Ahead of Fastmarkets’ Battery Materials Europe conference in Amsterdam, we hosted a free web seminar to discuss recent market moves in the battery and EV sector, and what to expect over the coming months.

The three-month aluminium price on the London Metal Exchange was slightly higher during morning trading on Thursday September 19, with price action nearing $1,800 per tonne despite low turnover, while the light metal’s forward spreads on the exchange remained in a contango.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange drifted lower during the morning trading session on Thursday September 19 after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Wednesday but failed to give a clear indication of further cuts.

Exceptionally, Fastmarkets RISI will publish its next quarterly assessment for sack kraft in Europe on October 17 instead of the originally scheduled October 10. For comments and queries, please email pricing.risi@fastmarkets.com. To view Fastmarkets RISI’s price publishing schedules please see here.

The three-month nickel price on the London Metal Exchange was higher during morning trading on Wednesday September 18, edging back above the $17,000-per-tonne resistance level despite moderate turnover, while the rest of the complex consolidated lower.

The markets were in limbo this morning, Wednesday September 18, while they wait for developments on trade talks, the direction of oil prices and the outcome of this evening’s US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and rate decision.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly down but overall little changed during the morning trading session on Wednesday September 18, with only aluminium and nickel registering gains.

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 17 that are worth another look.

Higher oil prices are not going to do the manufacturing sector any favors, other than in parts of the oil industry itself, and that seems to be being reflected in the markets where prices are under pressure again this morning, Tuesday September 17.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were down during the morning trading session on Tuesday September 17, with risk aversion still heightened following an attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities over the weekend.