Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the close of trading on Friday December 28, with most of the complex trading in narrow ranges while both lead and tin futures climbed more than 1% over the afternoon.
Lead's three-month price was the best performer over the afternoon, climbing 1.5% and trading at its highest level since October 17. By contrast, zinc's three-month price fell over 2% during afternoon trading, dipping below $2,500 per tonne and reaching its lowest level since November 27, while copper futures consolidated higher but closed below $6,000 per tonne. Quiet trading over the holiday period has kept LME volumes low - with 12,500 lots of aluminium the highest in the complex - however, continued uncertainty over US diplomacy and trade relations with China continue to deter commodity investment."We can agree there is a toxic level of concern [with] the trade war, the partial government shutdown, the direction of Fed policy, Trump's criticism...