On the Fourth Batch of Government Stockpiles of Copper, Zinc and Aluminium

Total zinc ingots inventories across seven major markets in China stood at 284,100 mt as of April 15, up 6,100 mt from April 8, down 3,700 mt from April 11.

The British government said that the measures taken by the US to cancel import tariffs on British steel and aluminium will take effect on June 1.

Shanghai base metals mostly trended lower on Tuesday morning after US dollar rallied significantly. Meanwhile, their counterparts on LME performed similarly.

Shanghai nonferrous metals mostly closed in the positive territory as the market was cheered up by the macro front, as China released its December official manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMI readings, which topped market expectation.

SHFE and LME zinc prices once again hit new highs in two months, mainly owing to the continuously rising electricity and natural gas prices which rose by more than 20% amid intensifying energy shortages in the eurozone, according to SMM. Meanwhile, the costs of smelters also climbed due to low zinc concentrate TCs as a result of tight supply.

Shanghai base metals basically trended lower amid a cautious market which expected the Fed to wrap up the bond purchasing program early than estimate. Meanwhile, their counterparts on LME mostly closed in the positive zone.

Shanghai base metals basically trended higher on Friday morning. Meanwhile, their counterparts on LME trended mixed.

China’s copper cathode output stood at 825,900 mt in November, up 4.6% month on month and 0.5% year on year

Market focus this week includes the readings of the manufacturing PMI in the Eurozone in November and the Markit manufacturing PMI in the United States in November; the one-year loan market interest rate as of November 22 in China. On the events front, the Federal Reserve FOMC will release the minutes of the monetary policy meeting this Thursday; Bank of England Governor Bailey will deliver a speech this Friday.

Shanghai nonferrous metals closed with mixed performances, but most of them fell in the afternoon trading as the National Energy Administration issued the guide price for thermal coal.