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Copper heads towards two-year highs with spotlight on supply

Copper costs pushed towards twoyear highs on Tuesday as focus returned to tight products and hopes of stronger need in top consumer China, where authorities are planning even more measures to prop up the economy.

Standard copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME). was up 1.2% at $10,034 a metric ton at 1607 GMT after touching. $ 10,118. Prices struck a two-year peak of $10,208 last week.

This is all about future products, or the lack of, one. trader said, adding that BHP's takeover quote for Anglo American. is everything about copper which Chinese purchasers are back in the. market after last week's public holidays.

Experts expect supply deficits this year and beyond as. need from brand-new technologies and electric lorries such as. artificial intelligence and automation speed up.

A BHP and Anglo American tie-up would. develop an entity that manages 10% of worldwide copper supplies,. exceeding Chile's Codelco and Freeport-McMoRan.

China leading decision-making body last week stated that it would. step up support for the economy with sensible monetary and. proactive financial policies, including rates of interest and bank. reserve requirement ratios (RRR).

Traders state reports that China's Shenzhen city was unwinding. home purchase limitations in some districts in an attempt to. boost the property market - a major consumer of commercial. products - had actually likewise had increased cravings for LME copper.

Helping were falling copper stocks in LME-registered. storage facilities << MCUSTX-TOTAL >, which have dropped 35% to 107,350. metric heaps given that the start of the year.

The supply image, while improving, remains precarious. Mines are simply one strike or natural catastrophe away from taking. up yet again, said Marex consultant Edward Meir.

Furthermore, scrap remains restricted, regardless of a strong rally in. copper rates. Scrap systems that typically permeate into the market on. the back of such strength never materialised.

In other metals, aluminium increased 0.6% to $2,567 a. ton, zinc was up 1.4% at $2,945, lead climbed up. 1.4% to $2,247, tin included 2.4% to $32,750 and nickel. advanced 0.2% to $19,275.

(source: Reuters)