For the last couple of years it’s been all about the raw materials. First iron ore miners were looking for record increases at annual benchmark negotiations, then coking coal producers pitched for the same.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are split into two camps this morning, Thursday March 8, with copper ($6,924 per tonne), nickel, zinc and tin prices all down by an average of 0.6%, while aluminium and lead prices are up by an average of 0.3%.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are down across the board by an average of 0.3% this morning, Wednesday March 7. Nickel leads the decline with a 0.9% drop to $13,520 per tonne, while the rest are off between less than 0.1% and 0.3%, with three-month copper prices at $6,977 per tonne.

The base metals are in a stronger mood this morning, Wednesday August 16, as markets stabilise following the recent spate of risk aversion created by rising tensions between the USA and North Korea, while a slightly softer tone in the dollar has lent modest support to the precious metals.

Base metals prices remained on a back footing this morning, Monday July 16, with three-month prices on the London Metal Exchange down by an average of 0.7%. Prices are in low ground with US trade policy and slow/slowing global economic growth weighing on prices.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange have started to weaken as European trading gets underway with three-month prices off by an average of 0.2% this morning, Tuesday July 18.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Wednesday March 13, with copper, aluminium, nickel and zinc down by an average of 0.2%, while lead was up by 0.6% and tin was little changed.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are up by an average of 0.5% this morning, Friday July 21. Tin is bucking the trend with prices off 0.1% at $20,090 per tonne, while the rest have gains of between 0.4% for aluminium and 0.7% for zinc, with three-month copper prices up 0.6% at $6,009 per tonne. Copper seems to be grinding away at overhead supply.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Thursday March 14, with copper, nickel, lead and zinc down by an average of 0.4%, while lead and tin were up by 0.1% 0.4% respectively.

Base metals on the London Metal Exchange are up across the board this morning, Monday June 19, as they have been for the past two business days, with lead, zinc and nickel managing to see follow through buying, while the others look less positive.