TOPIC

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London Metal Exchange

Set up in 1877 to provide a venue for trade conducted among metal merchants in London, the LME was sold in 2012 to the operator of the Hong Kong stock exchange. In 2013, it was a defendant in lawsuits accusing Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Glencore-Xstrata of rigging the aluminium market.

Chairman / President

John Williamson

CEO / Managing Director

Matthew Chamberlain

CFO / Finance Director

Tabitha Silverwood

Industry

Financial Services

Website

lme.com

Headquarters address

10 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AJ, United Kingdom

Year founded

1877

A coil of copper rod sits on the production line for copper flat wire at a factory in China’s Jiangxi province in August. Photo: Reuters

China trade

China bets big on copper processing, but ‘weaponisation’ risks are low: analysts

Beijing views copper as critical for EVs and AI, but a reliance on imported ore limits China’s ability to use the strategic metal as leverage.

17 Dec 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

China consumption

Forging ahead: China’s copper heartland vows to build US$28 billion empire

13 Dec 2025 - 11:00AM

Hong Kong property

Hong Kong’s warehouses find support from demand to store metals and art

6 Oct 2025 - 9:30AM

HKEX

Hong Kong’s London Metal Exchange warehouses key for China: Paul Chan

The facilities in Hong Kong extend LME’s global network to the doorstep of mainland China.

20 Aug 2025 - 10:01AM

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po addresses attendees at a celebration ceremony on Tuesday. Photo: May Tse

US-China trade war

Explainer | Trump’s copper-tariff tumult sees prices plunge – what happened?

New tariffs apply mostly to semi-finished copper products while exempting refined forms of the metal that comprise the US’ chief copper imports.

1 Aug 2025 - 8:11AMvideocam

US-China trade war

Trump’s copper tariffs fail to stop US metal being shipped to China

The president wants to use tariffs to revive the US copper industry. But American dealers are still sending shiploads of metal to Asia.

25 Jul 2025 - 9:30PMvideocam

US-China trade war

Surprise US copper tariff tests the mettle of China’s vast refining industry

Although Trump’s tariffs might cause the flow of refined copper to be redirected from the US to other regions, that doesn’t mean the supply is flowing to China.

10 Jul 2025 - 4:07PM

As the world’s largest consumer of copper, China has a firm grip on its refining process. Photo: Getty Images

Gold in Hong Kong

Zijin buys Kazakhstan gold mine ahead of overseas unit’s Hong Kong IPO

Firm says deal will help it become one of the world’s top three gold producers by 2028.

30 Jun 2025 - 4:56PM

Banking & finance

Hong Kong plans legislation to offer 50% tax break for some commodity trading

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po says bill is part of broader policy initiative to develop commodity trading ecosystem in the city.

21 May 2025 - 3:02PM

Commodities

Shanghai Gold Exchange eyes Hong Kong vault to promote yuan-denominated products

The new vault will be part of the exchange’s network that international clients use to manage bullion trading and storage.

6 May 2025 - 5:06PM

Gold prices have been hitting new highs as the US-led trade war has spurred demand for haven assets. Photo: Shutterstock

LME

Why the London Metal Exchange’s Hong Kong warehouses are a big deal

The development marks a pivotal step in strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a strategic commodities hub in Asia, industry leaders say.

28 Apr 2025 - 8:30AM

Sheets of copper sit in stacks outside a solvent-extraction plant awaiting shipment. Photo: Getty Images

HKEX

LME approves Hong Kong warehouses amid growing China metals trade

Milestone by HKEX-owned London Metal Exchange positions city to develop as a metals hub, CEO says.

15 Apr 2025 - 7:36PM

Banking & finance

Hong Kong should seize role in clean-energy commodities, think tank says

Commodities market would ‘create a new growth point for Hong Kong’s economy’, report from Better Hong Kong Foundation says.

15 Jan 2025 - 4:47PM

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong bridges China, Asean, Middle East as ties grow: HKEX official

Office in Riyadh and plans for metal warehouse underscore HKEX’s role, Vanessa Lau says at Asian Financial Forum.

14 Jan 2025 - 4:54PM

A drone view shows Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Banking & finance

Exclusive | Hong Kong’s potential as commodities hub draws expansion by Marex Group

The establishment of London Metal Exchange warehouses in Hong Kong will be a key enabler, Marex CEO says.

16 Dec 2024 - 7:30AM

A collection of 100-gram gold bars sits on a table. Photo: DPA

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Speed of essence in Hong Kong push to be gold, commodities hub

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has set out several measures aimed at consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre.

18 Oct 2024 - 8:15AM

Opinion | LME should strike while the iron is hot

Hong Kong is ideally placed to join global storage network to facilitate the physical exchange of metals traded on the London bourse.

