Base metals at LME feel last week ahead of a key US jobs report that could shed more light on the pace of US economic growth. But they recovered a bit on Friday after a sharp improvement in the job market and higher factory orders raised hopes for stronger demand.
That ended an erratic week of small losses as investors looked for clues about what's ahead for the global economy.
The government said 243,000 jobs were added in January across a broad array of industries. Manufacturing alone added 50,000 jobs, the most in a year. January’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent and factory orders rose 1.1 percent in December.
Separately, a trade group said service companies grew at the fastest pace in 11 months in January as companies hired workers to keep up with demand.
The data pointed to an improving US economy.
London Metal Exchange Rates (Upto Thursday)
Cash Buyer
| Product | 26-Jan | 02-Feb | Change | % |
| Zinc | 2178 | 2093 | -86 | -4% |
| Nickel | 21345 | 20900 | -445 | -2% |
| Tin | 23325 | 24050 | 725 | 3% |
| Aluminium | 2232 | 2200 | -32 | -1% |
| Copper | 8555 | 8339 | -217 | -3% |
Change is on Feb 2nd as compared to 26th Jan 2012
In USD per tonne
1. Zinc
London Metal Exchange Rates
Cash Buyer
| 26-Jan | 30-Jan | 31-Jan | 01-Feb | 02-Feb |
| 2178 | 2095 | 2125 | 2091 | 2093 |
In USD per tonne
Date Rate Period Change
| Date | Rate | Period | Change |
| 02-Feb | 2093 | | |
| 26-Jan | 2178 | WoW | -3.93% |
| 02-Jan | 1827 | MoM | 14.53% |
| 02-Nov | 1915 | QoQ | 9.27% |
| 02-Feb'11 | 2442 | YoY | -14.31% |
In USD per tonne
2. Nickel
London Metal Exchange Rates
Cash Buyer
| 26-Jan | 30-Jan | 31-Jan | 01-Feb | 02-Feb |
| 21345 | 21365 | 21125 | 20865 | 20900 |
In USD per tonne
Date Rate Period Change
| Date | Rate | Period | Change |
| 02-Feb | 20900 | | |
| 26-Jan | 21345 | WoW | -2.08% |
| 02-Jan | 18275 | MoM | 14.36% |
| 02-Nov | 18650 | QoQ | 12.06% |
| 02-Feb'11 | 27710 | YoY | -24.58% |
In USD per tonne
3. Tin
London Metal Exchange Rates
Cash Buyer
| 26-Jan | 30-Jan | 31-Jan | 01-Feb | 02-Feb |
| 23325 | 24045 | 24285 | 24055 | 24050 |
In USD per tonne
Date Rate Period Change
| Date | Rate | Period | Change |
| 02-Feb | 24050 | | |
| 26-Jan | 23325 | WoW | 3.11% |
| 02-Jan | 18945 | MoM | 26.95% |
| 02-Nov | 21600 | QoQ | 11.34% |
| 02-Feb'11 | 30540 | YoY | -21.25% |
In USD per tonne
4. Aluminium
London Metal Exchange Rates
Cash Buyer
| 26-Jan | 30-Jan | 31-Jan | 01-Feb | 02-Feb |
| 2232 | 2210 | 2257 | 2219 | 2200 |
In USD per tonne
| Date | Rate | Period | Change |
| 02-Feb | 2200 | | |
| 26-Jan | 2232 | WoW | -1.41% |
| 02-Jan | 1970 | MoM | 11.68% |
| 02-Nov | 2103 | QoQ | 4.61% |
| 02-Feb'11 | 2522 | YoY | -12.77% |
In USD per tonne
5. Copper
London Metal Exchange Rates
Cash Buyer
| 26-Jan | 30-Jan | 31-Jan | 01-Feb | 02-Feb |
| 8555 | 8398 | 8485 | 8351 | 8339 |
In USD per tonne
| Date | Rate | Period | Change |
| 02-Feb | 8339 | | |
| 26-Jan | 8555 | WoW | -2.53% |
| 02-Jan | 7554 | MoM | 10.39% |
| 02-Nov | 7912 | QoQ | 5.40% |
| 02-Feb'11 | 9940 | YoY | -16.11% |
In USD per tonne
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