Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were collectively higher at the close of trading on Monday January 7, with low volumes capping price rallies amid a continued dip in the dollar index.
Despite this, zinc's three-month price climbed 2.4% on just 8,000 lots traded by the close, reaching an intraday high of $2,500 per tonne for the first time since December 28 amid low LME stocks.Aluminium, copper and lead futures consolidated marginally higher this afternoon, with copper's 11,970 lots traded topping the complex - more than 52% lower than Friday's volume count of 25,000 lots. "Metals are defending last Friday's gains, although they are not rising any further against a weak dollar, which gives some rise to concern for me. The complex is moving in tandem with stock markets, which have been under pressure of late," Commerzbank Research analyst Daniel Briesemann told Fastmarkets. "Market sentiment is quite sour now, and [prices] are not necessarily out of the woods. I think the complex could move lower again, and such a...