Facing ongoing headwinds in U.S. manufacturing economic activity, only two FIN Fastener Stock Index companies — both aerospace suppliers — achieved stock price gains in the second quarter.
HEADLINES
![Great Lakes Acquires Superior Components Supply](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/US-Map-of-Fasteners-505x306_c.jpg)
Deal marks “a significant milestone in its strategic expansion plans to serve manufacturers headquartered throughout the greater Midwest and Atlantic regions.”
![June FDI Softens Amid ‘Pre-Election Jitters’](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-09-at-1.50.02 PM-505x306_c.png)
“Neither guy is going to do our industry any favors,” a U.S. fastener distributor explained as survey results revealed fastener market conditions worsened in June.
![Fastenal Fastener Sales Strengthened in June](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-12-at-8.09.27 AM-505x306_c.png)
Weak industrial product and lower pricing continued to hurt the company’s fastener sales but the rate of decline slowed.
![MDM Lists Top 20 North American Fastener Distributors](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FDI-January-2021-505x306_c.jpg)
“2023 may be remembered as the first ‘normal’ year since 2019 in terms of supply chain conditions and escalating inflation,” according to Modern Distribution Management.
![AFC Industries Acquires Circle Bolt & Nut](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/medium-505x306_c.jpg)
Deal to buy Pennsylvania-based Circle Bolt & Nut (CBN) from Optimas OE Solutions expands AFC's market reach in the Eastern U.S.
![Fastenal Fastener Sales Decline Nearly Doubles](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/images-505x306_c.jpg)
Fastenal Co. reported fastener sales dropped to 30.8% of overall sales in May, nearly doubling April’s rate of decline.
![U.S. Triples Tariffs on Chinese Steel/Aluminum](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-16-at-2.12.02 PM-505x306_c.png)
U.S. President Joe Biden imposed tariffs on $18 billion worth of goods, tripling the tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum to 25%.
![H.B. Fuller Acquires ND Industries](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-20-at-9.13.49 AM-505x306_c.png)
Founded in 1955, Greater Detroit-based ND Industries manufactures adhesives, sealants and thread-locking technologies for fasteners and assemblies.
![China EV Boom Drives Taiwan Auto Fastener Rebound](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/China_ev_boom_taiwan_automotive_fastener_company_8746_0-1-505x306_c.jpg)
Orders for automotive nuts have rebounded to more than 70% of pre-recession levels, “although the recovery is relatively slow,” Fastener World magazine reports.
![LISI Partners on AI for Autonomous Machining](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-7.25.35 AM-505x306_c.png)
LISI Group and Watch-Out have partnered to develop a disruptive AI solution for fully autonomous machining that is now operational.
![Strandquist Posthumously Named NFDA Fastener Pro](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-16-at-9.44.24 AM-2-505x306_c.png)
Doug Ruggles: “I don’t know anyone who has had a broader impact on the industry driving professionalism, growth, and a commitment to giving back.”
![FINdex Doubles Growth of Industrial Index](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-01-at-9.12.02 AM-505x306_c.png)
The FIN Fastener Stock Index rode the twin forces of lower inflation and expanded manufacturing to solid growth in the opening quarter of 2024.
![Biden Calls for Higher Tariffs on Chinese Steel](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/29roberts-superJumbo-505x306_c.jpg)
U.S. President Joe Biden called for tripling the existing 7.5% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum imports.
Final anti-dumping measures against steel fastener imports from China range from 32.5% - 67.4%.
![Curtis, Spelman Lead Industrial Fasteners Institute](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-21-at-9.55.26 PM-505x306_c.png)
The Industrial Fasteners Institute elected Dan Curtis of MacLean-Fogg to lead the board as Chairman, and Larry Spelman of J.H. Botts as Vice Chairman.
![Würth Additive Group Offers Digital Inventory Services](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-21-at-9.06.30 AM-505x306_c.png)
Company says its new service can provide parts across the globe in a matter of minutes.
Passengers aboard a Boeing plane that made an emergency landing after a fuselage panel blew off in January have received letters from the FBI identifying them as possible victims of a crime, Reuters reports.
![Report: Global Industrial Fasteners Market ‘Booming’](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/a1002_1cb88180bfaca24ff23456ef1cc5343b-505x306_c.jpg)
Despite initial setbacks due to the pandemic, fastener demand has rebounded, driven by resumed manufacturing and construction activities worldwide, according to a new report.
![Section 301 Tariff Review Continues](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/e2ad1de9-72dc-47b7-ba85-4ef393c9a947-505x306_c.jpg)
Reports indicate that the Biden administration will look to rebalance the tariffs on Chinese fasteners and other goods, potentially reducing those that are not in the U.S. interest.