LME's nickel crisis: major developments since trading halt crisis

3:45 PM UTC
Updated ago
Traders work on the floor of the London Metal Exchange, in London, Britain September 27, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/File Photo
LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - The London Metal Exchange (LME) launched two consultations on Wednesday on possible reforms in the wake of last year's crisis in nickel trading, saying it was following up on an action plan set out in March.
Below are some of the major developments in the crisis:
2022
March 8 - LME halts nickel trading and cancels trades after prices double to more than $100,000 per tonne in a matter of hours. On March 16 it resumes nickel contract trading with a fixed price range limit.
April 4 - British financial regulators launch probe into how the LME handled the halt in nickel trading. LME says it will commission an independent review into the events.
June 23 - LME appoints management consultants Oliver Wyman to carry out an independent review.
2023
March 3 - Financial Conduct Authority says it has launched an "enforcement investigation" of the LME, while Bank of England says it will name an independent monitor for the LME's clearing house.
March 22 - Nickel delivered by warehouse firm Access World to commodity traders Trafigura and Stratton Metals turned out to be stone, sources say.
March 27 - LME nickel trading resumes during Asian hours after the exchange found no further "irregularities" after an inspection of all bagged nickel warrants in LME-licensed warehouses.
March 30 - LME launches measures to revive its nickel contract, including plans to cut waiting times and scrap fees for new brands of nickel that can be delivered against its contract.
Compiled by Polina Devitt and Eric Onstad; Editing by David Holmes
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Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 3:45 pm

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