SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals traded weakly on Wednesday April 4 as zinc led losses with a drop over 1.1%. Lead lost almost 0.7%, aluminium fell nearly 0.3%, and nickel, copper, and tin edged down.The ferrous complex saw wider drops than nonferrous metals as iron ore slumped some 4.2%. Rebar dipped over 1.1%, and hot-rolled coil slid nearly 1%. Coke and coking coal inched up over...Read More
SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) – Transactions cooled in the spot market for copper in Shanghai on Wednesday April 4 as premiums were offered at 30-70 yuan/mt against the SHFE 1804 contract. This compared with a premium of 30-100 yuan/mt on Tuesday April 3.Cargo holders made lower offers to cash in on the last trading day ahead of the Qingming Festival holiday, while traders bought on lower...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange are down by an average of 0.4% this morning, Wednesday April 4. Tin is the only metal showing any gains, while the rest are down between 0.4% and 0.7%, with copper off by 0.4% at $6,783 per tonne. Volume has been average with 7,996 lots traded as of 07.36am London time. This follows a general day of gains on Tuesday when the complex closed with avera...Read More
SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) – This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.Last nightThe US dollar inched up and stood firmly above 90 as US stocks rebounded and as the euro edged down.SHFE metals fell across the board, except for copper and nickel, with zinc down close to 1%. Most LME metals gained, with nickel up close to 1%. LME copper touc...Read More
SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) – Sellers in the zinc spot market in Shanghai held back as the SHFE 1805 contract rebounded after touching a low of 24,600 yuan/mt on the morning of Wednesday April 4, SMM learned. The 0# zinc traded at 24,650-24,760 yuan/mt.The 0# common brand traded flat to a premium of 10 yuan/mt against the SHFE 1805 contract, compared with a discount of 10-0 yuan/mt the previous da...Read More
SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) – This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.Last nightThe US dollar inched up and stood firmly above 90 as US stocks rebounded and as the euro edged down.SHFE metals fell across the board, except for copper and nickel, with zinc down close to 1%. Most LME metals gained, with nickel up close to 1%. LME copper touc...Read More
SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) –Copper: The US dollar index climbed up and depressed copper prices following a release by the US of $50 billion of imports from China that could be subject to sweeping tariffs. LME copper moved around the daily moving averages and hit the 20-day moving average, while its SHFE counterpart performed similarly with a narrower trading range. SMM remains bullish...Read More
SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) - The operating rates of Chinese zinc smelters are likely to dip further in April, following a 2.14-percentage-point month-on-month drop in March, an SMM survey showed.This is because more smelters are expected to carry out maintenance this month although some will resume normal operations.The operating rate in March stood at 72.31%, according to the SMM survey. Zin...Read More
SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) –Copper: The US dollar index climbed up and depressed copper prices following a release by the US of $50 billion of imports from China that could be subject to sweeping tariffs. LME copper moved around the daily moving averages and hit the 20-day moving average, while its SHFE counterpart performed similarly with a narrower trading range. SMM remains bullish...Read More
SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) – This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.Last nightThe US dollar inched up and stood firmly above 90 as US stocks rebounded and as the euro edged down.SHFE metals fell across the board, except for copper and nickel, with zinc down close to 1%. Most LME metals gained, with nickel up close to 1%. LME copper touc...Read More
SHANGHAI, Apr 4 (SMM) –Copper: The US dollar index climbed up and depressed copper prices following a release by the US of $50 billion of imports from China that could be subject to sweeping tariffs. LME copper moved around the daily moving averages and hit the 20-day moving average, while its SHFE counterpart performed similarly with a narrower trading range. SMM remains bullish...Read More
China will cut value-added tax (VAT) on all imported goods by 1 percentage point, 5.9%, effective from May 1, the Finance Ministry and State Administration of Taxation said in a filing late on Wednesday April 4. China currently applies two VAT rates for different products; 17% for almost all products and 11% for some products, including agriculture. The rates will be...Read More
Metal Bulletin looks at seven key things discussed in Xi'an last month at China Iron & Steel Association's 16th International Steel Market and Trade Conference that will have a major impact on the Asian and Chinese steel markets in the coming years.China plans to cut another 30 million tonnes of steel capacity in 2018China is planning to cut another 30 million tonnes of steel capacity in 2018 as p...Read More
Copper price premiums in Shanghai rose to a 17-month high with market participants hoping for declining import costs following a cut in value-added tax (VAT), market sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday April 4.On Wednesday, the premium for copper cathodes on a cif basis rose by $3 to $78 per tonne, the highest level since October 31, 2016, according to Metal Bulletin assessments.The adjustmen...Read More
Prices for rebar produced and delivered in Southern Europe widened downward by ?,?5 per tonne this week amid continued low demand, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday April 4.Metal Bulletin's weekly domestic price assessment for rebar in Southern Europe widened downward to ?,?510-530 ($627-651) per tonne delivered on Wednesday, compared with ?,?515-530 per tonne delivered one week ago.The ass...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange dropped throughout the day on Wednesday April 4, with sentiment remaining low after US-China trade tensions escalated. The majority of the complex ended the LME kerb session lower, with only aluminium posting a slight increase of 0.6%. LME copper prices have been volatile, trading within a $200 per tonne window but cutting losses to...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Wednesday April 4. Base metals prices edged lower on the London Metal Exchange during morning trading today, as the prospect of a trade war between the United States and China continued to dampen sentiment. Aluminium's three-month price was the only contract to rise and appeared to be in consolidation mode after dropp...Read More
Good morning from Metal Bulletin's office in Singapore as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Wednesday April 4.Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, with the exception of copper and tin, were all lower during Asian morning trading on Wednesday after fears over a global trade war and weak Chinese data dampened market sentiment.On Tuesday, the office of the US Trade R...Read More
Aluminium ingot ADC 12 export prices fell after China dealt a serious blow to the raw material market with a blanket 25% tariff on US aluminium scrap.The move by China has meant that more domestic producers are looking to tolling deals to avoid paying the 25% import tax. Under the tolling deals, Chinese secondary alloy producers can import raw materials such as aluminium scrap from overseas and pr...Read More