The White House is eyeing three options: an outright ban, increasing tariffs to levels so punitive they would impose an effective ban, or sanctioning Rusal.

Bullion edged up Wednesday from a one-week low, while traders await critical US inflation data later in the week.

The move by the LBMA aims to bring more gold into mainstream trade to try to improve conditions for small-scale miners.

The Transnet strike also is hobbling iron ore exports as staff refuses to work unless the company raises their pay.

Lead is expected to outperform other metals over the coming months as cold weather is likely to force consumers to replace auto batteries and supplies tighten.

If the answer to the energy crisis is a faster rollout of renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, then the problem is that the current situation is hindering the solution.

Significant volumes of unwanted Russian-origin copper have been deposited in London Metal Exchange approved warehouses in Germany, the Netherlands and Taiwan since the middle of September.