Philippine nickel ore FOB and CIF prices held steady. FOB offers for 1.3% grade stood at US $34-38/wmt. Meanwhile, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Philippine Islands region (5.55N, 125.10E), which was expected to trigger a large-scale tsunami near the epicenter. Mines near Mindanao, Philippines, suspended loading operations pending the lifting of the tsunami warning, which was expected to affect shipping efficiency in the surrounding area. On the Indonesian domestic ore front, prices for 1.4% grade remained firmly high at US $64-66/wmt. Overall, high prices in the Indonesian domestic ore market softened slightly, but the decline was limited.In the refined nickel spot market, offers for various brands of electro-winning nickel and nickel cathode generally moved higher in line with futures, but spot trading activity showed no notable improvement. Premiums for Jinchuan electrolytic nickel and Sumitomo and Norwegian brands held firm.