Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part consolidating this morning, Wednesday August 23, with three-month copper prices off by 0.1% at $6,582 per tonne, while zinc prices are up by 0.4% and nickel prices are off by 0.4%. Volume has been average with 8,662 lots traded as of 06:43 BST.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part consolidating this morning, Tuesday August 22, after a generally strong performance on Monday when the complex closed up by an average of 1%.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are off to a good start to the week this morning, Monday August 21, posting an average gain of 1.0% as we write. This reflects a slight pick-up in sentiment, perhaps stemming from easier Chinese financial conditions after the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) injected a net 50 billion yuan ($7.49 billion) into the country’s financial institutions earlier today.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are ticking higher this morning, Friday August 18, which could reflect some tactical short-covering ahead of the weekend in spite of a return to risk-off mode, evidenced in losses across Asian equities and the appreciation in funding currencies such as the yen. Zinc (+1.4%) is the strongest performer while copper (-0.1%) and tin (-0.1%) are the laggards of the complex.

The base metals are in a stronger mood this morning, Wednesday August 16, as markets stabilise following the recent spate of risk aversion created by rising tensions between the USA and North Korea, while a slightly softer tone in the dollar has lent modest support to the precious metals.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are edging higher this morning, Tuesday August 15, as global risk appetite continues to rise thanks to easing geopolitical tensions following the North Korean leader’s decision to back off plans to launch a military attack on the USA. Lead (+1.2%) is the strongest performer while copper (+0.2%) and tin (+0.2%) are the laggards. Volume has been average with 6,017 lots traded as of 06:30 BST.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are resilient this morning, Monday August 14, in spite of a raft of weaker-than-expected Chinese macro data releases. Aluminium (-0.4%) and tin (-0.4%) are down the most while lead (+0.5%) performs the best. Volume has been fairly low, with 5,411 lots traded as of 06:00 BST.

The metals complex continues to carry positive momentum, even as rising geopolitical tensions trigger a modest correction in global equity markets after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed in lower for a third consecutive day. Sabre rattling between Pyongyang and Washington continues after North Korean state media reported authorities are working on plans to fire four missiles near the US territory of Guam, which will be ready by mid-August.

Rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula have so far failed to dent positive sentiment in the base metals complex, with the industrial metals consolidating the strong gains they have recorded so far this week.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are under slight downward pressure this morning, in part due to the release of disappointing Chinese trade data for July. While nickel (-0.8%) performs the worst, aluminium (+0.1%) is the only base metal in positive territory. Volume has been average with 7,613 lots traded as of 05:47 BST.