FX.co ★ Baltic Dry Index at Over 8-Month High

The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which monitors rates for vessels that transport dry commodities, rose for the second consecutive day on Thursday, surging by 9.6% to reach its highest level since October 7, at 1,904 points. The capesize index, indicative of ships that typically carry 150,000-ton shipments of iron ore and coal, leaped by 14.8% to its highest point since September 30, at 3,555 points. Meanwhile, the panamax index, which generally handles 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain, climbed by 2.8% to a six-week peak of 1,375 points. Among smaller vessels, the supramax index gained 11 points, reaching a nearly one-week high of 933 points.