Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are edging higher this morning, Tuesday August 15, as global risk appetite continues to rise thanks to easing geopolitical tensions following the North Korean leader’s decision to back off plans to launch a military attack on the USA. Lead (+1.2%) is the strongest performer while copper (+0.2%) and tin (+0.2%) are the laggards. Volume has been average with 6,017 lots traded as of 06:30 BST.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are under slight downward pressure this morning, in part due to the release of disappointing Chinese trade data for July. While nickel (-0.8%) performs the worst, aluminium (+0.1%) is the only base metal in positive territory. Volume has been average with 7,613 lots traded as of 05:47 BST.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed on the morning of Tuesday July 24; while copper prices were up by 0.4% at $6,154 per tonne, aluminium and tin prices were down by 0.4% and the rest were little changed.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly up during Asian morning trading on Thursday February 14, but gains were somewhat limited amid a firmer dollar and caution ahead of high level trade talks between China and the United States.

Jittery stock markets and ongoing disappointment over United States/China trade developments continued to put either a cap on the base metals – the exception being tin that broke higher at the start of this week – or keep them under pressure, in the likes of nickel and aluminium.

Price gains inspired by the trade developments at the Group of Twenty (G20) summit over the weekend were sold into during afternoon trading on Monday December 3, but likewise the dips have been bought into again this morning.

Over the past week the metals have looked stronger and some dovish comments by United States President Donald Trump over US-China trade relations seem to have provided a slight confidence boost, but headwinds are being felt this morning, Monday September 16.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly down during Asian morning trading on Wednesday July 4, with copper prices sliding to a near two-month low amid weakness in the yuan versus the dollar and an uptick in trade tensions between the United States and China.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed during the morning trading session on Thursday March 14, with lackluster Chinese data released earlier in the day failing to inspire a meaningful move in either direction for the complex.

The first day of the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Japan gets underway on Friday June 28. With world leaders gathering at the event, and a few notable meetings scheduled on the sidelines, market participants will be keeping a close eye on any developments.