Metal Bulletin’s Charlotte Radford reviews some of the key news and price moves from the past seven days.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were broadly down on the morning of Friday October 29 following a brief rally on Thursday, however all but aluminium look set for a positive monthly close.

Zinc prices continued to strengthen on the London Metal Exchange this morning, Wednesday October 4, while the rest of the base metals were on divergent paths.

Zinc concentrate treatment charges (TCs) rose to their highest level this year in May, with smelters refraining from purchases of spot tonnages. And the upward trend in lead concentrate TCs reversed after an import arbitrage opened up in China.

Zhuzhou, China’s biggest zinc smelter, is meeting its commitment to cut 50,000 tonnes of refined zinc production this year, sources said - and other smelters in the country could follow suit while raw material concentrates become more expensive and progressively scarcer.

Zinc prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were down during morning trading on Thursday June 20, tracking the weakness exhibited by the galvanizing metal’s three-month price on the London Metal Exchange overnight.

Metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are up across the board this morning, Friday February 16, by an average of 0.4%, while trading activity has been light due to the Lunar New Year holiday.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly down during morning trading on Tuesday July 10, led by a significant drop in zinc prices, while ongoing uncertainty around Sino-US trade relations hampers the complex.

Zinc led the rest of the base metals traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange downward during morning trading on Wednesday April 24, with stock inflows and a firm dollar weighing on the galvanizing metal’s prices.

There was broad weakness across the base metals traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange during morning trading on Wednesday May 8, with growing trade concerns denting market sentiment and triggering a wave of selling.