* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 56 points, or about 3.7%, to 1,456, its biggest daily percentage fall since Feb. 15.
* The capesize index was down 129 points, or about 6.7%, at 1,752.
* Average daily earnings for capesizes , which
typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and
coal, fell $1,073 to $14,528.
* Dalian and Singapore iron ore futures extended losses on
Wednesday, with demand prospects temporarily weighed down by
China's consideration to cut its crude steel output by around
2.5%.
* The panamax index fell 52 points, or about 3.1%,
to 1,606, its biggest one-day dip since Feb. 7.
* Average daily earnings for panamaxes , which
usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000
tonnes, decreased $465 to $14,454.
* Despite some weakness, "fundamentals for both sizes
remain in a good shape assuming that activity took a short break
before resuming a positive track as the Q2 launch", shipbroker
Intermodal wrote in a weekly report, referring to Capesize and
Panamax segments.
* Among smaller vessels, the supramax index rose 2 points, to 1,337. (Reporting by Ananya Bajpai in Bengaluru Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)
