Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were split into two camps during Asian morning trading on Wednesday June 26, with copper, nickel and zinc securing gains while the rest weakened marginally.

Base metals on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly higher at the close of the morning session on Thursday December 12, with optimism over a recovery in Chinese demand and a weak US currency providing support to the complex.

Base metal prices were lower across the board on the London Metal Exchange during morning trading on Friday April 6, due to the US announcing further impositions on Chinese products.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part weaker this morning, Wednesday March 21, with all of the metals, except lead and tin, showing average losses of 0.3%. Copper is down by 0.4% at $6,732 per tonne, while lead is up by 0.4% at $2,360 per tonne and tin is little changed.

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.

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%.

Despite further poor economic data at the end of last week, the three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part higher this morning, Monday March 11.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part stronger this morning, Monday January 22, with the complex up by an average of 0.2%.

China’s Caixin manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was released earlier on Wednesday April 1; it rebounded to 50.1 in March from 40.3 in February, which supports the rebound in the official PMI data released on Tuesday - another sign that purchasing managers reported conditions were just “better” in March than they were a month earlier.

Base metals traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were up strongly at the close of morning trading on Monday March 2, with the complex shrugging off dismal economic data releases from China.