Base metals on the London Metal Exchange are for the most part consolidating this morning, Wednesday February 14. Nickel prices are the most energetic with a 0.7% gain to $13,520 per tonne, the others are ranged between down 0.2% and up 0.3%, with copper prices unchanged at $7,017 per tonne.
Volume has been below average, with 7,611 lots traded as of 07.19 am London time. This follows a second day of strength, with prices closing up by an average of 1.8% on Tuesday. The precious metals are also firmer this morning with gains averaging 0.3%. Spot gold prices are up by 0.2% at $1,333.95 per oz. This follows gains of 0.7% yesterday. On the Shanghai Futures Exchange, the base metals are up by an average of 2%, with aluminium prices bucking the trend with a 1.8% fall. LME aluminium prices managed to shake off the 166,225 tonnes of stock inflow yesterday, but it appears to have weighed on aluminium sentiment in China. Copper prices are up 1.6% at 52,710 yuan ($8,313) per tonne, while spot copper prices in Changjiang are up by 1.0% at 51,990-52,150 yuan per tonne and the LME/Shanghai copper arbitrage ratio has eased to 7.51, down from 7.54...