LONDON: Copper climbed to a more than one-week high on Friday, driven by Chinese buyers, hopes for a U.S.-China trade deal, and higher risk appetite among other investors.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange gained 0.6% to $9,720 per metric ton in official open-outcry trading after touching its strongest since July 10.
LME copper has eased from its three-month peak of $10,200.50, hit on July 2, and Chinese participants are buying on dips, Marex senior base metals strategist Alastair Munro said.
“Add to that chatter on wires around a potential U.S.-Sino trade agreement in months ahead…The surprise remains on the topside.”
China’s commerce minister said on Friday the country, the world’s biggest metals consumer, wants to bring its trade ties with the U.S. back to a stable footing.
Hopes for more metals-intensive economic support were buoyed after an official with the industry ministry said China would issue action plans to stabilise growth in the machinery, autos, and electrical equipment sectors.
The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose 0.7% to 78,410 yuan ($10,922.74) a ton.
Rising inventories, stronger dollar keep copper under pressure
“LME copper stocks have been rising, mainly at its Asia warehouses as some traders may be betting on more buying by China with recent price drops,” a Shanghai-based metals analyst at a futures company said.
Also supporting the market was higher risk appetite among investors in general as stock markets moved higher, and a weaker dollar.
A softer dollar makes commodities priced in the greenback less expensive for buyers using other currencies.
U.S. Comex copper futures climbed 1.5% to $5.60 a lb, bringing the premium of Comex over LME copper to $2,603 a ton.
Among other metals, LME aluminium rose 0.7% to $2,595 a ton, zinc advanced 1.6% to $2,782, lead gained 1.3% to $1,999, nickel was little changed at $15,100 and tin rose 0.6% to $33,200.
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