8 Jul 2024 - 6:51AM

LME

LME eyes Hong Kong for warehouse to tap China’s growing metals trade with world

The bourse owned by HKEX is exploring the idea of adding a warehouse in Hong Kong to its global network to meet rising demand for the physical exchange of metals such as aluminium and zinc between mainland China and the rest of the world, according to its CEO.

27 Jun 2024 - 5:11PM

An employee checks aluminium for export at Qingdao Port, Shandong province. The LME is exploring the idea of setting up a warehouse in Hong Kong to meet rising demand for the physical exchange of metals such as aluminium and zinc between mainland China and the rest of the world. Photo: Reuters

Commodities

New metals sanctions push Russia further into China’s embrace

Energy market sanctions imposed on Moscow have already had a dramatic impact on China’s buying habits, helping Russia surpass Saudi Arabia to become the largest oil supplier to Beijing last year.

15 Apr 2024 - 1:27PM

Commodities

China slump turns Fortescue from world-beating mining stock to big loser

Earnings at the world’s fourth-largest iron ore miner is forecast to fall by 14 per cent over the next year, the worst pullback compared with peers BHP, Rio Tinto and Vale, according to analyst estimates.

4 Mar 2024 - 11:00AM

LME

HKEX-owned LME targets Hong Kong as option for warehouse expansion: sources

The LME is studying Hong Kong as a location to expand its global metal warehouse network, five sources said, hopeful success in the city might open the door to mainland China, its ultimate target.

30 Jan 2024 - 12:17PMvideocam

The HKEX bought the London Metal Exchange in 2012 for US$2.2 billion. Photo: Shutterstock

LME

LME plans new metals contracts using Shanghai Futures Exchange prices: sources

The London Metal Exchange is planning to launch new metals contracts using prices from the Shanghai Futures Exchange, three sources said, further increasing China’s influence on global metals markets.

19 Dec 2023 - 10:02AM

A file photo from September 2018 shows traders on the floor of the London Metal Exchange. Photo: Reuters

LME

HKEX, LME relish ‘incredible opportunities’ after winning nickel lawsuit

The London Metal Exchange and its parent, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), are ready to move forward and reboot investor confidence after winning a legal battle against American financial firms over cancelled nickel trades last year.

30 Nov 2023 - 3:35PMvideocam

Central banks

China demand hopes drive copper prices to 2-month peak

Hopes for stronger copper consumption were raised by a pledge from China’s central bank to ensure financing support for the property sector, a major consumer of industrial metals.

21 Nov 2023 - 10:16AM

HKEX

With 31-degree weather and a Hong Kong taxi, HKEX opens new office in London

London is the latest international office opened by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) as it seeks to expand its global footprint.

7 Sep 2023 - 9:48AMvideocam

Nicolas Aguzin, Hong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) CEO, left, and Kevin Rideout, HKEX’s co-head of sales and marketing, ring a ceremonial gong to celebrate the opening of the bourse operator’s new office in London on September 6, 2023. Photo: Chad Bray

Banking & finance

In nickel traders vs LME, lawyers spar over US$12 billion in cancelled trades

Judicial review of London Metal Exchange’s decision to cancel trades in March 2022 has potential to dramatically reshape how bourses respond to extraordinary market events in the future.

18 Jul 2023 - 3:30PM

Banking & finance

LME faced ‘death spiral’ had it failed to act during nickel chaos: lawyer

The London Metal Exchange was forced to step in to stabilise the nickel market in March 2022 as chaos in the market put several members at risk of default and would have depleted the bourse’s fund to close out defaulted members’ positions, the bourse’s lawyer said.

23 Jun 2023 - 6:00AM

Banking & finance

LME lacked senior staff monitoring trading as nickel prices spiked: Jane Street

HKEX-owned bourse made ‘irrational’ decision to cancel trades amid nickel market chaos on March 8, 2022, Jane Street lawyer said.

22 Jun 2023 - 6:00AM

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London Metal Exchange

China bets big on copper processing, but ‘weaponisation’ risks are low: analysts

Beijing views copper as critical for EVs and AI, but a reliance on imported ore limits China’s ability to use the strategic metal as leverage.

Forging ahead: China’s copper heartland vows to build US$28 billion empire

Hong Kong’s warehouses find support from demand to store metals and art

Hong Kong’s London Metal Exchange warehouses key for China: Paul Chan

The facilities in Hong Kong extend LME’s global network to the doorstep of mainland China.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | Trump’s copper-tariff tumult sees prices plunge – what happened?

New tariffs apply mostly to semi-finished copper products while exempting refined forms of the metal that comprise the US’ chief copper imports.

