Base metals were mixed on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) during Asian morning trading on Thursday October 12, with nickel leading the gainers amid strong fundamental support; while zinc was this morning's biggest loser, pressured by the continued rise in London Metal Exchange inventories.

Galena Mining is looking to bring 90,000 tonnes of new lead production from its Abra mine in Australia to the market in 2022 and a continuation of current price levels for the metal would suit it 'just fine', its chief executive officer Alex Moleneux said.

With no let-up in the number of coronavirus (2019-nCov) infections in China, the market is this morning, Friday February 14, waiting for signs that the virus is being contained.

In the absence of fresh economic news on Monday July 29, the early weakness in metals prices ran into dip-buying. While the base metals have not followed equities to fresh highs, far from it, the underlying supply fundamentals do seem to be providing support.

Base metals traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly weaker during Asian morning trading on Thursday March 15, with heavy losses seen in nickel and zinc prices, while lead was the only metal to push higher.

Growing fears in recent days that the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic is becoming a pandemic have given global equity markets a reality check and base metals that had initially reacted more than equities are now down less than equities, so may have some catching up to do.

Markets were for the most part upbeat this morning, Friday August 21, with all of the base metals on the London Metal Exchange firmer, as were most Asian-Pacific equities, although they are firmer within consolidation patterns.

Base metals prices were down across the board during Asian morning trading on Wednesday January 24, with copper leading the losses following a sharp increase in red metal stocks on the London Metal Exchange overnight.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange tumbled further during morning trading on Thursday August 16, pressured by persistent strength in the dollar, which has been underpinned by positive economic data from the United States this week.

Base metals prices traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were all up during Asian morning trading on Monday February 25, with copper and tin outperforming the rest of the complex.