The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk freight index edged marginally lower on Monday, as lower rates in its Capesize segment offset gains in Panamaxes that firmed at an over two-month peak.
The main Baltic index was down six points, or 0.2 per cent, to 3,083, slipping from its highest level since June 3 hit on Friday.
The Capesize index lost 23 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 5,105, from its highest since June 4 scaled on Friday. Average daily earnings for Capesize vessels fell by $212 to $42,797.
Iron ore prices eased as downbeat factory-gate data in top consumer China fuelled worry over demand prospects for the key steelmaking ingredient, although a strike at a major export hub in Australia curbed some of the decline.
The Panamax index was up eight points, or 0.4 per cent, to 2,306, hitting its highest level since June 2. Average daily earnings for Panamax vessels rose $71 to $20,755.
Among smaller vessels, the supramax index held steady at 1,603.
(Reporting by Dharna Bafna in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
