Asian rebar prices were stable Thursday amid thin trading activity in China's domestic market.

S&P Global Platts assessed 16-20 mm diameter BS500 rebar at $416/mt FOB China actual weight Thursday, unchanged from the day before.

In the Beijing retail market, spot 18-25 mm diameter HRB400 rebar was assessed at Yuan 3,705/mt ($524/mt) ex-stock actual weight, including 13% value added tax, down Yuan 5/mt day on day. Overall transaction activities were weak, and a fall in the inventory level in the Beijing market slide did not boost spot prices, a Beijing based trader said. The market was still shrouded in pessimism, she added.

In Hong Kong, shrinking demand amid weak market sentiment saw local selling prices drop HK$50/mt from last week to the equivalent of around $421/mt Thursday, a local stockist said. The most actively traded January 2020 rebar contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed at Yuan 3,318 mt ($469/mt), up Yuan 6/mt, or 0.2% day on day.

Platts assessed 16-32 mm diameter BS4449 Grade 500 rebar at $423/mt CFR Southeast Asia Thursday, unchanged from the day before.

-- Chelsea Ye and Joy Zhuo