Base metals on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher during morning trading on Monday June 18, despite pressure from another surge in the US dollar index.
Lead's three-month price has kept firm above $2,400 per tonne, trading 1% higher since Friday's close,. The curtailment of treatment charges (TCs) in China - at records lows of $15-25 per tonne - as well as ongoing supply disruptions in Iran are keeping the metal's three-month price in positive territory. A rekindling of trade disputes between the US and China has added further pressure to the base metals complex, with the US dollar index subsequently reaching a fresh 2018 high of 95.14 on Friday June 15. Despite the complex dipping around 2% across the board on Friday, base metals have shown signs of recovery, with aluminium, nickel and lead prices regaining support. "Metals prices are likely...