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.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are split into two camps with copper, aluminium and nickel prices up an average of 0.5% with three-month copper at $5,887 per tonne, while zinc, lead and tin prices are down an average of 0.2% – but volume has been light with 3,844 lots traded as of 06.43 BST.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange remain under pressure this morning, Monday April 10, with three-month prices down an average of 0.2%.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part stronger this morning, Friday March 16, with all of the metals, except tin, showing average gains of 0.4%. Copper is up by 0.5% at $6,956 per tonne, while tin is off by 0.1% at $20,970 per tonne.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part little changed this morning, Tuesday March 13. The exceptions are copper, where the three-month price is down by 0.4% at $6,888 per tonne, and zinc which is up by 0.6% at $3,262 per tonne.

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.

The three-month base metals prices traded on the London Metal Exchange were mixed and little changed on the morning of Tuesday February 19.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are down across the board by an average of 0.6% this morning, Wednesday March 28. Losses are bunched together between 0.9% for lead and 0.3% for aluminium, with copper off by 0.7% at $6,613 per tonne.

Disappointment that United States/China trade talks are not making progress has once again dampened sentiment in the London Metal Exchange's three-month base metals prices to the extent there has been little follow through to the strength seen at the end of last week.

Better Chinese manufacturing data has surprised the market and boosted three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange by an average of 1% this morning, Monday April 1.