Weaker Capesize Demand Weighs on Baltic Index

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities hit a fresh one-month low on Thursday, dragged down by weaker demand for capesize vessels.

* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, dipped 20 points, or 1.3 percent - its lowest since Sept. 25, to 1,470 points.

* The capesize index lost 66 points, or 2.5 percent, to 2,530 points, its biggest one-day percentage fall since Oct. 17.

* Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170,000-180,000 tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, decreased $398 to $18,693.

* The panamax index ended its 10-day losing streak and gained 2 points to 1,526 points.

* Average daily earnings for panamaxes, which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, increased $17 to $12,229.

* The supramax index fell 12 points to 1,061 points.

(Reporting by Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru)