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Copper drops on dollar and stocks; nickel hits two-month low

Copper prices slipped and nickel touched its most affordable in more than 2 months on Friday, pressured by a firm dollar and rising stocks that highlighted a supply surplus.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange lost 0.2% to $9,773 a metric lot by 1615 GMT.

In metals, risk hunger has actually faded recently, however that was needed after a really strong move that was not warranted at the time, said Ole Hansen, head of commodity technique at Saxo Bank in Copenhagen.

Copper has actually given up 12% given that touching a record peak of $ 11,104.50 last month after a rally fuelled by speculators and investment funds.

Buyers will be hesitant till we see a clear advantage break through that $10,000 psychological level, which will be a difficult nut to crack, Hansen said.

A stronger dollar weighed on metals, making commodities priced in the U.S. currency more expensive for buyers using other currencies.

Copper stocks in LME-registered warehouses << MCUSTX-TOTAL > have gotten 28% over the previous month to the highest level in four months.

That has been partly responsible for the LME cash agreement's. discount rate to the three-month contract << CMCU0-3 > in a market. structure known as contango. The discount rate was close to a record. high up on Tuesday at $133 a ton.

LME nickel dipped 0.1% to $17,620 a load after. sliding to its weakest considering that April 4 at $17,400. It is down. about 2% today.

Shanghai Futures Exchange nickel stocks << NI-STX-SGH > hovered. around their highest considering that November 2020 while LME inventories. << MNISTX-TOTAL > reached 87,480 loads, their greatest given that. February 2022.

The increasing stockpiles were partially due to the fact that Chinese manufacturers. have ramped up output of high-grade cathodes deliverable on the. LME.

Investors have likewise scheduled revenue after nickel costs struck. their greatest considering that August 2023 in May, said CRU expert Tong. Tong, in spite of enhancing need from the stainless-steel sector. and deteriorating supply development in Indonesia in the 2nd quarter.

The market will shift into surplus in the 3rd quarter as. Indonesian supply grows, he stated.

In other metals, LME aluminium quit 1.3% of. $ 2,523 a ton after striking a two-month low, zinc moved. 2.5% to $2,788, lead dropped 0.6% to $2,153.50 after. touching the weakest because April 9, and tin slipped 0.9%. to $32,495.

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(source: Reuters)