Copper gives up gains as strong dollar and oil weigh
LONDON: Copper prices gave up early gains spurred by top consumer China’s return to the market on Thursday, with a strong dollar and rising oil prices offsetting concerns over tight supplies. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.4% at $14,415 a metric ton in official open outcry activity, having earlier touched its strongest since September 25 at $14,646.50. Early…
Copper prices initially surged due to China's return to the market following a week-long holiday, but they subsequently lost momentum. A strong dollar and increasing oil prices counterbalanced worries about supply shortages. The benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange fell 0.4% to $14,415 a metric ton, falling short of its peak at $14,646.50 earlier.
Analyst Craig Lang mentioned that low market inventories and rising mine supply risks had bolstered prices. The Yangshan premium, indicating China's demand for copper imports, increased by 5% to $125 a ton, its highest level since November 2022. Despite this, the dollar's rise pushed the LME complex down as investors viewed inflation as the main risk.
Strikes at major copper mines in Chile, including Antofagasta’s Centinela and BHP’s Escondida, plus a strike at Philex Mining Corporation’s Padcal mine in the Philippines, contributed to tight LME copper stocks. The cash LME copper contract traded at a $107.50 premium over the three-month forward, up from $89 on Wednesday, signaling growing supply tightness.
Meanwhile, aluminum declined 1.6% to $3,068.50, hit a three-month low, and zinc slipped 0.7% to $3,736, while lead dropped 1.2% to $1,873. Nickel fell 0.9% to $15,590 and tin decreased 2.5% to $52,950, touching its lowest since September 17.
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