Why have aluminium inventories at the London Metal Exchange fallen to their lowest level since 1990, according to the article?

According to the article, aluminium inventories at the London Metal Exchange have slumped to their lowest level since 1990 due to supply-chain shocks rippling out from the Iran war, transforming a market historically characterised by oversupply into one undergoing a sharp inventory drain.

What does the article say about the relative performance of euro zone bank stocks versus the U.S. 'Magnificent Seven' tech giants since early 2023?

The article states that euro zone bank stocks have substantially outperformed the U.S. 'Magnificent Seven' megacap tech giants since early 2023 — with the main euro zone bank index rising almost 210% over the same period, compared to the Roundhill 'Magnificent Seven' ETF’s 182% gain — driven not by AI but by the return of durably positive interest rates after more than a decade.

The financial week in five charts: Bank boom, aluminium squeeze and smart freight

Aug 14, 2026

Reuters Open Interest highlights depressed Middle East crude oil exports conflicting with U.S. claims and London Metal Exchange aluminium inventories hitting 1990 lows due to supply chain shocks. The report also covers labor economics, transport automation, and European bank performance.

reuters

2026-08-14

The financial week in five charts: Bank boom, aluminium squeeze and smart freight

The financial week in five charts: Bank boom, aluminium squeeze and smart freight

FAQ