SMM, June 18: Metals markets: As of midday close, base metals on the domestic market were nearly all down. SHFE copper fell 0.66%, SHFE aluminum fell 0.13%. SHFE lead fell 0.27%. SHFE zinc rose 0.14%. SHFE tin fell 2.46%. SHFE nickel fell 0.38%. In addition, the most-traded cast aluminum futures edged lower, the most-traded alumina futures fell 0.28%. The most-traded lithium carbonate futures fell 4.88%. The most-traded silicon metal futures fell 0.98%. The most-traded polysilicon futures fell 0.24%. Ferrous metals all fell. Iron ore fell 1.26%, rebar fell 1.04%, HRC fell 0.89%, and stainless steel fell 0.66%. Coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal futures contract fell 6.26%, and the most-traded coke futures contract fell 4.21%. On the overseas base metals front, as of 11:45, LME metals fell across the board. LME copper fell 1.06%, LME aluminum and LME lead fell nearly 1%. LME zinc fell 1.12%, LME tin fell 2.7%. LME nickel fell 1.08%. Precious metals: as of 11:45, COMEX gold fell 0.94%, and COMEX silver fell 2.17%. Domestic precious metals: the most-traded SHFE gold futures fell 0.36%, and the most-traded SHFE silver futures fell 1.85%. In addition, as of midday close, the most-traded platinum futures fell 2.63%, and the most-traded palladium futures fell 1.88%. As of the midday close, the most-traded container shipping freight futures (European route) rose 1.13% to 3,742.5 points. As of June 18, 11:45, selected futures midday quotes: Spot and fundamentals Zinc: The mainstream brand 0# zinc traded around 24,680-24,790 yuan/mt in the Ningbo market. Ningbo regular brands were quoted at a discount of 20 yuan/mt against the 2607 contract, and at a premium of 30 yuan/mt against Shanghai spot cargoes. The mainstream in Ningbo was quoted against the 2607 contract... Macro front Domestic side: [Five Departments: Launch of 2026 NEV Promotion Campaign in Rural Areas] The General Offices (Comprehensive Departments) of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce and three other departments are launching the 2026 NEV promotion campaign in rural areas, deepening the auto trade-in program in villages. Within the NEV rural promotion campaign, a trade-in special section will be set up to publicize and promote subsidy policies, and provide "one-stop" services such as old vehicle inspection, evaluation and recycling, and assistance with subsidy applications, to further increase policy awareness and coverage and facilitate rural consumers' participation and access to subsidies. Rural consumers who trade in old cars for NEVs can apply for auto trade-in subsidies according to policy requirements, without any limit on the number of subsidy qualifications. [NDRC: to Strengthen Coordinated Planning of Computing Power Network, New-Type Power Grid, and New-Generation Communication Network During 15th Five-Year Plan Period] Li Chao, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office and Spokesperson of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said at a press conference that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, greater emphasis will be placed on supply-demand matching and coordinated planning and construction of the computing power network, new-type power grid, and new-generation communication network. On the "hard investment" front, more effective computing-electricity synergy models will be explored to strengthen computing with electricity and promote electricity with computing; computing-network integration innovation will be enhanced, and direct connection lines between national hubs will be appropriately expanded to further reduce network transmission latency. On the "soft development" front, the monitoring and market-based scheduling of computing resources will be strengthened, and the construction of a nationwide integrated computing power network that is interconnected, universally accessible and easy to use, green, and secure will be accelerated. (from Wallstreetcn APP) [Shanghai Clearing House and CFETS to Launch Optimized Foreign Currency Repo Service from June 22] The Interbank Market Clearing House Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Clearing House) and the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) issued a notice stating that to further optimize foreign currency repo trading and clearing services and meet market participants' needs for collateral management and diversified settlement methods, Shanghai Clearing House and CFETS will launch an optimized foreign currency repo service on June 22, 2026. During the term of a foreign currency pledged repo transaction, both parties may initiate substitution of pledged bonds for trades not yet due for settlement through the Shanghai Clearing House integrated business system or the CFETS foreign exchange trading system, subject to counterparty confirmation. Prior to the settlement date, both parties may initiate cash settlement through the Shanghai Clearing House integrated business system, and Shanghai Clearing House will complete the buyout repo maturity settlement based on the cash settlement instruction. The specific launch arrangements by CFETS will be announced