Steel billet prices in Turkey bucked the general global trend during the working week from Monday October 9 to Friday October 13, rising slightly with a rebound in scrap prices.

Global scrap prices remained generally stable except in Taiwan during the working week from Monday March 12 to Friday March 16, amid the uncertainty created by the implementation of Section 232 tariffs in the United States and widespread weak demand for finished steel products.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are on divergent paths so far this morning, Wednesday April 18, despite the strong risk sentiment seen across wider financial markets following solid earnings results and the surprise monetary easing announced by China’s central bank.

The underlying theme remains unchanged with the base metals prices continuing to oscillate within sideways trends, although some prices, such as tin and zinc, are starting to edge higher.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were down across the board by an average of 1% on the morning of Wednesday August 1. Zinc led the decline with a 1.7% drop to $2,590 per tonne, while copper was down by 1.2% at $6,244 per tonne.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are consolidating this morning, Wednesday April 11, following a strong recovery in the previous session.

Fears of a trade war between the United States and China coupled with weaker pre-holiday demand led to prices for billet in Southeast Asia weakening over the past week, though those for slab appear to have been insulated from these factors as a result of thin trading.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part weaker on the morning of Tuesday October 23, with losses averaging 0.4% – the exception being tin where prices were up by 0.1%.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part stronger this morning, Tuesday April 03, with prices up by an average of 0.7%.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part firmer with gains averaging 0.6% on the morning of Friday October 19, but this follows a general down day on Thursday, when the complex closed down by an average of 0.8%.