Comex copper prices faltered in morning trading on Thursday September 7 in the USA, with signs that the surge to a three-year high is beginning to lose momentum.

Chinese domestic concentrate treatment charges (TCs) are increasingly a key tracking element in the zinc market where smelting economics are under the microscope more than ever.

Women in Mining and Resources Singapore (WIMAR SG) and Metal Bulletin, in association with the Singapore Exchange (SGX), are hosting an industry breakfast seminar on Thursday September 14 to discuss China’s war on pollution, government policies and the ramifications on metals demand, supply and prices.

The rallies in the base metals on the London Metal Exchange have generally continued in early trading today, Friday August 25, with prices up by an average of 0.4%, with aluminium, zinc, lead and copper prices up between 0.6% to 0.8%, while nickel is off 0.5% and tin is little changed. Three-month copper prices are at $6,740 per tonne.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are broadly higher this morning, Thursday August 24, with three-month copper, zinc, lead and tin prices up by between 0.2% and 0.5%, with copper prices at $6,612 per tonne, while aluminium and nickel prices are by off 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively.

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.