Noranda Income Fund said its main challenge currently is for its zinc processing facility to continue to operate profitably amid current low treatment charges.

Metal Bulletin has amended its formula for calculating the daily copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel arbitrage between the Chinese and global metals markets.

Fraser Phillips, of RBC Capital Markets, took first place on Metal Bulletin’s 2013 Apex leaderboard for his zinc price predictions.

Metal Bulletin is to update its formula for calculating the daily copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel arbitrage between the Chinese and global metals markets.

The three-month zinc price on the London Metal Exchange was higher during morning trading on Tuesday March 31, with upward price action supported by an 8,825-tonne fresh cancelation, while strong Chinese purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data bolstered the base metals complex.

Historic payment structures are enabling zinc smelters to raise primary output even as market-related terms such as metal premiums and concentrate treatment charges remain low; but the opposite is true for lead.

The delivered US premium for special-high-grade zinc remains steady as a recent pullback in London Metal Exchange prices has yet to stir up much additional spot business.

What were the key market moves and news over the past week? Metal Bulletin's editor Alex Harrison rounds it up.

Good morning from Fastmarkets MB’s offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Friday November 16.

Zinc premiums in Johor have fallen amid availability of material and backwardation in London Metal Exchange prices, market participants said.