Trump’s copper tariffs fail to stop US metal being shipped to China

The president wants to use tariffs to revive the US copper industry. But American dealers are still sending shiploads of metal to Asia.

Surprise US copper tariff tests the mettle of China’s vast refining industry

Although Trump’s tariffs might cause the flow of refined copper to be redirected from the US to other regions, that doesn’t mean the supply is flowing to China.

Zijin buys Kazakhstan gold mine ahead of overseas unit’s Hong Kong IPO

Firm says deal will help it become one of the world’s top three gold producers by 2028.

Hong Kong plans legislation to offer 50% tax break for some commodity trading

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po says bill is part of broader policy initiative to develop commodity trading ecosystem in the city.

Shanghai Gold Exchange eyes Hong Kong vault to promote yuan-denominated products

The new vault will be part of the exchange’s network that international clients use to manage bullion trading and storage.

Why the London Metal Exchange’s Hong Kong warehouses are a big deal

The development marks a pivotal step in strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a strategic commodities hub in Asia, industry leaders say.

LME approves Hong Kong warehouses amid growing China metals trade

Milestone by HKEX-owned London Metal Exchange positions city to develop as a metals hub, CEO says.

Hong Kong should seize role in clean-energy commodities, think tank says

Commodities market would ‘create a new growth point for Hong Kong’s economy’, report from Better Hong Kong Foundation says.

Hong Kong bridges China, Asean, Middle East as ties grow: HKEX official

Office in Riyadh and plans for metal warehouse underscore HKEX’s role, Vanessa Lau says at Asian Financial Forum.

Exclusive | Hong Kong’s potential as commodities hub draws expansion by Marex Group

The establishment of London Metal Exchange warehouses in Hong Kong will be a key enabler, Marex CEO says.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Editorial | Speed of essence in Hong Kong push to be gold, commodities hub

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has set out several measures aimed at consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre.

Opinion | LME should strike while the iron is hot

Hong Kong is ideally placed to join global storage network to facilitate the physical exchange of metals traded on the London bourse.

LME eyes Hong Kong for warehouse to tap China’s growing metals trade with world

The bourse owned by HKEX is exploring the idea of adding a warehouse in Hong Kong to its global network to meet rising demand for the physical exchange of metals such as aluminium and zinc between mainland China and the rest of the world, according to its CEO.

New metals sanctions push Russia further into China’s embrace

Energy market sanctions imposed on Moscow have already had a dramatic impact on China’s buying habits, helping Russia surpass Saudi Arabia to become the largest oil supplier to Beijing last year.

China slump turns Fortescue from world-beating mining stock to big loser

Earnings at the world’s fourth-largest iron ore miner is forecast to fall by 14 per cent over the next year, the worst pullback compared with peers BHP, Rio Tinto and Vale, according to analyst estimates.

HKEX-owned LME targets Hong Kong as option for warehouse expansion: sources

The LME is studying Hong Kong as a location to expand its global metal warehouse network, five sources said, hopeful success in the city might open the door to mainland China, its ultimate target.

LME plans new metals contracts using Shanghai Futures Exchange prices: sources

The London Metal Exchange is planning to launch new metals contracts using prices from the Shanghai Futures Exchange, three sources said, further increasing China’s influence on global metals markets.

HKEX, LME relish ‘incredible opportunities’ after winning nickel lawsuit

The London Metal Exchange and its parent, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), are ready to move forward and reboot investor confidence after winning a legal battle against American financial firms over cancelled nickel trades last year.

China demand hopes drive copper prices to 2-month peak

Hopes for stronger copper consumption were raised by a pledge from China’s central bank to ensure financing support for the property sector, a major consumer of industrial metals.

With 31-degree weather and a Hong Kong taxi, HKEX opens new office in London

London is the latest international office opened by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) as it seeks to expand its global footprint.

In nickel traders vs LME, lawyers spar over US$12 billion in cancelled trades

Judicial review of London Metal Exchange’s decision to cancel trades in March 2022 has potential to dramatically reshape how bourses respond to extraordinary market events in the future.

LME faced ‘death spiral’ had it failed to act during nickel chaos: lawyer

The London Metal Exchange was forced to step in to stabilise the nickel market in March 2022 as chaos in the market put several members at risk of default and would have depleted the bourse’s fund to close out defaulted members’ positions, the bourse’s lawyer said.

LME lacked senior staff monitoring trading as nickel prices spiked: Jane Street

HKEX-owned bourse made ‘irrational’ decision to cancel trades amid nickel market chaos on March 8, 2022, Jane Street lawyer said.

Explainer | Trump’s copper-tariff tumult sees prices plunge – what happened?

Editorial | Speed of essence in Hong Kong push to be gold, commodities hub