The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Thursday April 19.

Base metal prices on the London Metal Exchange surged higher at the close of ring trading on Wednesday April 18, with nickel recording the highest intraday price difference since 2009.

Cash-strapped zinc smelters in China have brought forward and extended their planned maintenance to avoid further squeezes to margins as a result of softer treatment charges (TC), tight concentrate supply and low zinc prices, multiple sources told Metal Bulletin.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are on divergent paths so far this morning, Wednesday April 18, despite the strong risk sentiment seen across wider financial markets following solid earnings results and the surprise monetary easing announced by China’s central bank.

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s office in Shanghai as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Wednesday April 18.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly down during Asian morning trading on Wednesday April 18 after the generally positive Chinese data released yesterday failed to motivate investors to chase prices higher.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Wednesday April 18.

Metal Bulletin has added four battery-grade lithium price assessments to its existing coverage of the battery raw materials sector.

Metal Bulletin will today add two graphite price assessments to its existing coverage of the battery raw materials sector.

The aluminium market has got an awful lot going for it as the stand-out metal on the London Metal Exchange, both in terms of price performance, at a six-year high near $2,370 per tonne, and record electronic outright turnovers which have been seen in excess of 30,000 lots daily.