The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Thursday July 26.

Nickel and tin led the pack in trading among base metals, with the rest of the complex demonstrating minimal movements on Wednesday July 25. Read more here in our live futures report.

Here are how prices looked at the close of trading:

Members of the main union at theEscondida copper mine in Chile are holding meetings to counter BHP's latestcontract offer, and the union will officially vote on July 28 on whether to accept the deal orstrike.

Early negotiations are under wayon a labor contract at the Cerro Verde mine in Peru, thecountry's largest copper operation, according to majority ownerFreeport-McMoRan. 

Freeport-McMoRan increasedits copper production by 13.4% in the first half of the year, led by majoroutput gains at Grasberg in Indonesia. Freeport also is seeking an extension of its Indonesian subsidiary's temporary special license that would allow it to remain in effect until all definitive agreements on itsmining rights in the country are complete. 

Ukrainiansteelmaker Metinvest will decrease its pig iron shipment volumes because of planned increases to steelproduction once a new continuous casting machine starts up at its IlyichSteel mill in Mariupol.

Prices ofdomestic hollow steel sections made in Europe remained flat this week but the preliminary decision made in the European Union's safeguard case could push up prices soon.

Finally, Domestic pricesfor hot-rolled coil in Europe have gone up slightly over the past week, supported by the effects of thepreliminary decision in the EU safeguard case.

Monetary-driven precious metals outperform major base metals

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Major monetary drivers still supporting gold