separately. (from Wallstreetcn APP) [PBOC Reverse Repos Net Inject 59.5 Billion Yuan Today] The PBOC conducted 248 billion yuan seven-day reverse repo operations in the open market at an interest rate of 1.40%, unchanged from the previous day. Today, 188.5 billion yuan of reverse repos matured. US dollar: As of 11:45, the US dollar index fell 0.15% to 100.24. US Fed officials hinted on Wednesday that they may need to raise interest rates soon rather than cut them, a sharp shift in thinking amid rapidly climbing inflation. Evercore ISI analyst Krishna Guha stated that the pullback in energy prices may offer some relief in the coming months. However, he cautioned that the interest rate outlook has already decoupled from oil prices, which indicates deeper uncertainty over whether underlying inflation will cool enough to spare the US Fed from having to hike rates eventually. Beyond energy, Guha noted, two pressures remain: the ongoing pass-through from tariffs and cost spillovers from the investment boom in AI infrastructure. Claudia Sahm, chief economist at New Century Advisors and former Fed economist, said conditions that would normally prompt the Fed to respond to supply-driven inflation—namely an overheated labour market or unanchored inflation expectations—have yet to be seen. But she acknowledged that the case for action is building. “I can understand the view that the Fed should be ready to step in and hike if things worsen,” she said, adding that the Fed could move more swiftly than during the pandemic-era inflation surge because “they are already having that debate now.” According to CME FedWatch, the probability of the US Fed holding rates steady through July stands at 64.0% (versus 91.0% before the decision), with a 35.1% chance of a cumulative 25bp hike (versus 8.9%) and a 1% chance of a cumulative 50bp hike (versus 0%). For the year-end, the probability of unchanged rates is 14.2% (versus 38.2%), while the odds of cumulative hikes stand at 25bp (36.4%, versus 43.0%), 50bp (33.8%, versus 16.2%), 75bp (13.5%, versus 2.4%), and 100bp (2.1%, versus 0.1%). Citi expects the Fed to deliver 25bp rate cuts in October 2026, December 2026, and January 2027, shifting from its previous forecast of cuts in September, October, and December this year. Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman and former Dallas Fed President Kaplan said the Fed may need to raise rates as early as September if inflation remains persistently elevated. “If the inflation data do not cool between now and September, it would be wise for the Fed to act in September or in the autumn. That would be the more prudent course,” Kaplan said. Markets turned hawkish after Fed Chairman Walsh signalled that the central bank remains focused on fighting inflation. Traders dumped short-term Treasuries, pushing some yields higher. Walsh’s remarks were reinforced by the personal projections of Fed members, half of whom pencilled in rate hikes by the end of 2026. Kaplan stated that if inflation remains stubborn, it indicates that monetary policy is still too loose. He also pointed out, “Fed policy actions are rarely one-offs; rate hikes often come in series of two or three. So I think if you’re going to act in September, you need to be prepared. There may be one or two more.” (Jin10 Data APP) Data Releases: Today will see the release of US initial jobless claims for the week ending June 13, the US June Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index, the US May Conference Board leading index month-on-month change, Switzerland’s May trade balance, the Swiss National Bank policy rate as of June 18, the UK ILO unemployment rate for the three months to April, the UK May unemployment rate, the UK May claimant count change, the UK Bank of England rate decision as of June 18, and the eurozone April seasonally adjusted current account, among other data. Additionally, attention should be paid to: China’s refined oil products will open a new round of price adjustment window. The Fed’s FOMC will release its interest rate decision and summary of economic projections, Fed Chairman Warsh will hold a monetary policy press conference, the Swiss National Bank will announce its rate decision, and the Bank of England will release its rate decision and meeting minutes. It is worth noting that on June 18, China’s SGE, SHFE, ZCE, and DCE will have no night session trading due to the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival. On June 19, the NYSE will be closed for Juneteenth. CME Group’s precious metals, energy, forex, equity indexes, and US Treasury futures contracts trading will close early at 01:00 Beijing time on June 20 for the Juneteenth holiday, while ICE’s Brent crude oil futures contract trading will close early at 01:30 Beijing time on June 20 for the Juneteenth holiday. Crude Oil: As of 11:45, oil prices in both markets fell, with WTI down 1.82% and Brent down 1.48%. Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran at the Palace of Versailles in France on Wednesday, declaring an end to the war and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A US official stated that the agreement had officially taken effect, but it remained unclear whether Iran had immediately taken steps to fully reopen the strait. "Trump's signing of the MOU after the G7 meeting is another important step in the process of reopening the Strait of Hormuz," said Rajeev De Mello, Global Macro Portfolio Manager at Gama Asset Management, "This will further compress energy risk premiums, ease inflation concerns, and provide support for bond and equity markets after the Fed's initial reaction." (Wall Street CN) An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated: Iran must be able to sell its oil smoothly, with no obstacles in transportation and insurance, and must receive the proceeds from oil sales. Jinshi Data APP) According to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. EIA crude oil inventories fell by 8.26 million barrels last week, compared with estimates of a 5.2 million barrel decline by Bloomberg users and a 3.6918 million barrel draw by analysts, following a 7.227 million barrel drop the prior week. Inventories at the Cushing hub in Oklahoma have declined for eight consecutive weeks to around 20 million barrels, a level that most traders consider the operational minimum. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve also fell this week to about 340 million barrels, the lowest since 1983. (Wallstreetcn) Spot market overview: ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►

Futures: Overnight, the LME lead 3M contract opened at $1,960/mt. In early trading, prices briefly fluctuated upward, reaching a high of $1,974/mt before bulls’ upward momentum faded and prices fluctuated downward. During the European session, the downward fluctuation continued, with prices touching a low of $1,942/mt. Near the close, prices rebounded quickly and settled at $1,957.5/mt, recording a small bearish candlestick, down $5/mt or 0.25%. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE lead 2607 contract opened lower with a gap at 16,135 yuan/mt. As bears entered the market, SHFE lead prices fluctuated downward from early to mid-session, touching a low of 16,000 yuan/mt. Near the close, prices rebounded slightly and settled at 16,040 yuan/mt, recording a small bearish candlestick, down 180 yuan/mt or 1.11%. On the macro front: Trump canceled planned strikes on Iran tonight; the US-Iran agreement has entered the final drafting stage and is expected to be signed in Europe this weekend. US media disclosed behind-the-scenes negotiations on the US-Iran deal: three major differences have narrowed under Qatar’s mediation. Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that no final conclusion has been reached on the US-Iran agreement. US Treasury Secretary Bessent said the US would withdraw funds from Iran’s accounts to compensate Gulf states for losses if necessary. The European Central Bank raised its three key interest rates by 25 basis points as scheduled. The CME Group plans to launch round-the-clock crude oil and gold futures contracts. The State Administration for Market Regulation, together with the Cyberspace Administration of China and the National Railway Administration, held talks with seven third-party platforms involved in train ticket sales. “Ten-billion-yuan subsidies” are not truly 10 billion yuan—Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu were summoned for talks. Kweichow Moutai Chairman Chen Hua stated the company has no plan for a stock split. Spot fundamentals: SHFE lead rebounded after stopping its decline, with suppliers selling at prevailing prices. Some quotes were at wider discounts than yesterday, and mainstream primary lead smelters offered ex-works at parity with the SMM #1 lead average price. For secondary lead, smelters’ selling sentiment improved relatively, but quotes remained scarce, with secondary refined lead offered at premiums of 0–25 yuan/mt over the SMM #1 lead price ex-works. Downstream enterprises mainly made just-in-time procurement, with some purchasing under long-term contracts or drawing on inventory; overall purchasing enthusiasm was moderate, and spot market transactions were sluggish. Inventories: As of June 11, LME lead inventories decreased by 575 mt to 306,650 mt. Total social inventories of SMM lead ingots across five regions increased by 700 mt to 65,400 mt. Lead price forecast for today: Geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East are weakening overseas consumption and export expectations. LME lead inventories remain at multi-year highs, and overseas lead prices are under pressure, dragging down the Chinese market. The downstream sector is entering the off-season, with battery enterprises conducting mid-year account settlements and stock takes; procurement is expected to contract going forward, making it difficult for the demand side to support higher prices. Supply side, some secondary lead smelters plan to cut production due to losses, while some primary lead smelters are in maintenance, combined with expectations for production resumptions at some secondary lead smelters, bullish and bearish factors are intertwined on the supply side, and lead prices are expected to show a volatile pattern in the short term.

