AL Circle Blog

Carry trades are a key strategy in commodity trading, and today, we’re diving into the concept of borrowing. Let’s break it down with an example. Imagine you’re a speculator, and you’ve taken a short position for April. Now, you realize you need to move this position to June. Can you just call your broker and […]

As we step into 2025, let’s explore a fascinating shift in the aluminium market: how a typical contango can transform into backwardation. Contango in Aluminium: In a normal aluminium market, the three-month price is historically higher than the cash price—a classic contango. This reflects costs like storage, insurance, and interest. However, this equilibrium can shift […]

Happy New Year! As 2025 begins, let’s dive into a quick recap of market dynamics we discussed last week. Specifically, we explored two critical concepts: contango and backwardation, and their implications for the aluminium market. What Are Contango and Backwardation? Contango occurs when the future price of a commodity is higher than its current or […]

In our previous discussion, we explored the concept of theoretical contango and its construction. Let’s quickly recap and expand on this idea with a comparison between aluminium and copper. Aluminium: The Basics of Theoretical Contango: Using aluminium as an example, we started with a cash price of $2,600 per tonne. If you buy aluminium immediately, […]

You’ve heard about contango, backwardation, and flat curves before, but let’s revisit these concepts, starting with contango. At its core, contango occurs when futures prices are higher than the current (cash) price of a commodity. But how does a contango build up? To explain this, we look at the theoretical contango, a structure driven by […]

In our last discussion, we explored how a contango situation benefits aluminium producers. To recap, contango occurs when the market price for a future date is higher than the nearby or current price. For producers, this is fantastic. They can sell into the futures market at a higher price. But what does contango mean for […]

We’ve learned that futures markets can show prices for immediate delivery and prices for a future date. When the prices for a future date are higher than nearby prices, this is known as a “contango” situation. Imagine you’re a producer needing to sell into the futures market to hedge and protect your business. If you’re […]

In the world of metal trading on the London Metal Exchange (LME), understanding price structures is key. Whether it’s aluminium, copper, or other metals, futures pricing provides valuable insights for hedging and market strategy. Let’s break down the basic concepts: Flat Curve: A flat curve occurs when the price for a nearby date is the […]

The aluminium futures market operates on a fascinating and highly structured pricing system, offering unparalleled clarity for traders and stakeholders. Here’s a snapshot of how it works: The Futures Timeline: Daily Prices for the Next Three Months Every single working day has a dedicated aluminium price, whether it’s December 9th or February 20th. This allows […]