LME: Friday base metal prices

Today’s trade was broadly higher for all the base metal prices. The prices saw a little, but positive movement. Yesterday, prices were following a certain rally during the day, but they dipped just before the close.

Copper is currently trading at $5,560 per tonne. It hit highs of over $5,600 per tonne yesterday afternoon, but fell down at the end of a day.

Speaking about the three-month nickel price, it is starting to recover from last week’s falls. It was trading up at $9,355 per tonne this morning.

Regarding Tin prices, they saw a small decline. All  the other base metals recorded minimal price increases.

Copper price aiming higher

Copper is the most ”popular” over all the base metals currently. Firstly the 3-month copper price was up $17 at $5,560 per tonne.
Copper Stocks fell by 7,350 to 329,375 tonnes.
BHP Billiton is continuing the negotiations for possible sale of Cerro Colorado copper mine in Chile.

“We still see uncertainties over whether domestic consumption will support the decline of inventories, and whether the peak consumption season will turn out to be bullish.” (Metal Bulletin)

China’s deleveraging has had great impact on Market enthusiasm. As well as the optimistic trends.

Base metals increase; decline for tin

Firstly, observing the three-month aluminium price, it was up $12 to $1,887 per tonne. Aluminium stocks were down 8,650 tonnes to 1,556,150.
Secondly, the three-month nickel price is trading at $9,355 per tonne. It is calculated the increase of $45. Following, nickel stocks increased for the fourth day in a row, rising 1,224 tonnes to 380,610 tonnes.

Thirdly, zinc price increased $15 per tonne. It is now trading at $2,606 per tonne. Stocks increased 2,050 tonnes to 345,150. Zinc stocks have risen 10,550 tonnes over the last four days.

The three-month lead price rose $4 to $2,181 per tonne. Stocks rose 350 tonnes to 183,150 tonnes.  Tin was the only base metal to see a decline; the three-month price fell $15 to $19,850 per tonne.

Stocks for tin fell 20 tonnes to 2,310 tonnes after two days unchanged.

Currencies & data

Observing the the dollar index, it was unchanged at 99.64.  The Brent crude oil spot price was down 0.40% to $50.61 per barrel.
In equities, the UK FSTE 100 was up 18.07 to 7404.7. The latest data shows that US PPI data was stronger than expected. At 0.5% month-on-month in April against market expectations of 0.2%.

There is a host of US data out today including CPI, retail sales and preliminary University of Michigan consumer sentiment and inflation expectations, while the EU has monthly industrial production data due.

LME Asia week; Hong Kong

As this year’s LME Asia Week 2017 draws to a close, reporters and editors who were in Hong Kong during this week round up the key themes and topics discussed at the fifth annual event. Metal Bulletin reported about 10 main topics that were discussed in Hong Kong. They wrote about comments, ideas and CEO’s discussions that happened there, and gave a nice brief summary on this closing.

Visit http://www.metalbulletin.com for further info.