Base metals prices were generally lower in the early trading hours of Tuesday July 9, amid concerns over the prolonged US-China trade dispute, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the continued sell-off in major equity indices and persistently weak economic data.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly down during morning trading on Tuesday July 9 amid risk-off sentiment and US dollar strength.

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday July 8 that are worth another look.

Major miner Antofagasta has broken away from decades-long tradition to sign copper concentrates supply contracts for the first half of 2020 with China’s two biggest copper smelters in June, Fastmarkets understands.

More copper units are entering China via the form of concentrates and scrap to match the country’s ambitious smelting expansion plans, raising the possibility - albeit distant - that the world’s biggest copper importer will eventually stop buying refined copper from overseas.

India's Ministry of Commerce & Industry has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of flat-rolled stainless steel from 15 regions.

Chinese suppliers have already exhausted their annual quota for imports into Europe of hot-dipped galvanized coil (HDG) grades used by the automotive industry, just a few days after the start of the new quota period.

China’s lithium market remained sluggish this week, which market sources attributed to the conclusion of the transition period for the new energy vehicles (NEV) subsidy and forecasts of declining demand for lithium in the short term.

Market participants seem to be waiting for the next development to provide direction and that is likely to come from the US employment report due later on Friday July 5.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly range-bound during morning trading on Friday July 5 while investors awaited the key US jobs report due later for possible clues on the Federal Reserve’s policy decision at the end of the month.