EUROPEAN MORNING BRIEF 06/09: SHFE base metals prices broadly up; US secondary Al alloy prices dip; BHP buys stake in Ecuador Cu project

Good morning from Metal Bulletin's offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Thursday September 6.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly up during Asian morning trading on Thursday, with zinc and copper pulling the rest of the complex higher. Lead and tin bucked the general strength, with both metals' prices undergoing a correction following recent gains.

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Most secondary aluminium alloy prices ticked lower in the United States on Tuesday September 4, with a new record-wide spread between benchmark A380.1 and non-ferrous auto shred (twitch) heightening the pressure on alloys.

BHP has entered into an agreement to buy a small stake in an Australian junior mining company that owns and operates a copper-gold project in Ecuador.

Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios recounts a career that has included work at Cern, the European Commission and a long and loyal period at BP before he took up his present role during interesting times for the aluminium industry.

Steel industry associations in Mexico and Canada have called on the governments of Mexico, Canada and the United States to eliminate all trade restrictions on steel and aluminium between North American trading partners as part of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mixed outlook for gold as it remains range bound for past three months

Gold stocks down on flat metal price

Gold stocks down on metal decline

Huge quantifiable rise in geopolitical, economic and trade risks

Platinum clearly ahead of palladium for first time in seven years