Abstract: Steel for ball and roller bearings and similar applications, containing, in % by weight:______________________________________ 0.70-0.95% Carbon 0.01-0.30% Silicon 0.15-0.50% Manganese 0.5-2.5% Chromium 0.10-1.5% Molybdenum max. 0.25% Vanadium ______________________________________the rest up to 100% being iron and other residual elements normally present in steel, andwith the further proviso that the total area percentage of oxide inclusions must not exceed 0.0012%, that the area percentage of titanium-carbonitrides must not exceed 0.0015%, and that the area percentage of sulphide inclusions must not exceed 0.030%, the respective area percentages being measured according to the inclusion rating method defined in the Swedish Standard SS111116, wherein the field of vision shall be 0.8 mm and the number of fields of vision to be surveyed shall be at least 1000.