{
  "id": 2960373,
  "title": "Copper falls as rising inventory weighs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/copper-falls-as-rising-inventory-weighs",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-24T06:10:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40436283/copper-falls-as-rising-inventory-weighs"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Copper prices declined on Monday as increasing inventories in exchange warehouses and a significant narrowing of nearby spreads indicated a decrease in supply tightness, despite a weaker US dollar mitigating some losses. London copper, traded on the London Metal Exchange, saw a 0.40% decrease to $14,159 per metric ton by 0321 GMT. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most-traded September copper contract rose 0.48% to 107,800 yuan ($16,034.75) per ton, yet still retreated from its Friday evening gains.\n\nThe premium of cash copper relative to three-month copper on the LME continued its narrowing trend. This premium surged to its highest level since August 17 during a sharp reduction in nearby supplies, leading to a surge of metal into LME warehouses. Copper inventories in LME-monitored warehouses dropped 0.56% to 238,575 tons on August 20, though they remained approximately 16% higher than the 204,975 tons observed on August 14, when stocks were at their lowest since February. Inventories at the Shanghai Futures Exchange's monitored warehouses surged 28.4% to 89,548 tons on Friday.\n\nOn-warrant copper stocks also increased by 12,429 tons to 46,105 tons. The inventory boosts on both exchanges, coupled with the rapid narrowing of the LME backwardation, have eased certain immediate supply concerns that had previously driven copper prices and nearby spreads to surge last week. The US dollar remained near multi-month lows on Monday after falling nearly 1% last week, impacted by fears surrounding US debt and the Treasury's decision to boost purchases of longer-dated bonds. A weaker dollar makes commodities priced in US dollars more affordable for buyers using other currencies.\n\nLooking ahead, market participants will keep an eye on this week's Jackson Hole meeting and the Federal Reserve Chair's speech for further clues about interest rates. Among other LME metals, aluminium increased by 0.09%, zinc fell 0.47%, lead rose 0.18%, nickel declined 0.46%, and tin dropped 0.73%. On the Shanghai Futures Exchange, aluminium climbed 0.89%, zinc rose 1.15%, lead gained 0.47%, nickel added 0.83%, while tin slipped 0.72%.",
  "summary": "London copper fell on Monday as a build-up in exchange inventories and a sharp narrowing in nearby spreads pointed to easing supply tightness, while a weaker US dollar limited losses. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange fell 0.40% to $14,159 a metric ton by 0321 GMT. The most-traded September copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was 0.48% higher at 107,800 yuan…",
  "key_points": [
    "Copper prices fell 0.40% to $14,159 per metric ton on Monday",
    "LME copper inventories dropped 0.56% to 238,575 tons",
    "US dollar near multi-month lows, easing supply concerns"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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."
}