Get Nickel - LME 3-month (NI3M) prices using this API

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the demand for real-time data in the metals market has never been greater. The Metals-API provides developers with a powerful tool to access up-to-the-minute information on various metals, including Nickel (XNI). This blog post delves into the intricacies of Nickel's market dynamics, the transformative potential of the Metals-API, and how developers can leverage this API to create innovative applications.

Metals-API Information

About Nickel (XNI)

Nickel is a critical metal used in various applications, from stainless steel production to battery manufacturing. As industries increasingly shift towards sustainable practices and electric vehicles, the demand for Nickel is projected to rise significantly. This surge in demand is driving digital transformation in metal markets, where technological innovation and data analytics play pivotal roles.

Technological advancements have enabled the integration of smart technologies in the metals sector, allowing for real-time tracking of prices and trends. The ability to analyze data effectively provides stakeholders with insights that can inform strategic decisions. As we look to the future, the possibilities for Nickel and other metals are vast, with potential applications in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and more.

API Description

The Metals-API is designed to empower developers by providing access to real-time metals data, enabling the creation of next-generation applications. With its robust capabilities, the API allows users to retrieve the latest rates, historical data, and much more, all through a simple and intuitive interface.

For more detailed information, developers can refer to the Metals-API Documentation, which outlines the various features and functionalities available. The API supports a wide range of symbols, including Nickel, and can be accessed through the Metals-API Supported Symbols page.

Key Features and Endpoints

The Metals-API offers a variety of endpoints that cater to different needs. Here’s a closer look at some of the key features:

Latest Rates Endpoint: This endpoint provides real-time exchange rate data for metals, updated every 60 minutes, 10 minutes, or even more frequently, depending on your subscription plan. For example, a request to this endpoint might return the latest price for Nickel (XNI) along with other metals.
Historical Rates Endpoint: Users can access historical rates dating back to 2019 by appending a specific date to the API request. This feature is particularly useful for analyzing trends over time and making informed decisions based on past performance.
Bid And Ask Endpoint: This powerful feature allows developers to retrieve real-time bid and ask prices for metals, providing insights into market liquidity and pricing dynamics.
Convert Endpoint: The API includes a currency conversion feature, enabling users to convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD. This is particularly useful for traders and analysts who need to assess value across different currencies.
Time-Series Endpoint: This endpoint allows users to query daily historical rates between two specified dates, facilitating in-depth analysis of price movements over time.
Fluctuation Endpoint: Users can track how prices fluctuate on a day-to-day basis, providing valuable insights into market volatility and trends.
Carat Endpoint: This feature allows users to retrieve information about Gold rates by Carat, which is essential for jewelers and traders dealing in precious metals.
Lowest/Highest Price Endpoint: This endpoint enables users to query the API for the lowest and highest prices of metals over a specified period, aiding in market analysis.
Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint: Users can access OHLC data for a specific time period, which is crucial for traders looking to analyze price movements and make informed trading decisions.
Historical LME Endpoint: This endpoint provides access to historical rates for LME symbols dating back to 2008, allowing for comprehensive analysis of market trends.
API Key: Each user is assigned a unique API key that must be included in requests to authenticate access to the API.
API Response: The Metals-API delivers exchange rates relative to USD by default, ensuring consistency in data interpretation.
Available Endpoints: The API features multiple endpoints, each designed to fulfill specific functionalities, making it a versatile tool for developers.
Supported Symbols Endpoint: This endpoint provides a constantly updated list of all available currencies and metals, ensuring users have access to the latest information.
Gold Price India Endpoint: This dedicated endpoint allows users to retrieve the latest gold prices in India, catering to a specific market need.
News Endpoint: Users can access the latest news articles related to various metals, keeping them informed about market developments.

API Endpoint Examples and Responses

Understanding how to interact with the Metals-API is crucial for developers. Below are examples of how to use various endpoints, along with explanations of the JSON responses.

Latest Rates Endpoint

To get real-time exchange rates for all available metals, you can use the following request:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1743217223,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-03-29",
    "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 success field indicates whether the request was successful. The timestamp provides the time of the request, while base indicates the base currency (USD in this case). The rates object contains the exchange rates for each metal, including Nickel (XNI), which is priced at 0.142857 per troy ounce.

