VIDEO: Are you paying attention to China’s metal funds?

On March 7, the copper market suffered one of the biggest price drops for years, losing some 4% in a matter of hours.

{BrightcoveVideo}

On March 7, the copper market suffered one of the biggest price drops for years, losing some 4% in a matter of hours.

This fall was precipitated by large metals hedge funds in China, who recognised that copper prices were out of line with equities.

The funds have been described by some market observers as the largest directional players on the London Metal Exchange.

Metal Bulletin’s editor Alex Harrison takes a look at the funds: what they trade, how much they’re worth and what gives them the edge over their competitors.

Alex Harrison
aharrison@metalbulletin.com
Twitter: @alexharrison_mb

What to read next
Fastmarkets' publication of the MB-STE-0232 Steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago, $/gross ton is delayed by late settlement as of Friday May 8.
Fastmarkets advises that, as of Friday May 8, certain monthly North American ferrous scrap markets are yet to settle.
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)-audited manganese ore indices, via an open consultation process between March 25 and April 27, 2026.
The publication of several Fastmarkets copper concentrates indices was delayed by 2 minutes on Friday May 8 due to a procedural error.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ Turkey flat steel price assessments on Friday May 8 was delayed because of a reporter error.
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodologies for its MB-STE-0185 steel cold-rolled coil, fob mill US; MB-STE-0186 steel hot-dipped galvanized coil (cold-rolled base), fob mill US; and MB-STE-0172 steel cut-to-length plate carbon grade, fob mill US assessments, as part of its announced annual methodology review process.