CRU Launch Fast-Track German and Italian Weekly Steel Sheet Indices

LONDON, November 22, 2010 - CRU has decided to introduce 'fast-track' weekly price indices for German
and Italian hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil and hot-dipped galvanised coil.
The 'fast-track' indices will sample a wider group of market participants who
will be able to enter their data online at www.cruindices.com via
CRU's dedicated Price Collection Platform. As with all of CRU's assessments
they will be overseen by experienced steel analysts.

When questioned what instigated this move, Paul Scott, Head of CRU Steel,
commented, "It has been primarily demand driven. Our clients, in both the
physical and financial markets, have highlighted the need for more frequent
CRU assessments of European sheet market prices. This move fits in well with
a key strategic objective of ours which is to ensure that we continue to
deliver the price assessments that steel industry participants want, in terms
of coverage, robustness and frequency."

Glenn Cooney, Head of Operations at CRU Indices, said, "European steel
markets are some way behind those in the USA in terms of the use of
index-based pricing, and this limits the approaches that all index providers,
including CRU Indices, can employ to arrive at robust price assessments. Our
'fast-track' approach has been designed specifically to deliver robust price
assessments in markets where index-based pricing is in its infancy, such as
Germany and Italy."

The price assessments will commence later this year before being
published in CRU's Steel Sheet Products Monitor* next year.

Anyone wishing to be involved in the evolution of these indices by
becoming a data provider, should register at

www.cruindices.com.

Notes for editors

CRU Indices is a division of CRU Group - the world's leading
independent authority on metals, mining, fertilizers and chemicals -
who publish market leading, independent price assessments for carbon
steel. For further information, visit www.cruindices.com

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

    Contacts

    Paul Scott
    Group Manager - Steel
    CRU Analysis
    Tel: +44(0)20-7903-2185
    Email: paul.scott@crugroup.com

    Glenn Cooney
    Head of Operations
    CRU Indices
    Tel: +44(0)20-7903-2056
    Email: glenn.cooney@crugroup.com

Contacts: Paul Scott, Group Manager - Steel, CRU Analysis, Tel: +44(0)20-7903-2185, Email: paul.scott at crugroup.com; Glenn Cooney, Head of Operations, CRU Indices, Tel: +44(0)20-7903-2056, Email: glenn.cooney at crugroup.com