LME Zinc to Set with Gains (2017-7-12)

The focus this week includes: The Fed’s FOMC meeting, coal price trends, final value of October Manufacturing PMI in Eurozone, final value of US October Markit Manufacturing PMI, October ISM Manufacturing PMI, October ADP Employment, October unemployment rate; China's October Caixin Manufacturing PMI and October Caixin Service PMI. In terms of events, FOMC will announce the interest rate resolutions this Thursday; the Fed Chairman Powell will hold a press conference; the Bank of England will announce interest rate resolutions, meeting minutes, and monetary policy reports; and European Central Bank President Lagarde and Executive Committee Member Schnabel will deliver speeches.

LME zinc inventories surged by 13,800 tonnes based on LME data, mainly at warehouses in Antwerp. 

The price spread on zinc expanded 30 yuan per tonne between Guangdong and Shanghai today, SMM reported.

Many zinc traders contributed the surge in zinc market mainly to two factors, 21st Century Business Herald reported. 

Downstream buyers and traders preferred imported goods as imported zinc was sufficient in Shanghai which held price advantage, SMM reports.

SHFE 1710 zinc opened at RMB 26,110/mt and closed at RMB 25,930/mt, down RMB 35/mt or 0.13%.

Spot premiums of regular zinc brands in Tianjin expand 50 to 450-500 yuan per tonne over September zinc on the SHFE on August 23, SMM data showed.

Spot zinc premiums in Shanghai will fall in the near term due to more arriving shipments, SMM predicts.

Some traders will transfer goods from Guangdong to Shanghai for arbitrage, SMM understands.

The SMM/LME zinc price ratio averaged 8.45 this past week, up from 8.37 a week earlier, turning import losses to premiums of 225-584 yuan per tonne.