Latest News

Global growth angst strikes copper costs

Copper costs tumbled on Monday as a weakening demand outlook in China and the United States, the world's 2 largest economies, set off a selloff of the metal used in power and building.

Indications of stalled industrial activity in leading customer China has weighed on copper prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) for the past few months. Prices have come by nearly 20% because striking record highs above $11,100 in May.

Standard copper on the LME was down 1% at $8,967 a metric heap by 0952 GMT, near to the four-month low hit on July 25.

A weak monthly U.S. tasks report last week and a string of weak profits reports from big technology companies has even more undermined confidence throughout commodity and equities markets.

These markets are all linked. Metals and energy markets are conscious macro styles, said Liberum analyst Tom Cost. Equity financiers efficiently link some of their portfolio to product markets either directly or through indices.

European shares was up to multi-month lows while Japanese shares at one point surpassed their 1987 Black Monday loss as investors ran away equities markets on U.S. recession worries.

Growing expectations of deeper rate of interest cuts by the Federal Reserve to fortify development struck the U.S. currency, which should ultimately assist to support demand for dollar-priced metals.

In the near-term, however, the copper market is fretting about climbing up stocks in LME-approved storage facilities << MCUSTX-TOTAL >, which have actually increased by more than 140% because mid-May to three-year highs of 251,350 tons

Most of the copper delivered to LME warehouses in Asia is of Chinese origin, according to market sources.

In other places, lead hit $2,003 a lot for its least expensive in more than 4 months. Weak demand and high stocks << MPBSTX-TOTAL > in the LME system lag lower prices for the battery metal, which was last down 0.7% at $2,008.

Adequate stocks lag the relentless discount for money metal over the three-month agreement << CMPB0-3 > because March.

In other metals, aluminium slipped 0.3% to $2,256 a. heap, zinc delivered 0.3% to $2,645, tin lost 1.6% to. $ 29,705 and nickel was down 0.2% at $16,240.

(source: Reuters)