ASIAN MORNING BRIEF 18/09: LME base metals prices await direction; Rusal gets OK to negotiate some contracts with existing US customers; Indonesia to become major battery-grade Ni supplier, analyst says

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Tuesday September 18.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange showed mixed movement on Monday September 17, with the complex awaiting new direction. Read more in our live futures report.

Here are how prices looked at the close of trading:


The United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has said it will allow Russian aluminium producer UC Rusal to negotiate some new contracts with existing customers, provided they are "consistent with past practices."

Indonesia will become a major source of battery-grade nickel despite a lack of nickel sulfide resources, Macquarie Capital senior commodities consultant Jim Lennon said last week.

The disparity between aluminium prices on the LME and bullish factors in the physical market were key talking points at Metal Bulletin's 33rd Aluminium Conference in Berlin last week.

Spot market copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) were stable during early September, with smelters picking up tonnes for the fourth quarter and traders angling bets on 2019 terms in recent tenders.

Seaborne iron ore concentrate prices in China have continued to rise on limited domestic supply, while winter production restrictions have begun to affect the northeastern region of the country.

Import prices for steel slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia were flat over the past week due to a lack of transactions, with buyers holding back from further procurement in hopes of lower offers.

Indian rerolling-grade hot-rolled coil continued to drive down prices for imports of the product sold into Vietnam.

Gold stocks propelled by gain in metal and equities

Big Gold producers report strong Q1/24 results

Gold stocks decline as metal drop offsets equity risk on

Canadian mining equity capital raising robust in 2023, early 2024

Gold stocks gain even as metal price pulls back