London Metal Exchange Trading Situation - Important Message - Updated 20.00 (local) 7 July 2005

This message provides an update on the current status of operations on the LME, following the earlier incidents in central London.

The LME is still within a police exclusion zone and as such is not accessible. As a result, the Exchange will review the situation on Friday morning and take a decision to open the Ring, or to continue trading with LME Select and the telephone market as it has done today.

The Exchange has remained in contact throughout the day with the FSA, its data vendors, service suppliers and LCH.Clearnet.

It should be noted that the Exchange has continued to operate an orderly and transparent market in challenging circumstances, and has successfully established and communicated prices for all contracts traded on the LME.