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.

While the ferro-alloys community prepares to gather in Lisbon, Portugal, Metal Bulletin looks at some of the key topics likely to dominate discussions at this year’s International Ferro-alloys Conference.

The London Metal Exchange will introduce market-making programmes to enhance the liquidity of its new products and existing contracts, it said on Thursday August 20.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part stronger on the morning of Monday March 4, with all but tin in positive territory. The complex recorded an average gain of 0.4%, while tin was down by 0.1% at $21,630 per tonne.

Recent anti-dumping cases involving Turkish steel companies should offer a lesson in the protection of domestic industries, according to Namik Ekinci, chairman of the Turkish Steel Exporters Assn (CIB).

Despite a firmer dollar, the three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are up across the board by an average of 0.8% this morning, Wednesday November 28. Nickel and tin are the outperformers with gains of 1.4% and 1.1% respectively.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Friday March 15, with copper, aluminium and nickel up by an average of 0.6%, while zinc, lead and tin were down by an average of 0.6%.

A drop in China’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) to 49.2 in February, from 49.5 in January, has set a weaker tone across markets with base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange mostly lower and down by an average of 0.3% in the morning of Thursday February 28.

Turkish steel producers are unfairly being subjected to a host of protectionist measures by other countries looking to support their own steel mills, according to the Turkish Steel Exporters Assn.

The three-month tin price on the London Metal Exchange stood out as the strongest performer among its peers with a gain of 1.2% this morning, Monday November 26. Three-month copper ($6,183 per tonne) and aluminium were up by 0.2%, while the rest were down by 0.3%.