Legislation that would delay the imposition of additional Section 232 tariffs on automobiles and automotive parts imported by the United States has been reintroduced by two US Senators.

Growing optimism over the outlook for a trade agreement between the United States and China has led to a stronger tone across risk markets, including those for metals.

Most base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were up during Asian morning trading on Friday January 18, with the complex benefiting from renewed optimism that US-China trade tensions may ease.

China’s domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide prices were unchanged week on week on Thursday January 17 due to slow market activity ahead of Chinese New Year, while technical and Industrial grade lithium carbonate prices moved down slightly on supplier destocking.

Fastmarkets’ minor metals team answers some of the key questions raised during our recent web seminar, discussing recent market trends in minor metals, and the factors expected to drive price moves in 2019.

The London Metal Exchange (LME) will launch three new cash-settled derivative contracts settled against Fastmarkets MB’s aluminium, alumina and cobalt prices, effective from March 11, 2019.

Transamine Trading will provide Kamativi Tailings and joint-venture partner Zimbabwe Lithium with $9.5 million of debt funding to finance the Kamativi Tailings Lithium Project, in exchange for supplies of lithium spodumene produced from the mine.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange exhibited mixed movements while consolidating this morning, Thursday January 17. Copper, nickel, lead and zinc were down by between 0.1% and 0.5%, while aluminium and tin prices were up by 0.3% and 0.4% respectively.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were little changed to weaker during Asian morning trading on Thursday January 17, with the complex coming under pressure from a firmer dollar and renewed US-China concerns.

The London Metal Exchange has announced it will launch seven of its new cash-settled futures products on March 11, and has selected Fastmarkets to be the price provider for three of the new contracts.