SMM Jun 12 News: Metal markets: Overnight, domestic base metals broadly rose. SHFE copper rose 0.13%. SHFE aluminum rose 0.62%, SHFE lead fell 0.74%, SHFE tin rose 1.91%. SHFE zinc fell 0.19%. SHFE nickel rose 0.25%. In addition, the most-traded alumina futures contract rose 1.18%, and the most-traded cast aluminum contract rose 0.04%. Overnight, ferrous metals showed mixed performance. Iron ore closed flat at 766.5 yuan/mt, hot-rolled coil (HRC) flat at 3,365 yuan/mt, stainless steel rose 1.91%, and rebar fell 0.33%. Coking coal and coke: The most-traded coking coal futures contract fell 0.33%, while the most-traded coke futures contract rose 0.35%. Overnight overseas market: LME base metals nearly all rose. LME copper rose 0.94%. LME aluminum rose 0.87%, LME lead fell 0.25%. LME zinc rose 1.64%. LME tin rose 2.01%. LME nickel rose 0.37%. Overnight precious metals : Overnight COMEX gold rose 2.43%, COMEX silver rose 4.25%. Overnight the most-traded SHFE gold contract rose 0.75%, and the most-traded SHFE silver contract rose 2.41%. As of 7:15 on Jun 12, overnight closing prices: Macro front China: [SAMR Approves Release of a Batch of Important National Standards] Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation (Standardization Administration of China) approved the release of 389 important national standards, covering high-tech, traditional industries, environmental protection, agricultural production, and people's livelihoods. After publication, these standards will play a vital role in promoting high-quality industrial development, improving people's quality of life, and safeguarding life and property. In the high-tech sector, 33 national standards were released for artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, etc., clarifying technical and safety specifications. Six national standards were released for industrial internet and industrial digital twins, promoting smart manufacturing upgrades. Fifteen national standards were released for spacecraft grounding requirements, manned spacecraft markings and usage requirements, and general requirements for parachute systems of civil light and small rotary-wing drones, laying a solid foundation for the large-scale application of China's aerospace equipment. (SAMR) [SHFE: Adjusting Price Limit and Margin Requirements for Gold and Silver Futures Contracts] SHFE announced that for the gold AU2609 contract, the price limit is 17%, the hedging position margin rate is 18%, and the speculative position margin rate is 19%; for the silver AG2706 contract, the price limit is 17%, the hedging position margin rate is 18%, and the speculative position margin rate is 19%. [GFEX: Matters Regarding Polysilicon Futures PS2706 Contract and Lithium Carbonate Futures LC2706 Contract] GFEX announced that for the polysilicon futures PS2706 contract, the trading fee rate is 0.025% of the transaction value, the intraday closing fee rate is 0.025% of the transaction value; the minimum order size per trade is 5 lots for opening and 1 lot for closing; non-futures company members or clients are limited to a maximum daily opening volume of 200 lots. For the lithium carbonate futures LC2706 contract, the trading fee rate is 0.032% of the transaction value, the intraday closing fee rate is 0.032% of the transaction value; the minimum order size per trade is 5 lots for opening and 1 lot for closing; non-futures company members or clients are limited to a maximum daily opening volume of 400 lots. [DCE: Trading Schedule for 2026 Dragon Boat Festival Holiday] DCE announced that the market will be closed from Jun 19 (Friday) to Jun 21 (Sunday) and resume trading on Jun 22 (Monday). There will be no night session on the evening of Jun 18 (Thursday). On Jun 22 (Monday), the call auction for all contracts will take place from 08:55 to 09:00. Night session trading will resume on the evening of Jun 22 (Monday). US dollar: Overnight, the US dollar index fell 0.35% to 99.69. Market expectations for US Fed interest rate hikes were pushed back from December this year to January next year, with markets no longer fully pricing in a rate hike this year. (Jin10 Data APP) According to CME "Fed Watch": The probability that the US Fed will keep rates