Latest News

Copper dips below $10,000 as consolidation continues

Copper prices dipped listed below the key mark of $10,000 a metric heap on Tuesday for the first time in three weeks as consolidation continued due to lacklustre demand in leading customer China.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange prolonged losses to drop 2.1% to $9,936.5 a ton at 1618 GMT. It earlier dipped to $9,924.8, the most affordable since May 8.

The United States' production data is weaker than expected. And copper stock in Shanghai, carefully seen as a. gauge of physical need, remained high, stated Carsten Menke. with Julius Baer.

Debt consolidation in copper could continue until we see clear. evidence of a global production healing, Menke added.

Softer U.S. financial information has enhanced the case for earlier. rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, assisting the dollar to rebound. from its most affordable because mid-March.

A stronger dollar makes greenback-priced metals costlier for. holders of other currencies.

Copper costs, widely used in cables and facilities for. its conductivity, have actually rallied to all-time highs across. exchanges in London, Chicago and Shanghai in the last 2. months.

Copper trading volumes in May reached a historical high, while. long positions in copper contracts stayed near to record. levels.

However its rally has muted physical need. LME copper. inventories climbed to a six-week high of 118,950 tonnes with. delivery to registered warehouses in Taiwan. << MCUSTX-TOTAL > Shanghai's>

inventory likewise stayed at near 300,000. tonnes because March. << CU-STX-SGH >

Chinese copper stocks have not yet started their. seasonal decrease, suggesting that the copper market is much more. adequately provided than some traders had thought.

Looking ahead, China's commercial data due in mid-June will. shed more light on metals need later on this year, Menke said.

For other metals, LME zinc touched a three-week low. of $2,905. The galvanising metal last traded 0.5% lower at. $ 2,928.5.

LME aluminium was down 0.2% at $2,658 a ton,. nickel edged down 1.7% to $19,085, tin was down. 1.3% at $31,930, while lead was 1.8% lower at $2,246.5.

(source: Reuters)