Historical Rates Endpoint

To access historical exchange rates for any date since 1999, you can use the following request:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1743130823,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-03-28",
    "rates": {
        "XAU": 0.000485,
        "XAG": 0.03825,
        "XPT": 0.000915,
        "XPD": 0.000748
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides historical rates for the specified date, allowing users to analyze past performance and trends.

Time-series Endpoint

To get exchange rates for a specific time period, you can use the following request:

{
    "success": true,
    "timeseries": true,
    "start_date": "2025-03-22",
    "end_date": "2025-03-29",
    "base": "USD",
    "rates": {
        "2025-03-22": {
            "XAU": 0.000485,
            "XAG": 0.03825,
            "XPT": 0.000915
        },
        "2025-03-24": {
            "XAU": 0.000483,
            "XAG": 0.0382,
            "XPT": 0.000913
        },
        "2025-03-29": {
            "XAU": 0.000482,
            "XAG": 0.03815,
            "XPT": 0.000912
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides a time series of exchange rates for the specified period, allowing for detailed analysis of price movements.

Convert Endpoint

To convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD, you can use the following request:

{
    "success": true,
    "query": {
        "from": "USD",
        "to": "XAU",
        "amount": 1000
    },
    "info": {
        "timestamp": 1743217223,
        "rate": 0.000482
    },
    "result": 0.482,
    "unit": "troy ounces"
}

This response indicates the conversion from USD to Gold (XAU), showing the amount in troy ounces.

Fluctuation Endpoint

To track rate fluctuations between two dates, you can use the following request:

{
    "success": true,
    "fluctuation": true,
    "start_date": "2025-03-22",
    "end_date": "2025-03-29",
    "base": "USD",
    "rates": {
        "XAU": {
            "start_rate": 0.000485,
            "end_rate": 0.000482,
            "change": -3.0e-6,
            "change_pct": -0.62
        },
        "XAG": {
            "start_rate": 0.03825,
            "end_rate": 0.03815,
            "change": -0.0001,
            "change_pct": -0.26
        },
        "XPT": {
            "start_rate": 0.000915,
            "end_rate": 0.000912,
            "change": -3.0e-6,
            "change_pct": -0.33
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides detailed information about how prices fluctuated over the specified period, including percentage changes.

OHLC (Open/High/Low/Close) Price Endpoint

To get OHLC data for a specific time period, you can use the following request:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1743217223,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-03-29",
    "rates": {
        "XAU": {
            "open": 0.000485,
            "high": 0.000487,
            "low": 0.000481,
            "close": 0.000482
        },
        "XAG": {
            "open": 0.03825,
            "high": 0.0383,
            "low": 0.0381,
            "close": 0.03815
        },
        "XPT": {
            "open": 0.000915,
            "high": 0.000918,
            "low": 0.00091,
            "close": 0.000912
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides the open, high, low, and close prices for the specified date, which is essential for traders analyzing market movements.

Bid/Ask Endpoint

To get current bid and ask prices for metals, you can use the following request:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1743217223,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-03-29",
    "rates": {
        "XAU": {
            "bid": 0.000481,
            "ask": 0.000483,
            "spread": 2.0e-6
        },
        "XAG": {
            "bid": 0.0381,
            "ask": 0.0382,
            "spread": 0.0001
        },
        "XPT": {
            "bid": 0.000911,
            "ask": 0.000913,
            "spread": 2.0e-6
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides the current bid and ask prices for various metals, including the spread, which is crucial for traders making buy/sell decisions.

Conclusion

The Metals-API is a powerful tool for developers looking to access real-time data on metals like Nickel. By leveraging its various endpoints, developers can create applications that provide valuable insights into market trends, historical data, and pricing dynamics. The API's capabilities, such as the Latest Rates, Historical Rates, and Bid/Ask endpoints, offer a comprehensive suite of features that can enhance decision-making processes in the metals market.

As industries continue to evolve and the demand for metals grows, the importance of real-time data and analytics will only increase. By utilizing the Metals-API Website and its extensive documentation, developers can stay ahead of the curve and build innovative solutions that meet the needs of the market.

For further exploration of the API's capabilities, be sure to check out the Metals-API Documentation and the Metals-API Supported Symbols page to discover all the available options at your disposal.

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Knowledge Base

Get Nickel - LME 3-month (NI3M) prices using this API