The  London  Metal  Exchange  invited  feedback  from  market  participants  Monday  on  a 

discussion paper setting out the exchange's evolution. 

It  said  the  guiding principle of the discussion paper is to protect those features of the LME 

that  are  integral  to the physical metals industry, while also identifying growth opportunities, 

maximizing  participation  by market users and creating efficiencies through streamlining the 

LME structure where possible. 

The market-wide engagement period will end on June 30, 2017 and the analysis undertaken 

will  provide  the  LME  with  the foundations on which it will build specific proposals for future 

development, it said. 

The key focus areas of the discussion paper will be: 

The LME ecosystem, its stakeholders and their needs; 

Trading and booking structures, and the date system; 

Clearing structures and services; 

Delivery and physical market structure; Membership; and 

Volumes, fee structures and new products. 

"Our core strategic vision is to work with our members to make LME  trading more accessible 

and  efficient, while  fully  respecting our physical roots. This  paper lays out the principles on 

which we plan to build our business, and invites feedback from all stakeholders on the routes 

by which we deliver that strategic vision," said LME CEO Matthew Chamberlain. 

During  the  discussion period, the LME will publish a series of briefings covering each of the six topics covered in the discussion paper.