Baltic index down for 8th day on decline in vessel rates

April 4 (Reuters) - The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index fell for an eighth consecutive session on Monday, pulled down by lower rates in all vessel segments.

* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 50 points to 2,307 points.

* The panamax index dipped 58 points, or 1.9%, to 3,015 points.

* Average daily earnings for panamaxes, which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, lost $525 to $27,135.

* However, ferrous commodity futures in China climbed with iron ore hovering near an eight-month peak as gloomy domestic factory activity data bolstered expectations of additional economic stimulus measures for the world's top steel producer.

* The capesize index fell 68 points, or 3.7%, to 1,796.

* Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000 tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, increased $564 to $14,896.

* The supramax index dropped 38 points to 2,717 points. (Reporting by Rahul Paswan in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)