Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part consolidating after recent weakness, the exceptions are aluminium prices that are up by 0.7% at $2,147 per tonne and lead prices that are down by 0.5% at $2,490 per tonne. The rest are little changed, with copper prices recently quoted at $6,943 per tonne.

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s office in Singapore as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Thursday March 1.

Base metals traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly lower during Asian morning trading on Thursday March 1, with a resurgent dollar keeping the complex under pressure.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Thursday March 1.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are mainly weaker this morning, Wednesday February 28, with prices off by an average of 0.4%.

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s office in Singapore as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Wednesday February 28.

Base metals traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were down across the board during Asian morning trading on Wednesday February 28, with a firmer dollar and disappointing Chinese macro-economic data denting sentiment for the complex.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Wednesday February 28.

Although base metals are under pressure in the short term, we have a bullish bias to our 2018 price forecasts given the supportive background of solid global economic growth and the fact that all six base metal markets look set to be in fundamental deficit this year. But each has a slightly different supply-side story and this aspect should be the main differentiator.

Historic payment structures are enabling zinc smelters to raise primary output even as market-related terms such as metal premiums and concentrate treatment charges remain low; but the opposite is true for lead.