{
  "id": 14889272,
  "title": "London copper ticks up but heads for weekly loss",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/london-copper-ticks-up-but-heads-for-weekly-loss",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-16T06:45:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40444527/london-copper-ticks-up-but-heads-for-weekly-loss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "London copper prices edged upward on Friday, but now appear set to decline for the week due to worries surrounding inflation and a downturn in AI-related stocks, as per the latest reports. The benchmark three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange increased by 0.3% to $14,383.50 per metric ton as of 0150 GMT, yet it experienced a weekly decline of 1%. In contrast, the most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange saw a 0.1% drop to 109,610 yuan ($16,379.75) per ton.\n\nEd Meir, an analyst at Marex, noted that the rapid sell-off witnessed in the semiconductor/AI sector is having a ripple effect on copper, as these two sectors have been moving in tandem throughout the year. Both areas appear to be heading south simultaneously, he added. In addition, a sell-off of AI-related stocks spread to credit markets as investors grew apprehensive about data-center operators' ability to generate adequate profits rapidly enough to cover their debt.\n\nRecent data revealed that US producer prices surged to the highest level in 4-1/2 years in September, indicating that inflation is extending beyond energy products. Inflation tends to have a negative impact on growth-dependent industrial metals by slowing down economic activity. Meanwhile, negotiations between Antofagasta Minerals and two striking unions at Chile's Centinela copper mine remained unresolved, with the Distrito Centinela and Minera Esperanza unions, representing over 700 workers, beginning their strike on October 7 after contract talks fell through.\n\nCiti maintained a neutral stance on copper and aluminium in the near term, predicting prices between $14,000 and $15,000 per ton for copper and $3,000 per ton for aluminium. The LME aluminium price increased by 0.4% to $2,997, yet it was down 1.7% for the week up to that point. Among other LME metals, zinc rose by 0.3%, lead climbed by 0.5%, nickel dropped by 0.4%, and tin increased by 0.7%. In the SHFE metals, zinc slipped by 0.9%, lead fell by 0.2%, nickel lost 2.1%, and tin rose by 0.9%.",
  "summary": "London copper inched higher on Friday but headed for a weekly loss amid concerns over rising inflation and a selloff in AI-related stocks, while aluminium was on track for a fourth straight weekly decline. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.3% to $14,383.50 a metric ton by 0150 GMT but was down 1% for the week. The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures…",
  "key_points": [
    "London copper price rises 0.3% to $14,383.50 per metric ton",
    "Weekly decline of 1% expected due to inflation and AI sector woes",
    "US producer prices hit 4-1/2-year high in September, fueling inflation concerns"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Persistent inflation and a synchronized downturn in semiconductor stocks are weighing on industrial metals, signaling that investor anxiety over tech profitability and economic growth is suppressing copper prices.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}