The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning on Monday for its citizens in both Nigeria and the DR Congo and called on its nationals in high-risk areas in both countries to evacuate immediately. Spokesman Zhao Lijian specifically called on Chinese nationals in the eastern DRC provinces of Ituri, North, and South Kivu to leave, cautioning that there would be little chance of assistance for them in the event of a kidnapping or attack. Five Chinese people were abducted by militants in South Kivu on Sunday and their whereabouts remain unknown. It’s not clear who are the assailants and what motivated the attack. Tensions between Chinese miners and local stakeholders have run high since August when Theo Kasi suspended six Chinese-run mining companies. Also, the region has seen an increase in activity by the feared M23 rebel group lately. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Copper prices were under pressure on Monday amid mounting concerns over the health of the Chinese real estate sector. “We should be cautious, China’s property slowdown is worrying, it is dragging down base metals,” said Dan Smith, Managing Director at consultancy Commodity Market Analytics. Although copper inventories are also starting to run low, traders said that new output from mines like Kamoa-Kakula in the DR Congo will help to replenish stocks and help to stabilize prices in the next 3-6 months. (REUTERS)