Precious metals prices would support zinc and lead mining even if the global markets crashed, including those for base metals, panelists said at Fastmarkets' International Lead & Zinc Conference in London on Tuesday April 16.
David Stein, who manages the Aerecura Capital fund and invests directly in mines, said base metal prices including zinc and lead could fall in a wider rout of the markets. During the last quarter of 2018, the value of the dollar and the prices of precious metals such as gold and silver were strong, but equities were weak and base metal prices softened, he said. The London Metal Exchange cash price for zinc dropped to a low of $2,489 per tonne on December 31 last year from a high of $2,702 per...