No seasonal slumbers

Summer is supposed to be a time of relaxation, a time when nothing much happens in our trade and we're afforded the opportunity to get away from the complexities of the business. Not so this year, as markets surged higher, and with them the best level of activity of the year at most merchants.

Who would have thought at the end of 2008 that the recessions in many of the industrialized economies of the world could support the base metal prices we're experiencing today? While many believe that the price levels of metals are speculative in nature and have far outpaced the fundamental contribution to price discovery, we can hopefully reap the benefits of the recent move.

Seethe monthly world wide market update in our Members only section withreports from key countries.