CRU Indices to Launch Weekly U.S. Hot-Dipped Galvanised Sheet Index

LONDON, December 2 - CRU Indices, whose Hot-Rolled Coil price assessments are used in the
settlement of 'CME's U.S. Midwest Hot-Rolled Coil Steel Futures Contract*',
have announced that they are launching weekly price assessments for U.S.
Midwest Hot-Dipped Galvanised Sheet.

CRU has tracked monthly HDG prices in the US for 25 years and when asked
what had driven the increase in frequency, Paul Scott, Managing Consultant
with CRU's Steel Team commented, "Our weekly U.S. Midwest Hot-Rolled Coil and
Cold-Rolled Coil price assessments are the most widely used in the physical
steel sheet market; latest estimates suggest that over 50% of direct mills
shipments in the US are priced against CRU. The increase in index based deals
negotiated against our prices, and subsequent demand from industry players,
has necessitated the move to weekly assessments".

"We will launch the index on December 4th and it will evolve through a
shadow period before being officially published during Spring 2010. During
this period only registered data providers who contribute verifiable
transaction data will see the output of the weekly index", said Glenn Cooney,
Head of Operations at CRU Indices.

Anyone wishing to be involved in the evolution of the index by becoming a
data provider should register their interest at www.cruindices.com.

Upon completion of the shadow period, the index will be available to data
providers and subscribers to CRU'S Steel Sheet Products Monitor**.

Notes for editors

CRU Indices

A division of CRU Group - the world's leading independent authority on
metals, mining, fertilizers and chemicals - who publish market leading,
independent price assessment based on verifiable transaction data submitted
electronically at www.cruindices.com by registered data providers.

* CME's U.S.Midwest Hot-Rolled Coil Steel Futures Contract was launched
in October 2008. For further information, visit
www.cmegroup.com/metals.

** CRU's Steel Sheet Products Monitor covers the global market for steel
sheet products providing accurate price assessments, authoritative market
commentary and analysis. Samples available at www.cruanalysis.com

    Contacts

    Paul Scott
    Managing Consultant - Steel Team
    CRU Analysis
    Tel: +44-20-7903-2185
    Email: paul.scott@crugroup.com

    Glenn Cooney
    Head of Operations
    CRU Indices
    Tel: +44-20-7903-2056
    Email: glenn.cooney@crugroup.com

Contacts: Paul Scott, Managing Consultant - Steel Team, CRU Analysis, Tel: +44-20-7903-2185, Email: paul.scott at crugroup.com; Glenn Cooney, Head of Operations, CRU Indices, Tel: +44-20-7903-2056, Email: glenn.cooney at crugroup.com