NEW YORK, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In its first new product initiative since acquiring the Steel Business Briefing Group, Platts has re-launched its flagship steel publication, Steel Markets Daily, with a new focus on the raw materials - iron ore, metallurgical coal, coke, scrap and ferroalloys - that drive the steel market. Re-branded Platts SBB Steel Markets Daily, the new publication provides news, analysis, commentary and more than 80 daily and weekly physical market price assessments, including both the Platts IODEX and The Steel Index (TSI) iron ore benchmarks.

"As a stand-alone publication dedicated to the raw materials market, Platts SBB Steel Markets Daily complements SBB Daily Briefing's coverage of downstream products," said Andrew Goodwin, Platts general manager, metals. "A key feature is single-source access to Platts' two different iron ore indexes, each based on a distinct methodology. Our aim is to give the market and our subscribers the benefit of both."

The new publication provides comprehensive daily coverage of steelmaking raw materials and ferroalloys news and prices. Subscribers also have access to the Platts SBB Price Analyzer - an online tool that allows subscribers to graph and download key price assessments for research and analysis purposes. In addition, two supplementary reports are available to subscribers: Platts SBB Raw Materials Xtra, a monthly raw material round up of news and features, and Platts SBB Insight, a bi-weekly in-depth look at the steel industry.

More than one hundred years of combined editorial experience went into content development for Platts' new SBB Steel Markets Daily. The team, led by Joe Innace, Platts editorial director, metals; includes Steve Randall, managing director, TSI; Henry Cooke, Platts chief news editor, steel; Christopher Davis, Platts managing editor, Americas; Colin Richardson, Platts managing editor, Europe, Middle East, Africa; and Tom Bacerek, Platts senior editor, steel.

For more information on Platts' price assessment methodology in steel, scrap and iron ore visit this Platts metals methodology link and the Platts website www.platts.com. For more information on TSI's steel, scrap and iron ore price assessment methodology visit this TSI metals methodology link and its website www.thesteelindex.com. Both assessment processes are underpinned by robust quality consistency guidelines and were developed in consultation with a cross section of key industry players.

Platts' metals markets reporting spans more than 40 years, following the tradition of its parent company, The McGraw-Hill Companies, which has covered the metals markets for 80 years. Platts acquired the Steel Business Briefing Group and The Steel Index on July 1, 2011 to expand its products and services.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals and metals information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, and shipping markets. A division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), Platts is headquartered in New York with approximately 900 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies: McGraw-Hill announced on September 12, 2011, its intention to separate into two public companies: McGraw-Hill Financial, a leading provider of content and analytics to global financial markets, and McGraw-Hill Education, a leading education company focused on digital learning and education services worldwide. McGraw-Hill Financial's leading brands include Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Indices, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. With sales of $6.2 billion in 2011, the Corporation has approximately 23,000 employees across more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.

CONTACT:
Kathleen Tanzy
212-904-2860
Kathleen_tanzy@platts.com

SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts