Reuters reported that Standard Bank lowered its outlook for average prices for aluminium, copper and nickel in 2012, while raising the estimate for zinc.
The bank cut its 2012 aluminium forecast to USD 2,110 per tonne on average from USD 2,140 per tonne and its 2013 forecast by USD 55 to an average of USD 2,225 per tonne, saying production cuts were yet to emerge in spite of weak prices as higher premiums continue to encourage production capacity to remain on-line.