Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were weaker on the morning of Thursday December 6, with the complex down by an average of 0.9%. Continued weakness in equities, bond yields and increased trade tensions between the United States and China seem to be weighing on sentiment.

Good morning from Fastmarkets MB’s offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Thursday December 6.

Base metals prices, bar those for zinc, on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly lower during Asian morning trading on Thursday December 6, with lingering concerns surrounding the trade tensions between the United States and China causing prices to soften.

Fastmarkets has today changed the publication time of its CIS export steel billet index, fob Black Sea ports, from 2pm to 4pm London time.

Fastmarkets MB proposes to launch two new manganese ore China port indices on a free-on-truck (fot) basis.

Fastmarkets MB proposes to discontinue four weekly tin spot premium assessments in Rotterdam, Shanghai and Singapore due to a lack of spot liquidity.

Brazilian miner Vale will be investing an additional $500 million in VNC, its nickel operations in the South Pacific country of New Caledonia on expectations of increased demand from rising electric vehicle (EV) output, chief executive officer Fabio Schvartsman said on Tuesday December 4.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed in the morning of Wednesday December 5, with zinc and copper up by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively, while the rest of the complex was little changed or weaker.

Vale has hailed the launch of a derivative contract by the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Monday December 3 as a positive development for the high-grade iron ore market.

Good morning from Fastmarkets MB’s offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Wednesday December 5.