Three-month prices for base metals on the London Metal Exchange were higher at the close of trading on Thursday July 2, with positive employment statistics from the United States lending support to the complex, while forward-buying in LME copper futures prompted a tightening of the metal's forward curve.
Economic data released in the afternoon from the US showed the country's unemployment rate for the June period fell to 11.1%, from a previous level of 13.3%.But there was a warning with the positive data, with a drop in average hourly earnings of 1.2% over...