In his final column for Metal Bulletin, Lord Copper looks over the events that have shaped the metals industry during his tenure and considers and what might be in store over the coming years.
ValeteWell, it's been a good run since December 2009 but now has come the parting of the ways. This is the last time Lord Copper will grace the pages - or, rather, the pixels - of Metal Bulletin. Looking back over those nine or so years, what have been the highlights? From an LME point of view, I guess one would have to say the sale of the exchange to HKEX. That sale was made at what I would still suggest was a massive price, brokered by then-LME chief executive Martin Abbott.The tier one shareholding group of members will be grateful for a long time to come - perhaps. Of course, although they banked a healthy number of pounds, they simultaneously...