:

* Shipyards asking lowering thick plate prices

Energy News:

* Oil prices drop amid rising supplies

Biz China:

* Tax cut will move Chinese economy into new growth cycle

* Baltic Dry Index

)

BDI      537            (-13

()

BCI      733            -37

          ()

BPI      487 -13

BSI      504            ()

-12

BHSI    296             ()

-6

* TC Avg ($/day)

BCI  5T/C       5,968       ()

-167

()

BPI  4T/C       3,892       -105

BSI  6T/C       5,269       ()

-129

* Exchange Rate

USD / KRW   1,169.2

USD / RMB    6.3796

* Crude Future ($/barrel)

WTI       41.11

Brent     43.97

* Buker  (Singapore, $/ton)

 IF380      IFO180     MDO     MGO

223.00      233.50     414.50   424.50