Monday, November 11, 2013
Market Commentary
Last week Industrial metals had a rough time, trending
lower as they get stuck between bettering demand and a
stronger dollar. Copper prices fell by more than 1%,
remaining firmly within a $7,000-7,420 trading band on the
LME which it has been in since early August. After the good
economic data from the US and down trending imports
from China, markets were seen waiting for the Chinese
leadership meeting to get over on November 12th that may
offer clues on the upcoming economic policy. For the week,
LME nickel was the biggest loser, facing a drop of 4.5%.
Copper- Weekly Market Data
Exchange
LME
LME
Contract
Cash
3M
Open
7175
7255
Close
7170
7158.5
Change
2.5
-78.5
% Change
0.03%
-1.08%
Open Int.
Change
Pivot
7179
7172
Resistance
7198
7250
Support
7154
7148
MCX
Nov-13
456.85
457
1.1
0.24%
12872
2706
453.9
462.0
447.4
Context
On the US front, last week’s data showed a drastic
improvement even with the government shutdown in
October. Growth data showed that the US economy grew
by a 2.8% annual rate in the third quarter, the quickest
pace since the Q3 of 2012, as businesses were restocking.
However, the slowest expansion in consumer spending in
two years suggested an underlying loss of momentum.
The US nonfarm payrolls data surprised on the upside as
there were 204,000 new jobs added last month against
expectations of 120,000 new jobs. The unemployment rate
ticked up to 7.3% from an almost five year low of 7.2% the
previous month. The jobs report paints a better demand
picture for metals. However, the improvement in the labor
market countered concern that the Federal Reserve will
curb fiscal stimulus, which weakens the price picture for
metals.
Copper prices also took support from the ECB's cutting its
benchmark interest rate to 0.25% from 0.5%. The surprise
move stoked hopes lower borrowing costs would spark
demand for the industrial metal from the world's second-
largest copper consumer.
Copper- Weekly Market Data
Exchange
Open
Close
Change
% Change
Open Int.
Change
Pivot
Resistance
Support
COMEX
3.271
3.2625
-0.03
-0.91%
584
-318
3.25
3.28
3.23
Shanghai
52110
51600
-700
-1.34%
37090
-9930
51723
52027
51297
LME
Inventory
474,675
465,650
-9025
-1.90%
Shanghai
Inventory
178,343
177,903
-440
-0.25%
LME 3 Month Forwards – Other Metals
Commodity
Nickel
Zinc
Lead
Aluminium
Open
14567
1939
2183
1846
Close
13899
1908
2141.5
1816.5
Change
-631
-28.5
-41.5
-26.5
% Change
-4.34%
-1.47%
-1.90%
-1.44%
Please refer to the disclaimer at the end of the report.
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