Post by
bogfit on Jan 22, 2021 9:13am
Cu down poor economic data and new coronavirus restrictions
LONDON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Copper fell on Friday alongside stock markets and oil prices as poor economic data and new coronavirus restrictions in China, the world's biggest raw materials consumer, weakened the outlook for economic growth and demand.
Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was down 1.7% at $7,882 a tonne in official trading after reaching an eight-year high of $8,238 on Jan. 8.
"We are just hitting the buffers here," said Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hatbreak in China and the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year holiday may curb industrial activitnsen. "Commodities had a phenomenal run, and that just screams correction." A coronavirus ouy. This and slow progress suppressing the virus in Europe and the United States are forcing investors to reassess copper's near-term outlook, he said.
But many analysts, including Hansen, say supply will tighten as the year progresses, pushing prices higher. OUTBREAK: China reported 103 COVID-19 cases on Friday, with Beijing launching mass testing in some areas and Shanghai testing all hospital staff. ECONOMY: Economic activity in the euro zone shrank markedly in January, PMI surveys showed, while forecasters surveyed by the European Central Bank downgraded their growth expectations for the bloc this year. MANUFACTURING: Japan's factory activity slipped into contraction in January. MARKETS: Oil prices and Chinese, European and U.S. equities fell. The U.S. dollar steadied after three days of losses. POSITIONING: Speculators are reducing bets on higher copper prices from multi-year peaks. COPPER STOCKS: However, copper stocks in warehouses monitored by the LME, Comex and the Shanghai Futures Exchange are dwindling, with ShFE inventories the lowest since 2011. TIN: Benchmark tin was down 1.3% at $21,725 a tonne after tightness in the LME system pushed prices to $22,395, the highest since 2014, on Thursday.
b.
Comment by
patchh on Jan 22, 2021 10:01pm
5 Year LME Copper Warehouse Stocks Level from a high of 400000 tons in the market exchanges may 2020 its below 100,000 tons today. in sept it was 75,000 tons inventories came bak up in sept to 180,000 tons.. i wouldnot put much weight on the chickenlittle report suggesting copper hits 3.00