unchanged through June is 98.5%, and the probability of a cumulative 25bp rate cut is 1.5%. For the meeting through July, the probability that the Fed will keep rates unchanged is 91.3%, the probability of a cumulative 25bp rate hike is 7.4%, and the probability of a cumulative 25bp rate cut is 1.4%. Data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday showed that the producer price index (PPI) rose 6.5% YoY in May, the largest increase since November 2022 and above the expected 6.4%; it rose 1.1% MoM, also exceeding the market forecast of 0.7%. The data echoed the consumer price index (CPI) released earlier, which also recorded the fastest pace in three years. The combination of these two inflation figures is expected to further cement market expectations that the US Fed will begin raising rates in 2026. With momentum rebuilding in the labor market, taming inflation has become the Fed's top priority for now. (From Wallstreetcn APP) Last week, US initial jobless claims increased slightly, indicating that the labor market retained resilience in early June. The US Department of Labor said on Thursday that in the week ending June 6, initial claims for unemployment benefits rose by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 229,000, above market expectations. Claims typically rise at the start of summer, as some states allow non-teaching staff to file for unemployment benefits during long school holidays. However, the government's model for stripping out seasonal fluctuations may not fully capture these changes. Last week, the government reported that the economy added jobs for the third straight month in May. The unemployment rate held at 4.3% for the third consecutive month. Some of the strength in job growth may be due to fewer layoffs. (Jin10 Data APP) Other currencies: [ECB Becomes First Major Central Bank to Raise Rates Since Inflation Reemerged] The European Central Bank raised interest rates for the first time in nearly three years, making it the first major central bank in the developed world to respond to inflation triggered by the Iran war. The bank lifted its main rate from 2% to 2.25%, a move widely expected but also highlighting the challenges faced by major economies due to rising energy prices resulting from the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Investors widely expect the ECB to raise rates at least once more this year. The decision also made the ECB the first major central bank to tighten monetary policy in response to rising energy prices, which have pushed eurozone inflation above 3%. The US Fed, under Chair Warsh, is expected to hold rates steady next week as Warsh faces a dilemma between Trump's demand for low rates and mounting inflationary pressure; the Bank of England is also expected to keep rates unchanged next week. (Zhitong Finance) Data: Today will see the release of Germany's final May CPI MoM, the UK's April three-month GDP MoM, UK April manufacturing output MoM, UK April seasonally adjusted goods trade balance, UK April industrial output MoM, France's final May CPI MoM, US June one-year ahead inflation expectations preliminary, and US June University of Michigan consumer sentiment preliminary, among others. Also of note: the Huawei Developer Conference will be held from Jun 12-14; Elon Musk's commercial space company SpaceX is scheduled to list on the Nasdaq on Jun 12, 2026. Crude oil: Overnight, both oil futures fell, with WTI crude down 4.01% and Brent crude down 4.26%. Oil prices tumbled after Trump signaled that the US and Iran are about to reach a peace deal. OPEC's monthly report showed that OPEC lowered its forecast for 2026 global oil demand growth to 970,000 bpd (previously expected at 1.17 million bpd). It raised its 2027 global oil demand growth forecast to 1.73 million bpd (previously 1.54 million bpd). OPEC+ (including former member UAE) crude oil production averaged 33.13 million bpd in May 2026, down 190,000 bpd from April, mainly due to lower Iranian output. (From Wallstreetcn APP) Additionally, CME Group announced that, pending regulatory review, it will offer 24/7 (around the clock) trading for new, smaller crude oil and gold contracts. The new crude oil contract will be one-tenth the size of CME's existing micro WTI crude oil futures contract and will launch on August 30. Around-the-clock trading for the company's existing 1-ounce gold futures contract will begin on July 26. Derek Sammann, Global Head of Commodity Markets at CME Group, said: "In the face of geopolitical uncertainty, offering appropriately sized, regulated products available 24/7 enables traders to manage risk whenever news breaks." (Jin10 Data APP)

