Key Macroeconomic Indicators for Base Metal Prices (2017-5-25)

SHANGHAI, May 25 (SMM) – Market will eye last week’s US initial jobless claims, OPEC’s half-year meeting and minutes of the US Fed’s May policy meeting.    

US initial jobless claims for last week are expected to be in a normal range, which will have limited impact on US dollar. 

Minutes of the US Fed’s May policy meeting showed US Fed officials agreed to announce details for plans of scaling back balance sheet in the short term and consider it appropriate to begin reducing balance sheet from this year. US Fed officials understand that it is a cautious and wise approach to wait for more evidence to show economic slowdown is just temporary. This means the US Fed wishes to raise interest rate, but is willing to wait for more economic data. This caused the US dollar index to fall.   

The OEPC will hold its 172th half-year meeting today. Members of the OPEC will discuss matters over extending production cuts during the meeting so as to lift oil prices and stabilize market. It is pointed out that oil prices may rise initially and then fall back since positive impact from the meeting has been priced in.  

See SMM price forecast, please click: SMM Price Outlook for Base Metals on SHFE (May 25, 2017)