The new year has started with optimism in the air and base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were up by an average of 1.8% and 1.4% respectively this morning, Monday January 14.

Fastmarkets has updated its formula for calculating the daily physical nickel arbitrage in Shanghai, after China announced it would lower the import tax on certain non-alloyed nickel from 2% to 1%, from January 1, 2021.

Fastmarkets has decided to discontinue its copper cathode premium, cif Japan from the start of January.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were up across the board this morning, Thursday December 24, while those on the London Metal Exchange were mixed.

Chilean lithium producer Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) has signed a long-term supply agreement for high quality lithium cathode material with LG Energy Solutions, it said on Tuesday December 22.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly lower this morning, Wednesday December 23, while those on the London Metal Exchange were mixed.

Nickel’s three-month price on the London Metal Exchange was down by 1.6% during morning trading on Tuesday December 22, with the rest of the complex mostly trading lower given the spread of a new variant of Covid-19 across Europe.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were down across the board this morning, Tuesday December 22, as were most of the metals on the London Metal Exchange, with the exception of tin.

Following a six-week consultation period, Fastmarkets will change the frequency of its zinc spot concentrate treatment charges (TC) price assessment to fortnightly from its present monthly timing.

Jakob Stausholm will become the new chief executive officer of mining major Rio Tinto at the start of next year, the company announced on Thursday December 17.