Reuters quoted Mr Wolfgang Eder CEO of voestalpine as saying that uncertainty in financial markets is spilling over into the real economy and capping prospects for raising steel prices.

He said that "Rising prices are not expected for now. Consumers' uncertainty about the debt crisis is beginning to hit the real economy."

Mr Eder said that the company's margins should not face too much pressure because input prices were also set to sink in the weeks ahead.

(Sourced from www.reuters.com)