Instructions to Get Zinc - LME 3-month (ZNC3M) Historical Prices via this API
Instructions to Get Zinc - LME 3-month (ZNC3M) Historical Prices via this API
In the rapidly evolving landscape of metal markets, the demand for real-time data and historical insights has never been greater. Zinc, represented by the symbol XZN, is a crucial metal in various industries, from construction to electronics. In this blog post, we will explore how to obtain historical prices for Zinc using the Metals-API. This API not only provides access to real-time data but also empowers developers to create innovative applications that leverage historical trends and analytics.
About Zinc (XZN)
Zinc is a versatile metal known for its corrosion resistance and strength. As industries continue to embrace digital transformation, the integration of smart technologies and data analytics into metal markets is becoming increasingly important. The ability to access historical price data for Zinc can provide valuable insights into market trends, helping businesses make informed decisions.
Technological advancements have paved the way for the development of APIs like Metals-API, which allow developers to access a wealth of information about various metals, including Zinc. By utilizing this API, developers can harness the power of data analytics to gain insights into price fluctuations, market trends, and future possibilities.
Metals-API Overview
The Metals-API is a powerful tool designed for developers seeking to integrate metal price data into their applications. It offers a range of endpoints that provide real-time and historical data, enabling users to track price movements and analyze trends effectively. The API is built with innovation in mind, allowing for seamless integration and smart technology utilization.
One of the standout features of Metals-API is its ability to deliver real-time exchange rate data. Depending on your subscription plan, the API can return the latest rates updated every 60 minutes or even every 10 minutes. This feature is essential for developers looking to create applications that require up-to-the-minute pricing information.
Key Features and Endpoints
The Metals-API offers a variety of endpoints, each designed to meet specific needs. Here are some of the key features:
- Latest Rates Endpoint: This endpoint provides real-time exchange rate data for metals, including Zinc. You can retrieve the latest rates based on your subscription plan, ensuring you have access to the most current information.
- Historical Rates Endpoint: Access historical rates for Zinc dating back to 2019. By appending a specific date to your query, you can retrieve historical price data, allowing for in-depth analysis of market trends over time.
- Bid And Ask Endpoint: This powerful feature enables you to retrieve real-time bid and ask prices for Zinc, providing insights into market liquidity and pricing dynamics.
- Convert Endpoint: The API includes a currency conversion feature, allowing you to convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD. This is particularly useful for businesses operating in multiple currencies.
- Time-Series Endpoint: Query the API for daily historical rates between two dates of your choice. This feature is invaluable for analyzing trends over specific periods.
- Fluctuation Endpoint: Track how Zinc prices fluctuate on a day-to-day basis. This endpoint provides insights into market volatility and helps in making informed trading decisions.
- Lowest/Highest Price Endpoint: Retrieve the lowest and highest prices for Zinc over a specified period, allowing you to identify price extremes and market behavior.
- Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint: Get detailed OHLC data for Zinc, which is essential for technical analysis and understanding market movements.
- Historical LME Endpoint: Access historical rates for LME symbols, including Zinc, dating back to 2008. This endpoint is crucial for long-term market analysis.
API Key and Authentication
To access the Metals-API, you will need an API key, which is a unique identifier passed into the API base URL's access_key parameter. This key ensures secure access to the API and allows you to retrieve the data you need. Make sure to keep your API key confidential to prevent unauthorized access.
Understanding API Responses
The API responses are delivered in JSON format, providing a structured way to access the data. For example, when querying the latest rates for Zinc, you might receive a response like this:
{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1769818910,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-01-31",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815,
"XPT": 0.000912,
"XPD": 0.000744,
"XCU": 0.294118,
"XAL": 0.434783,
"XNI": 0.142857,
"XZN": 0.344828
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}
In this response, the rates object contains the current price of Zinc (XZN) along with other metals, all relative to USD. Understanding the structure of the response is crucial for developers to effectively utilize the data in their applications.
Practical Use Cases
There are numerous practical applications for the Metals-API, particularly for developers working in finance, trading, and analytics. For instance, a trading application could utilize the latest rates endpoint to provide users with real-time pricing information for Zinc, enabling them to make informed trading decisions. Additionally, the historical rates endpoint can be used to analyze past price movements, helping traders identify patterns and trends.
Another use case involves integrating the API into a financial dashboard that aggregates data from multiple sources. By leveraging the fluctuation and time-series endpoints, developers can create visualizations that showcase price trends over time, providing users with valuable insights into market behavior.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Metals-API offers a comprehensive solution for accessing historical prices and real-time data for Zinc and other metals. By utilizing this API, developers can create innovative applications that leverage data analytics and insights to drive decision-making in the metal markets. The integration of smart technology and data-driven approaches is transforming the way industries operate, and the Metals-API is at the forefront of this digital transformation.
For more information on how to get started with the Metals-API, refer to the Metals-API Documentation and explore the Metals-API Supported Symbols for a complete list of available metals. Embrace the future of metal trading with the power of real-time data and analytics.