IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from April 17

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday April 17 that are worth another look.

Precious metals prices would support zinc and lead mining even if the global markets crashed, including those for base metals, panelists said at Fastmarkets’ International Lead & Zinc Conference in London on Tuesday April 16. 

Copper’s three-month price on the London Metal Exchange climbed above $6,600 per tonne at the close of trading on April 17, buoyed by strong gross domestic product figures out of China while a softer dollar index below the psychological level of 97 supported afternoon buying.

Primary aluminium stocks at the three main Japanese ports (MJP) of Osaka, Nagoya and Yokohama declined by 7.7% month on month in September, data released by major Japanese trading house Marubeni Corp on Wednesday showed.

An appeals court in Argentina has reversed a decision that allowed the inclusion of Paolo Rocca, the chief executive officer of Italian-Argentine steel conglomerate Techint, in a probe on the alleged bribery of government officials in 2008.

Fastmarkets’ battery raw materials team summarizes eight key takeaways from last week’s Battery Materials Conference in Shanghai.

What to read next
Steel producers in the United States remain optimistic about construction demand despite its lackluster short-term outlook, according to market participants
The influential annual treatment and refining charge (TC/RC) benchmark that sets the price that smelters charge miners to process their copper concentrate could be at risk, according to multiple market sources, although most believe the system, or elements of it, will remain
Caroline Messecar, strategic markets editor for Fastmarkets, explores the world of rare earth prices in her opinion piece for ‘The Crucible’ titled ‘Why have rare earth prices fallen?’
After a consultation period, Fastmarkets has amended the pricing frequency of its MB-STE-0141 steel billet import, cfr Manila, $/tonne, price assessment from a daily basis to twice per week.
Fastmarkets' initial low-carbon premium for nickel briquettes captured existing regional price differences, with growing awareness and legislative incentives indicating there is potential for a strong market to emerge
The publication of the following prices was delayed on Tuesday April 30 due to technical issues. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.