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LME copper prices tick up after tensions in the Middle East end

LME copper prices tick up after tensions in the Middle East end
LME copper prices tick up after tensions in the Middle East end

The London Metal Exchange saw a rise in copper?prices on Monday as the market digested the weekend's tense U.S. Iran?peace talks.

Benchmark three-month Copper?on LME gained 0.71% to $13,692?a metric tonne by 0700 GMT.

The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract fell by 0.08%, to 104 890 yuan per ton ($15 476.21).

After the peace talks between the U.S.A. and Iran, traders closely monitored the macroeconomic climate.

David Wilson, BNP Paribas' head of metals strategy, stated that the market was just waiting and watching to see what would happen.

Mediators confirmed that the first round of high level peace talks ended on Monday. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, threatened to restart attacks while Tehran announced that it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend.

The conflict has affected the?base metal market, dampening the risk appetite and increasing energy prices. This has dimmed growth expectations.

Wilson stated that "LME copper is moving based on expectations of rate and inflation on the one hand and a Gulf Peace dividend on another."

Markets are also awaiting a report and recommendations from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick? on possible copper tariffs. This is due at the end of June.

Metals from Europe and Asia have been shipped to the United States due to tariff concerns. Metals from Europe and Asia are being shipped to the?U.S.

Copper stocks at?LME registered warehouses decreased on Friday Exchange data revealed that?fell another 3,575 tons to 352150 tons. The number of cancelled warrants, which indicate metal that is destined for withdrawal, reached 37%.

The SHFE reported on Thursday that copper inventories in warehouses monitored by the exchange fell 23.6% during the past week.

Aluminium gained 0.62% on the LME, while zinc rose by?0.48%. Lead rose 0.1%, nickel rose 1.65%, and tin increased by?3.08%.

The SHFE showed that aluminium rose by 0.92%. Zinc fell by 0.32%. Lead dropped 0.49%. Nickel slipped 0.09%. Tin gained 0.67%. $1 = 6.7775 Chinese Yuan (Reporting and editing by Mrigank Dahniwala, Subhranshu Saghu).

(source: Reuters)