European long steel buyers were quiet throughout December on uncertainties arising from the United States' various trade wars, but a European Commission quota proposal in January has offered some hope of more certainty to sellers.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part consolidating this morning, Tuesday August 22, after a generally strong performance on Monday when the complex closed up by an average of 1%.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part firmer this morning, Tuesday September 18. This despite US President Donald Trump imposing 10% tariffs on a further $200 billion of Chinese exports – the market no doubt relieved it was not 25%.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are on divergent paths this morning, Thursday August 3, with zinc prices up 0.6%, lead prices up 0.3%, aluminium is unchanged, while nickel leads on the downside with a 0.3% fall, tin prices are off 0.2% and copper prices are down 0.1% at $6,345 per tonne. Volume has been high with 9,666 lots traded as of 07:09 BST.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part firmer this morning, Wednesday December 12, with average gains of 0.3%. This after the complex climbed by an average of 0.4% on Tuesday, which followed Monday’s test of support levels – that held.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are off to a slower start this week with three-month prices up an average of just 0.1%. Copper prices are off 0.4% at $5,937 per tonne, aluminium prices are off 0.1%, while the rest are up between 0.2% and 0.4%. Volume has been average at 5,241 lots as of 06:46 BST.

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

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.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part stronger on the morning of Tuesday May 8, with all the metals, except tin (-0.7%), up by an average of 0.7%. Zinc led the advance with a 1% gain and copper was up by 0.2% at $6,858 per tonne.

Nickel prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange surged to a four-month high on Monday February 11 following a rally in iron ore futures on the first trading day after China’s break for the Lunar New Year.