The world of metals trading has been transformed over the past 30 years. Long, lazy lunches and quiet afternoons have given way to 24-hour trading and aggressive market-making. But, Lord Copper asks, did the market change us, or did we change the market?

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly up during Asian morning trading on Thursday January 31, supported by easing trade tensions and a softer dollar.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are up by an average of 0.5% this morning, Monday September 11, with prices ranged between up by 1.2% for zinc and down by 0.1% for tin – three-month copper prices are up by 0.4% at $6,710 per tonne.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are split into two camps this morning, Thursday March 8, with copper ($6,924 per tonne), nickel, zinc and tin prices all down by an average of 0.6%, while aluminium and lead prices are up by an average of 0.3%.

With Chinese participants returning from holiday, they have taken to selling into the recent metal price gains, with the three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange for the most part weaker during morning trading on Tuesday September 25.

Metal Bulletin provides answers to the key questions raised during our recent web seminar that discussed the feasibility of new reference prices for the tungsten industry, in light of a consultation opened in May 2017.

Volatility has picked up in the base metals trading on the London Metals Exchange in recent days, with prices down an average of 0.4% this morning, Thursday March 23. This is after prices rebounded on Wednesday afternoon following a bout of weakness that started on Monday.

The base metals are looking a bit firmer and better placed to work higher this morning, Tuesday July 11.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are mixed this morning, Tuesday June 20, with copper and zinc prices both down 0.4% with three-month copper prices at $5,701 per tonne, while the rest of the metals are up between 0.1% and 0.3%.

Base metal prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were up across the board during Asian morning trading on Monday November 19, supported by a retreat in the dollar following dovish rhetoric from the United States Federal Reserve at the end of last week.