Latest News

Tightness in LME market drives zinc to 20-month high

Zinc rates in London struck their greatest in more than 20 months on Thursday as the key spread out on the London Metal Exchange (LME) jumped to a massive premium despite flat need in leading metals customer China.

Three-month zinc on the LME rose 1.9% to $3,203.50 a. metric ton by 1014 GMT after hitting $3,284 for its highest. since early February in 2015.

Basics are relatively soft or not so tight at the moment,. with zinc need in China being flat, so a lot of this action. is driven by other factors, said Dan Smith, head of research at. Amalgamated Metal Trading.

The premium on money LME zinc over the benchmark three-month. contract << CMZN0-3 > jumped to $58 a ton on Wednesday, its highest. considering that September 2022.

The growth in the premium, referred to as backwardation, is. related to tightness in near-term supply with one party holding. between 50% and 79% of available stocks in the LME-registered. warehouses. << 0 #LME- WHL > There is also a long position holder with 10-19% of LME. November futures' open interest and someone also holds a long. position in December with 20-29%. << 0 #LME- FBR >

There are moments when someone would get captured short,. stated Smith. Regarding those who have a long position, nobody knows. when they are going to provide it up. It is a bit of a poker video game,. actually.

Backwardation in zinc is not uncommon however for the short-term. we go with the marketplace as it something one can't overlook.

Zinc might gain more upward momentum if it ends Thursday. above $3,200, he added.

LME aluminium was up 0.9% at $2,692 a heap after. hitting its greatest because May 31 at $2,715, supported by a. tightening alumina market.

Exports of alumina basic material bauxite from Guinea Alumina. Corporation (GAC) were suspended by Guinea, a major exporter,. about 2 weeks earlier.

LME copper rose 0.8% to $9,598 a load, lead. was up 0.5% at $2,072.50, tin leapt 1.4% to $31,315 and. nickel firmed by 0.3% to $16,350.

(source: Reuters)