Spencer Johnson

Spencer is a 15 year veteran in the world of ferrous and nonferrous futures, all of them with StoneX (formerly FCStone Financial Inc.) During this time StoneX has helped launch and clear some of the first trades in several of the contacts now common to the ferrous industry. Over that time StoneX has worked with every type of market participant to formulate risk management and trading strategies for steel and base metals derivatives. Spencer has also worked tirelessly to grow liquidity and provide access to these new ferrous markets for its clients as currently, the longest serving members of the London Metal Exchange’s steel committee.

Alex Alcantara

Alex has been with CME Group for over 5 years and is based in Chicago, IL. He manages the Industrial Metals Products business line covering the Americas.

Michael Cowden

Michael Cowden is a Managing Editor for Steel Market Update (SMU) and has covered the steel industry since 2007. Since 2014, he has specialized in flat-rolled steel but has previously reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube as well as aluminum. Before joining SMU, Michael held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago - where he was involved in launching AMM’s daily hot-rolled coil index, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a Copy Editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Michael has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Chicago and a Master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.