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Base metals jump as soft U.S. tasks data fuels rate cut hopes

Nonferrous metals rates advanced on Friday, sustained by risk-on belief and short-covering after greater unemployment in the United States renewed hopes of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME). rose 1.4% to $10,045 per metric lot by 0627 GMT, while. the most-traded June copper contract on the Shanghai Futures. Exchange (SHFE) increased 1.3% to 80,830 yuan. ($ 11,189.09) a load.

Over night jobless numbers from the U.S ... (means) rate. cuts are still going to occur, said a metals trader, including. that funds are having risk-on sentiment.

Flat costs are greater, so more short (positions. holders) need to cover, the trader added.

U.S. joblessness claims increased recently to the greatest level. in more than 8 months, using more evidence that the. labour market was steadily cooling.

A rate cut might assist increase economic growth and physical. need for metal, while it might also cause a softer dollar.

A weaker dollar makes greenback-priced metals more affordable to. holders of other currencies.

The dollar index was nearly flat on Friday, after dropping. 0.3% in the previous session, the greatest day-to-day fall in more. than a week.

LME aluminium was up 1% at $2,586 a load, nickel. edged up 0.4% at $19,110, zinc advanced 1% to. $ 2,938, lead increased 0.6% to $2,247 and tin. was nearly flat at $32,800.

SHFE aluminium increased 0.7% to 20,720 yuan a ton,. nickel increased 1.8% to 144,110 yuan, tin. jumped 2.8% to 266,770 yuan, and lead sophisticated 0.7% to. 18,130 yuan.

Britain's economy grew by the most in nearly. 3 years in the very first quarter of 2024, ending the shallow. economic downturn it entered in the 2nd half of in 2015.

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(source: Reuters)