Copper Falls for Third Consecutive Session
Copper futures declined toward $6.50 per pound on Thursday, extending losses for a third consecutive session as stronger-than-expected US inflation reinforced expectations of further Federal Reserve rate hikes, dampening the demand outlook for industrial metals. Higher borrowing costs could slow economic growth, potentially weighing on overall copper consumption. However, tightening supply may…
Copper prices slipped to $6.50 per pound on Thursday, marking a third straight day of declines. The downward trend was fueled by unexpectedly robust US inflation data, which heightened anticipation of additional Federal Reserve interest rate increases. This news may deter industrial metal demand. Rising borrowing costs could also decelerate economic expansion, potentially curbing overall copper utilization.
Nonetheless, supply constraints might curb further price erosion, as labor disputes and adverse weather conditions hinder mining activities in Chile, the world's premier copper supplier. In Chile, BHP Group's Escondida mine and Antofagasta Plc's Centinela mine experienced worker strikes, while adverse weather disrupted Codelco's El Teniente open-pit mine operations.
On the demand front, copper maintains backing from robust forecasts for data center infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and battery energy storage systems, according to Trading Economics.
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