May 29, 2026 12:50 IST The Chicago Mercantile Exchange ( CME Group ) has again slashed its margin requirements on futures contracts of gold , silver , and other precious metals. This marks its second revision in two months. The announcement comes at a time when media reports suggest that the US and Iran might be nearing a material agreement to extend the ceasefire and reopen the crucial trade route- Strait of Hormuz . The CME filing dated May 28 stated that margins are being reduced as a part of normal review activity to ensure adequate collateral coverage. The new margin requirements will come into effect from May 29. Precious metal prices have taken a hit since the start of the West Asia conflict, which has stretched for three months now. Gold prices have fallen by nearly 15%, while silver prices have declined by over 19% since tensions in the Middle East began on February 28. What are the new margin requirements? The initial margin requirements for COMEX 100 gold futures have been lowered to 5% from the previous 6% for non-heightened risk profiles (HRP), and for heightened risk profiles, the new initial requirements now stand at 5.5%, down 100 basis points from the previous 6.6%. As for COMEX 5000 silver futures, the new initial requirements have been reduced to 10% from 11% for Non-HRPs, while for HRPs, the new initial requirement is 11%, down from the previous 12.1%. Last month as well, the CME Group had lowered margin requirements on futures contracts of gold and silver. Platinum and Palladium requirements lowered too For NYMEX Platinum futures, the new initial requirement has been decreased to 9% from the previous 11% for Non-HRPs, while HRPs have seen a sharper reduction as the new initial requirement stands at 9.9%, down from the previous 12.1%. As for NYMEX Palladium futures, the new initial requirement for Non-HRPs is 10%, cut from the previous 12%, and for HRPs, the requirement is 11%, down from the previous 13.2%. What are margin requirements? In futures trading, margin requirements essentially mean the minimum amount of capital a trader must pay to hold their position. These are often referred to as performance bond requirements by CME Group, which owns and operates the COMEX exchange. Margin requirements are set by exchanges to manage market volatility. Lower margins mean traders need less capital to maintain a contract. This is often aimed at increasing participation and improving liquidity. How are CME requirements related to MCX? CME and MCX margin requirements are set independently by the respective exchanges. However, a reduction in CME margins is likely to increase global liquidity and participation, which generally supports international market prices and provides a tailwind to MCX prices, as they closely track COMEX prices. Source： https://www.financialexpress.com/market/commodities-cme-slashes-gold-silver-margins-for-second-time-in-two-months-what-it-means-for-mcx-prices-4254126/

CME Group has approved the application of Kodiak Warehouse LLC., allowing its warehouse located in Lemont, Illinois, to store copper available for delivery against COMEX futures contracts.The statement showed that the warehouse was approved for a capacity of 50,000 short mt.Currently, the exchange has copper delivery warehouses in Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Texas, and Utah.

[SMM Lead Market News Flash] It was reported that CME Group, in a statement released last Friday, approved the application of GKE Metal Logistics Pte. Ltd., allowing it to store aluminum ingots and lead ingots meeting the delivery standards of New York Mercantile Exchange (COMEX) aluminum and lead futures contracts in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. The approved indoor storage capacity for aluminum and lead at GKE is 6,500 mt.