Capesize Indices Rise

Shipbrokers Simpson, Spence and Young's Pacific Capesize Index rose 626 points in the week ending Monday, Feb. 14, to 4,449. "Charterers who had been watching the weakening market over the first weeks of 2000, chose the Chinese New Year to enter the market with new requirements," SS&Y said. SS&Y’s Atlantic Capesize Index rose 495 points in the week ending Monday, Feb. 14, to 4,500. "Increased demand due to end of fiscal year stockpiling/completion of 1999 contracts resulted in available tonnage being quickly drained and a rapid rise in the freight market," SS&Y said.