This Morning in Metals: Copper Prices Steady to Start the Week

Copper Prices

LME copper traded up 0.4% on Monday, Reuters reported, reaching $6,458 per ton.
Citing Society Generale analyst Robin Bhar, the report notes the second quarter of the year typically features conditions conducive to price support for copper.

Holding Steady

Japan’s Tokyo Steel has announced it is holding prices steady for its steel products for the fourth straight month, according to another Reuters report.
Kiyoshi Imamura, managing director of Tokyo Steel, was quoted as saying that domestic construction demand was “sluggish due to higher inventories and delays in some projects because of shortage of labour and some materials.”

Rio Answers Emissions Criticism

Rio Tinto has faced some criticism from environmental activists, who have called for the iron ore miner to bear more responsibility for the emissions caused by the miner’s customers.
Rio, however, says it can’t be held responsible for what customers do with their iron ore, the Australian Financial Review reported.
MetalMiner’s Annual Outlook provides 2019 buying strategies for carbon steel
Rio Tinto Chairman Simon Thompson wrote a letter to shareholders in which he explained that responsibility lies “within the control of our customers, not Rio Tinto,” he was quoted as writing.