China's first quarter imports of iron ore and its domestic production of the steel raw material both rose strongly, but output of crude steel fell.

Iron ore futures prices ticked lower on Monday, weighed down by diminishing hopes of more stimulus in China.

The Chinese firm said its inventory levels for lithium products expanded by more than 3,900% last year.

The Russian firm will close its Arctic copper plant and build one in China with an unnamed partner.

Juicing gold's rally is unrelenting Chinese demand, as retail shoppers, fund investors, futures traders and even the central bank look to bullion as a store of value in uncertain times.

Iron ore has gained more than 15% so far this month.

The impact of fund flows on the current price dynamics may be a harbinger of things to come.

The Biden administration is also pressuring neighboring Mexico to prohibit China from selling its metal products to the United States indirectly from there.