LIVE FUTURES REPORT 04/07: SHFE base metals prices broadly lower; aluminium finds support

The most-traded August copper contract on the SHFE slid to 50,840 yuan ($7,630) per tonne as at 10.06am Shanghai time, down by 590 yuan per tonne or 1.2% from Tuesday’s close.

A stronger dollar versus a weakened yuan has been a key driver behind the weakness of red metal prices over the past few weeks.

The dollar index has hit fresh highs in recent days, reaching 95.14 on July 2, before softening on muted appetite from investors ahead of the Independence Day holiday in the US on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the persistent depreciation of the yuan against the dollar has further dampened sentiment toward the base metals in China.

According to exchange rate website Oanda.com, $1 was worth 6.66 yuan on Wednesday, compared with 6.45 yuan two weeks ago.

“The weakness in the [yuan] has been a contributing factor to the recent weakness in base metals. In fact, the negative correlation between copper and USD/CNY exchange rate has reached its highest level since 2012,” ANZ Research noted on Wednesday.

In addition, an uptick in US-China trade tensions overnight added to the murky outlook for the base metals, further denting market sentiment.

“Overnight a Chinese court issued a temporary injunction banning [US-headquartered] Micron Technology from selling its products in the semiconductor market there…It comes after the US moved to block China Mobile from entering its telecommunications market on national security grounds,” ANZ Research said.

“Market participants remain concerned about the escalation in US-China trade tensions. Additionally, [London Metal Exchange] copper prices have breached $6,500 per tonne and are likely to trend toward $6,350 per tonne,” Citic Futures Research said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, aluminium was the only base metal on the SHFE to record a gain – albeit a marginal one – during the early Asian session on Wednesday.

The most-traded August aluminium contract price on the SHFE edged up to 14,045 yuan per tonne as at 10.06am Shanghai time, up 20 yuan per tonne or 0.1% from Tuesday’s close.

Light metal prices have been supported by the continuous decline in SHFE stocks, despite the aluminium market being in its traditionally weak period for consumption.

Deliverable aluminium stocks at SHFE-approved warehouses fell for a seventh consecutive week in the week to June 29, with inventories declining by 5,443 tonnes to 936,194 tonnes – a three-month low.

Other metals weaker

• The SHFE August zinc contract fell 495 yuan per tonne to 22,705 yuan per tonne.
• The SHFE August lead contract retreated 150 yuan per tonne to 19,965 yuan per tonne.
• The SHFE September nickel contract slid 2,400 yuan per tonne to 113,690 yuan per tonne.
• The SHFE September tin contract fell 460 yuan per tonne to 145,180 yuan per tonne.

Currency moves and data releases

• The dollar index was down by 0.1% to 94.28 as at 10.21am Shanghai time.
• In other commodities, the Brent crude oil spot price was up by 0.36% to $78.08 per barrel as at 10.07am Shanghai time.
• In equities, the Shanghai Composite was down by 0.24% to 2,780.6 as at 10.52am Shanghai time.
• In US data on Tuesday, US factory orders rose by 0.4% month on month in May against an expected decline of 0.1%. IBD/TIPP economic optimism came in at 56.4, beating both a previous reading of 53.9 and a forecast print of 54.2.
• In European data on Tuesday, the United Kingdom’s construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 53.1 in June, while EU retail sales were flat in May.
• In data today, China’s Caixin services PMI was better than expected at 53.9 – 52.7 had been called for.
• Later, there is a host of services PMI data out across Europe.
• There are no US data releases scheduled for today due the country’s Independence Day holiday.