Copper Longest Losing Streak Since 1998 on China Concern Copper fell for an eighth session in London, the longest slump since December 1998, on concern that slowing economic growth will curb demand in China, the world’s largest user of the metal. Chinese factory output, as measured by a gauge the government will release tomorrow, probably slowed in January for a second straight month, according to analyst estimates. A private measure on Jan. 30 showed manufacturing contracted this month. Copper analysts are the most bearish in a year and expect prices to drop next week as markets in China shut for the Lunar New Year holiday, a Bloomberg News survey showed. Copper dropped 4 percent this month after rising in the last two quarters of 2013, as signs of slowing economic expansion in China rekindle demand concerns. Global production will outstrip use by 167,000 metric tons this year, following a deficit of 137,000 tons in 2013, Barclays Plc has said. “The reason that copper was going up earlier this year was that people thought China would need to restock a lot of their commodity reserves,” Fain Shaffer, president of Infinity Trading Corp. in Indianapolis, said in a telephone interview. “Now, it seems that might not be the case. It’s a combination of the potential weakening demand in China and emerging markets and that’s bringing prices down.” Source - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-31/copper-set-for-biggest-monthly-loss-since-june-on-china-outlook.html