SMM Brief on SHFE Copper Prices (2014-4-16)

SHANGHAI, Apr. 16 (SMM) – SHFE copper prices gapped lower at RMB 45,870/mt, dented by a slide in LME copper prices, and ended down RMB 460/mt, or 1%, at RMB 46,150/mt during Tuesday’s night session. Traded volumes and positions for the most active SHFE copper contract added 300,000 lots and 4,414 lots, respectively, while positions for the SHFE 1408 copper contract gained 13,714 lots. SHFE copper prices started Wednesday at RMB 46,150/mt, and then rallied to RMB 46,300/mt, boosted by the higher-than-expected China’s Q1 GDP, finding support between RMB 46,000-46,150/mt. The red metal hovered most of the trading day narrowly around RMB 46,200/mt, and finished down RMB 430/mt, or 0.92%, at RMB 46,180/mt. Traded volumes rose 60,874 lots to 484,000 lots, while positions shed over 500 lots to 290,000 lots. It was worth noting that positions for the SHFE 1408 copper contract expanded 19,426 lots to 170,000 lots on Wednesday. The SHFE 1407 and 1408 copper contract prices both fell sharply, encountering resistance at the 10-day moving average, with additional technical indicators in a negative territory.