by Kyle Fitzsimmons on SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Copper prices dipped this week with a stronger U.S. dollar hindering foreign demand for the metal.

According to a report from Nasdaq, copper for December delivery fell 0.2% at $2.0960 a pound on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, after trading higher earlier.

Debate on whether or not the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this year, as well as fluctuating signs on China’s economic strength have influenced copper prices of late, keeping the metal trading in a narrow range.

“(It’s) a go-nowhere-fast-market,” Bill O’Neill, CEO, noted investor, told the news source. “But every time it appears set to break one way or another, it doesn’t happen.”

China, the world’s largest copper consumer, is looking at an improved outlook with annual growth in industrial output growing to 6.3% in August compared to a flat 6% in July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

As for interest rates, the Fed is scheduled to meet next week.

“‘Jittery’ does not even begin to describe the current market,” wrote analysts at Marex Spectron. “Expect traders to continue to trade on a three-hour time horizon awaiting the next headline about what the Fed may or may not do with rates in September.”

Copper MMI Drops in September

Our own Raul de Frutos recently wrote that copper’s dive in September is of no surprise:

“Any price rally could continue to be limited this year, especially if Chinese demand does not pick up and we see the supply increase that some banks are forecasting. On the other hand, an improving sentiment in the metal complex this year should support and keep copper prices from experiencing significant declines.”

How will copper and base metals fare for the remainder of 2016 and into 2017? You can find a more in-depth copper price forecast and outlook in our brand new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report. For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

Source: MetalMiner