Japan Official Lead Price Increases by 4,000 yen/t

Mitsubishi Materials announced on Monday that it increased the official lead price by 4,000 yen to 193,000 yen per tonne for January shipment. The price keeps the highest level under the higher offshore market price and lower yen rate after the price hit 220,000 yen on March 15, 1990. The averaged monthly price increased to 183,900 yen. The lead price at London Metal Exchange (LME), which is used as an index for Japanese official price, had decreased by US$ 6.50 to US$ 1,300.50 per tonne at settlements on Friday from Thursday. However, the price increased by US$ 40 from the price on January 16 when Mitsubishi Materials decided the previous official price. The foreign exchange rate of yen decreased to 116.23 yen per US dollar at telegraphic transfer selling rate on Monday due to plunge of Tokyo stock market after the rate increased to 114.97 yen temporally. Mitsui Mining & Smelting announced on Monday that it increased the official zinc price by 8,000 yen to 289,000 yen per tonne for January shipment. The price hits highest price under higher offshore price after the price reached 295,000 yen on July 6, 1990. The averaged monthly price increased to 279,700 yen. The indicative LME zinc price increased by US$ 37 to US$ 2,162 per tonne at settlement on Friday from Thursday. The price hit another record with speculative money under tight supply exceeding US$ 2,130 in March 1989, which was highest price after LME shifted to US dollar contract.