According to the Baltic Exchange,EDF Trading hired the 177,800-dwt Skythia (built 2011) for 12 months at a rateof $25,000 per day.

Observers say the charterillustrates that modern capes are commanding a premium in the period arena assimilar units that trade spot are seeing day rates of around $9,800.

Despite lacklustre levels in thespot market several industry forecasters claim asset values are rising and say sale-and-purchaseactivity remains healthy as well.

Earlier this week DNB Markets toldclients that the price tag attached to capesize newbuilings has jumped byapproximately 1% over the past seven days on average to around $56m.

The Nordic investment bank believesasset values could spike to $63m by the fourth quarter of 2014 and says itwouldn’t be surprised to see resale prices climb 15% by the end of this year.