Asian equities were weaker in the morning of Wednesday July 31 on uncertainty on the progress in US/China trade negotiations, although base metals, which have focused more on brighter Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data, rose by an average of 0.4%.

Markets are once again consolidating in the morning of Friday August 30, waiting to see how the United States responds to China’s comments that it wants to make a trade deal.

With little changed in the big picture, markets continue to oscillate while they consolidate - US and European equity indices were lower on Thursday July 25 and most Asian equities were weaker this morning.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are ticking higher this morning, Friday August 18, which could reflect some tactical short-covering ahead of the weekend in spite of a return to risk-off mode, evidenced in losses across Asian equities and the appreciation in funding currencies such as the yen. Zinc (+1.4%) is the strongest performer while copper (-0.1%) and tin (-0.1%) are the laggards of the complex.

A boom in construction is driving growth in East Africa’s steel industry. In the first of a series of reports, Nina Nasman gives a rundown of Kenya’s and Tanzania’s biggest names in steel.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange exhibited mixed movements while consolidating this morning, Thursday January 17. Copper, nickel, lead and zinc were down by between 0.1% and 0.5%, while aluminium and tin prices were up by 0.3% and 0.4% respectively.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly lower during morning trading on Friday October 5, with aluminium bucking the trend.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part weaker this morning, Monday March 5, with the complex down by an average of 0.4%.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part weaker during morning trading on Monday October 8.

Profits at Noble Group’s mining and metals division fell by 33% year-on-year in the first quarter on a weak performance in aluminium and continued pressure on the steel industry, which buys coke, coal and iron ore from the trading company