Reaching a new all-time high and the "metal of the devil" on Thursday, aluminum and nickel prices have soared in the past week, boosted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Aluminum thus reached its highest level for nearly eleven years.

On the London base metals market (London Metal Exchange, LME), aluminum hit an all-time high of $3,480 a tonne, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "military operation". in Ukraine. On the LME, a tonne of aluminum for delivery in three months traded at 3,353.50 dollars around 4:00 p.m. GMT (5:00 p.m. in Paris), against 3,262.50 dollars the previous Friday at the close.

A ton of nickel for delivery in three months traded at 24,230 dollars, against 24,144 dollars a week earlier. Sugar prices were up slightly this week, influenced by soaring oil prices that topped $100 a barrel on Thursday, but still held back by more than enough supply. In New York, a pound of raw sugar for delivery next March was worth 17.62 cents, against also 17.62 cents seven days earlier.

An ounce of gold traded for 1,888.25 dollars, against 1,898.43 dollars seven days earlier and 1,974.35 dollars at its highest on Thursday. An ounce of palladium traded for 2,347.45 dollars, against 2,350.75 dollars seven days earlier and 2,714.97 dollars at its highest in seven months on Thursday.