Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly higher during morning trading on Tuesday August 20, with the complex benefitting from improved risk sentiment following positive signals in the ongoing trade war between China and the United States.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Friday March 2.

The rebounds in the base metals have paused in recent days; we wait to see if the better-than-expected Chinese official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) acts as a boost as we approach September and the end of the summer slowdown.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Wednesday June 20.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were up across the board by an average of 0.7% on the morning of Thursday August 2.

Chinese industrial profits were down by 14% in January-February compared with a year ago, marking the biggest fall since 2011. The data paints a worrying picture while the negative economic impact from China’s deleveraging activities in 2018, as well the bitter US-China trade war, continue to take a heavy toll on major industrial sectors.

After strong rallies in US equities at the start of the week that saw the Down Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) close up by 5.09%, markets are getting some comfort this morning from the prospect of easier monetary policy, which is helping them keep the negative impacts from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the background.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were all higher during the Asian morning trading session on Monday October 2, supported by the release of stronger-than-expected Chinese data and further declines in Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) stocks.

Governments’ massive efforts to support economies have provided some relief to markets and sentiment, but with the novel coronavirus (nCoV 2019) pandemic still spreading rapidly throughout Europe, the United States and elsewhere, there is still just too much uncertainty for markets to settle down.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed during morning trading on Tuesday July 17, with aluminium and lead prices down 0.1% and 0.2% respectively, while the rest of the metals were up between 0.4% for nickel and tin and 0.6% for copper. The three-month copper price recently was quoted at $6,228 per tonne.