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    Welcome to the LME quarterly report Q4 2025.

    The LME quarterly report covers key developments in the base metals market focusing on ADV, price activity and futures open interest.

    There is a deep dive into LME trading volumes, electronic liquidity to monthly (3W) contracts and cash-settled futures for ferrous and aluminium premiums. It examines trends in LME options for historic and ATM volatility over the past two years. 

    The spotlight focus for Q4 is on the LME's plans to modernise it's options market.

    The LME appreciates any feedback and we’re always keen to understand what the market is most interested in seeing.

    You will find a short survey at the bottom of the page to provide your feedback.

    Market overview

    slide 1 base metals price activity

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    Slide 2 LME futures average daily volume

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    Slide 3 LME Futures open interest

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    LME trading volumes by venue

    Slide 4 LME trading by venue volume by venue

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    Slide 9 volume by venue by contract type

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    LME electronic liquidity 

    Slide 11 3M volume

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    3-month (3M) contracts 12

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    Cash and 3 month prompt date checker

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    monthly spread contracts 13

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    3M to monthly spread contracts 14

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    Slide 15 electronic liquidity peak periods

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    Slide 17 electronic 3M monthly spread bid offer ticks

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    LME monthly* contracts

     *3rd Wednesday (3W) contracts
    Slide 19 monthly 3W monthly 3W electronic volumes

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    Slide 20 monthly 3W monthly contracts liquidity clusters hours

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    Slide 21 monthly 3W monthly contracts liquidity clusters days

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    Slide 22 monthly 3W monthly contracts quoted periods

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    slide 23 monthly monthly contracts bid offer spreads ticks

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    slide 24 Monthly 3W monthly contracts bid offer spreads dollar

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    Cash-settled-futures - ferrous and aluminium premiums 

    Slide 19 LME ferrous market price summary

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    Slide 27 LME ferrous volume

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    Slide 28 LME Aluminium CSF open interest

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    LME options

    Slide 22 options prices historic volatility

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    slide 23 options base ATM volatility

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    slide 24 options options and TAPOs volumes

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    slide 25 options options and TAPOs open interest

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    slide 26 options realised vs implied volatility

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    Spotlight: LME's roadmap for modernising the options market

    Options roadmap 1

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    options roadmap 2

     

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    Last slide GCD team

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    LME quarterly report Q1 2026 survey

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