A Chinese copper smelter entered month-long maintenance for April

Shanghai base metals all cruised higher on Friday morning after the head of the Federal Reserve told Congress he saw no need to rush the shift towards tighter post-pandemic monetary policy. Meanwhile, their counterparts on the LME mostly cruised lower.

Shanghai base metals were mostly higher on Monday morning as investors digested a better-than-expected US jobs report. Meanwhile, their counterparts on the LME fell for the most part.

Shanghai base metals mostly cruised lower on Tuesday morning despite gains overnight on Wall Street that saw the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite touching fresh record closing highs. Meanwhile, their counterparts on the LME traded mixed.

Shanghai base metals basically went up in the overnight trading after an agreement was reached between democratic and republican parties on Biden’s 579 billion infrastructure plan. LME base metals mostly increased as well.

Shanghai base metals all went up on Wednesday night as the US June Markit PMI for manufacturing industry registered 62.6. LME base metals all rose as well.

Nonferrous metals on the SHFE were mostly higher on Thursday morning on a positive note following record gains on Wall Street after the US Federal Reserve’s policymaking committee voted to keep short-term borrowing rates near zero. Meanwhile, their counterparts on the LME also rose for the most part.

Shanghai base metals were mostly higher on Monday morning as investors reacted to last week’s US jobs report that trounced expectations and fueled hopes for a faster economic recovery. Meanwhile, their counterparts on the LME rose across the board.

Most steelmakers in China continued to maintain full operations and the impact of maintenance on output will further reduce from a month ago in June, driven by existing profits of rebar.

Output of cold-rolled steel (including galvanised steel) at Benxi Iron & Steel is expected to reduce 158,000 mt in May as the steelmaker plans to put a cold rolling mill into maintenance this month, sources told SMM. 

Tangsteel, a subsidiary of China's biggest steelmaker Hebei Iron and Steel Group (HBIS Group), planned to put its 1# galvanising lines into maintenance for three days from April 1, sources told SMM.