LME to examine floor reopening after easing of UK lockdown

The London Metal Exchange (LME) will examine whether the easing of social-distancing restrictions in England from July 4 will apply to its open-outcry floor, which has been closed for three months.

The 143-year-old exchange temporarily closed the floor – the last open-outcry floor in Europe – on March 23 due to Covid-19 restrictions and shifted activity to its electronic system.

Comments by CEO Matthew Chamberlain during an online seminar on Tuesday were more upbeat than an interview with Reuters last month when he said the floor was likely to remain shut for many months.