Energy crises and central bank moves to crush inflation present powerful headwinds across markets, underscored by copper’s collapse Friday below $8,000 a ton.

Hedge fund Elliott Associates and Jane Street Global Trading are suing the London Metal Exchange for up to $500 million after the LME cancelled nickel trades on March 8 when prices soared to record highs above $100,000 a tonne in chaotic trade. 

“It is increasingly clear that concerns about demand are taking precedence over supply issues in the metals markets”.

"Historically, few countries have reached economic prosperity with a low tax load" – Chile finance minister, Mario Marcel.

Industrial metal prices have just seen their biggest quarter of falls in many years.

The group plans to pay 1.8 billion yuan ($269 million) for a 71% stake in a company mining for lithium in Hunan province.

The company currently holds 791,227 treasury shares after last year's buyback.