Three-month prices across the increasingly macro-sensitive base metals complex on the London Metal Exchange were broadly up during morning trading on July 24 in anticipation of a trade meeting between the United States and China.

Major swings in the prices of both nickel and tin over the past month could presage similar moves across the base metals complex, reflecting the waning influence of the US-China trade war on the metals markets.

Hopes that a US-China trade deal may be moving a step closer have given equities and US bond yields a slight boost this morning, Wednesday July 24, but the metals have not followed.

Fastmarkets is proposing changes to the specifications of its price assessments for stainless steel cold-rolled coil, Asia grade 304 (2mm), cif East Asian port, $/tonne and stainless steel hot-rolled coil, Asia grade 304, cif port East Asia, $/tonne.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly lower during morning trading on Wednesday July 24, with tin, nickel and copper prices declining while the rest of the complex rose minimally.

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday July 23 that are worth another look.

In the process of standardizing the names of its prices, Fastmarkets has found that the delivery destination was displayed incorrectly in the name of its Russian domestic steel prices.

Nickel’s three-month price on the London Metal Exchange was higher during morning trading on Tuesday July 23, continuing its upward trajectory above $14,300 per tonne, while tin’s three-month price slipped to just over $17,630 per tonne - close to its lowest level since 2016.

Against a backdrop of poor economic growth, especially in Germany and China, and in the absence of fresh news, markets seem to be content to consolidate this morning, Tuesday July 23.

Fastmarkets is proposing changes to the specifications of its price assessments for steel cold-rolled coil export, fob China, $/tonne and steel galvanized coil 1mm export, fob China, $/tonne.