Latest News

Copper slips as financial woes surpass demand improvement

Copper was under pressure on Monday as macroeconomic weak point exceeded current indications of more powerful physical demand, while financiers awaited for more indications on the worldwide economic outlook.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.3% to $8,838 per metric lot by 0415 GMT, while the most-traded September copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was flat at 71,410 yuan ($ 9,944.30) a load.

Costs of copper, typically viewed as a financial bellwether, dropped early last week as fears over an economic crisis of the U.S. economy activated sharp sell-offs amongst financial markets.

Belief enhanced after information showed on Thursday that Americans filing new applications for welfare fell more than expected.

The U.S. will release its consumer costs on Wednesday, and China will provide retail sales and industrial production figures on Thursday.

Supporting the marketplace were some more purchases in China after costs fell, and lowered inventories.

Yangshan copper premium << SMM-CUYP-CN >, an indication of import hunger, rallied to a seven-month high at $63 on Friday.

Still, overall need growth for the metal used in the power and building sector is anticipated to slow this year, countering strong operations.

Updates to demand and refined production have pushed the market to a surplus earlier than anticipated, with the marketplace expected to stay in surplus in 2025 and 2026, said Macquarie's experts in a note dated Aug. 8.

They anticipate rates to typical $9,000 per heap for the rest of this quarter, before recovering in Q4 if noticeable stocks start to draw and macro-financial belief stabilises.

LME aluminium dipped 0.1% at $2,299 a load, nickel moved 0.4% to $16,085, lead increased 0.5% to $ 2,048, tin added 0.2% to $31,350 and zinc was 0.1% higher at $2,739.50.

SHFE aluminium was flat at 19,080 yuan a heap, nickel dropped 1.5% to 127,660 yuan, zinc gained 2.2% to 22,890 yuan, lead rose 1.5% to 17,940 yuan, and tin advanced 1.2% to 256,420 yuan.

For the top stories in metals and other news, click or

(source: Reuters)