Ongoing lorry drivers’ strike action causes big impact at Argentine grain ports: sources

Covid-19 appears to have claimed another casualty: the London Metal Exchange ring trading floor.

The London Metal Exchange is proposing the permanent closure of its open-outcry trading floor and the incentivization of greater liquidity on its electronic trading platform, LMESelect.

Aluminium producer Rusal has partnered with Henan Mingtai Aluminium to deliver low-carbon aluminium products to meet growing market demand, it said on Tuesday January 19.

Copper was the only base metal on the London Metal Exchange to register a gain during morning trading on Tuesday January 19, while aluminium’s forward price continued to drop and tin recorded the biggest decline, with the complex still capped by a firm dollar.

After an extended consultation period, Fastmarkets has decided to amend its discount assessment for No2 copper scrap imported into China so that it is aligned with the country’s new import policy for such material.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Tuesday January 19, but aluminium prices have followed recent weakness in zinc, breaking support levels in the process.

Rabobank will close its commodity trade finance desks in London, Shanghai and Sydney after reviewing the embattled sector last summer.

The base metals on the London Metal Exchange were mainly stronger this morning, Monday January 18, aided by some strong economic data in China, including gross domestic product (GDP) that showed growth of 6.5% year on year in the fourth quarter, which was stronger than the 6.2% expected and up from 4.9% in the third quarter.

Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States slipped from an all-time high to just under $57 per hundredweight ($1,140 per short ton) on Friday January 15, but remain poised to rebound amid tight supply, Fastmarkets understands.