The base metals were generally upbeat this morning, Friday November 20, supported by demand expectations and a weaker dollar.

US copper scrap exporters are waiting to see how China’s new regulations affect the flow of scrap metal to the Asian country, which could have a significant impact on domestic copper scrap prices.

Commodity traders have long forecast that there would be consolidation in their own industry, and in some of the world’s biggest centers for metals business that has already started to happen.

The base metals were consolidating recent gains but generally holding up near high ground this morning, Thursday November 19 – this despite some nervousness emerging in wider markets about the rapid spread of Covid-19.

The metals were looking robust this morning, Wednesday November 18, and for the most part are managing to drive higher despite concerns about the rapid spread of Covid-19 and some mixed economic data of late.

After the outbreak of the global pandemic, governments around the world sought measures to relieve the economic pressures of imposed lockdowns, mainly in the form of stimulus packages.

Markets were generally buoyant on the back of relief that a potential Covid-19 vaccine has been found, but the metals also seem hesitant this morning, Tuesday October 11, about what this will mean to the markets given how much they have run up already since the March lows.

Base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly lower this morning, Tuesday November 10, while prices consolidated after Monday’s double dose of positive news - that of Joe Biden winning the US presidential election and Pfizer announcing progress toward a potential Covid-19 vaccine.

Mitsui is to sell all of its 22.63% stake in Chile's Caserones copper mine, after posting a capital loss of more than ¥7 billion ($67.5 million), the Japanese company said on Monday November 9.

Base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly stronger this morning, Monday November 9, after markets reacted positively to Joe Biden winning the US presidential election and the resulting weaker dollar.