The impact of Covid-19 lockdowns continues for Vietnam’s agricultural sector

Turkish import scrap prices regained some of their losses early in the week that began on October 9, while trading – which came to a pause mid-week due to rising political tensions between the USA and Turkey – resumed on Friday October 13.

The reopening of Chinese markets this morning, Monday October 9, after last week’s holiday has led to a fairly strong start to the week for the base metals, the exception being lead, which is the sole metal in negative territory.

A correction is underway in the three-month base metals prices traded on the London Metal Exchange with prices off by an average of 0.5% on the morning of Thursday February 21, compared with Wednesday’s closing levels.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part under pressure during morning trading on Thursday October 25, with the complex down by an average of 0.2%. Poor US new home sales data on Wednesday and weakness in equity markets are weighing on market sentiment.

The base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange have kicked off the new trading week with a broadly positive performance this morning, Monday April 23.

London Metal Exchange base metals prices have generally been weak in recent days but some dip-buying seems to be emerging, which for now is providing support. But, with much of Asia in, or heading for, Golden Week and Labor Day holidays, liquidity is likely to shrink either leading to more volatility, or quiet trading in the days ahead.

Decreases in China’s domestic and export coke prices have not been halted, although some market participants had expected they would, because the steel markets have yet to gain momentum and coking coal prices are still weakening.

Generally London Metal Exchange prices have been weak in recent days and the strong dollar has been a factor in that, but dip-buying appears to be providing support in morning trading on Friday April 26.

While most of Japan's mini-mill operators are seeing an improvement in their financial situation, their results for the fiscal first half of 2013-2014 fell short of those announced by the country's big three producers.