The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, snapped its five-session losing streak on Wednesday, helped by higher rates across all vessel segments.

* The overall index .BADI, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 45 points, or 2.4%, to 1,939.

* The capesize index .BACI rose 96 points, or 3.1%, to 3,215.

* Average daily earnings for capesize vessels .BATCA, which typically transport 150,000-ton cargoes, such as iron ore and coal, were up $797 at $26,666.

* Steel prices in China fell to a more than three-month low on Wednesday, hurt by poor demand due to a weak construction sector in the world’s biggest consumer of the metal alloy. IRONORE/

* The panamax index .BPNI rose 43 points, or about 2.8%, to 1,579.

* Average daily earnings for panamax vessels .BPWT, which usually carry about 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain cargo, increased $389 to $14,209.

* Among smaller vessels, the supramax index .BSIS edged up 6 points, or 0.5% to 1,353.

* Yemen’s Houthis said on Tuesday they targeted the Maersk Sentosa ship in the Arabian Sea with several ballistic and wing missiles.

Source: Reuters reported by Anmol Choubey in Bengaluru and edited by Vijay Kishore