Exclusive: SMM Morning Comments (Dec 19)

Published: Dec 19, 2017 09:58

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SHANGHAI, Dec 19 (SMM) –

Copper: Most of the price rallies these days happened during night sessions when the European and American investors were more active. This showed that capital is bullish over copper against the backdrop of stronger economy in the western hemisphere. However, we believe Chinese demand remains key and that if it slowed down the market could turn overnight. As we approach the end of the year, downstream demand is not so robust with widening spot discount. We do not see copper price rally back above $7,000/mt. Today we see LME copper trade at $6,900-6,950/mt and SHFE copper at 53,400-53,900 yuan/mt. Spot discount to stand at 140-90 yuan/mt.

Aluminium: We see LME aluminium prices to go up further today at $2,060-2,090/mt whereas the SHFE contract is likely to be rangebound at around the 14,500 yuan/mt level. Spot discount remained 230-190 yuan/mt.

Zinc: Lower inventory continued to support LME zinc prices but investors became cautious as the Christmas holiday approaches. We expect to see LME zinc trade at $3,170-3,220/mt today and SHFE at 25,200-25,650 yuan/mt. Liquidity is thin in the spot market.

Nickel: We expect to see the main contract of SHFE nickel to trade at 94,200-96,000 yuan/mt while the spot price at 93,700-95,500 yuan/mt. China’s domestic nickel plate inventory remained low.

Tin: LME tin continued its rebound but we see upper resistance at $19,400/mt. SHFE tin is also likely to keep its upward movement with shorts covering. We expect SHFE tin to trade at 137,000-139,000 yuan/mt today and 137,500-138,500 yuan/mt in the physical market.

Lead: SHFE lead is trading above all moving averages and it’s likely to stay rangebound in the near term.

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copper aluminium lead zinc tin nickel

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