CIJENE OBOJENIH METALA NA BURZI U LONDONU

LONDONSKA BURZA KOVINA: SLUŽBENE CIJENE 24.04.1997. LME OFFICIAL PRICES - APR 24 CASH 3 MTHS 15 MTHS 27 MTHS SETT COPPER 2588.0/90.0 2386.0/88.0 2110.0/20.0 2050.0/60.0 2590 (STG EQV) 1596.5 1474.02 TIN 5712/5715 5755/5760 5820/5830 5715 LEAD 630.00/1.00 636.50/7.00 665.00/0.00 631 (STG EQV) 388.95 393.2 ZINC 1263.0/63.5 1286.0/86.5 1252.0/57.0 1210.0/15.0 1263.5 ALU.HG 1574.0/75.0 1607.0/07.5 1628.0/33.0 1610.0/15.0 1575 NICKEL 7415/7420 7529/7531 7775/7795 7955/7975 7420 ALALLOY 1470.0/75.0 1495.0/00.0 1580.0/00.0 1475 SETTLEMENT RATES - GBP 1.6223 DEM 1.7191 JPY 126.13 Copper strong on LME, stalls near $2,400 LONDON, April 24 (Reuter) - The rise in copper prices reversed within a whisker of the $2,400 a tonne level during Thursday LME trading, although prices were still substantially higher, as nearby technical tightness intensified, traders said. Most other metals were higher also by the midsession recess, although price gains were not particularly significant, with the copper market currently seen as a "one-off". "There are two markets really. But the others are getting a hand from copper," one trader said. In copper, three months hit a peak of $2,399 before falling back, but volumes were not large as the forward market was taking a back seat to the action in the spreads. The benchmark cash/threes backwardation traded at $210, but the real heat was been seen between the end of April and early May. These crunch dates become prompt next week, when trading is likely to be choppy. Among the high premiums seen, end-April to May 2 was at $35/40, May 2 to the May date (21) traded at $75, while May 1/2 was at a $16/18 backwardation. The fundamental impetus for the current strong market emanates from labour disputes in Chile, the impasse at Phelps Dodge, the smelter closure at Kennecott, and low output in Zambia, they said. Last three months business was at $2,382, well down from the high, but still up $15 a tonne from Wednesday's kerb close. Aluminium struggled to gain a foothold above $1,600, running into profit-taking and commission house selling, and final kerb business was at $1,603, up just $1.50. Elsewhere, nickel maintained its good form, shrugging off the resumption of exports of metal from Eramet's New Caledonia, and settling above $7,500. Prices closed the kerb at $7,540, up $60. Zinc was also steadier, assisted by fundamental strength, and gained $2 at $1,285. However, lead and tin both lacked interest and lost ground in desultory trade. Last lead trade was $4 easier at $635, while tin was quoted at a softer $5,755/65. Alloy, by comparison, was marked up to $1,498/1,500. 250938 MET apr 97