SMM Morning Comments (Mar 6)

SHANGHAI, Mar 6 (SMM) –

Copper: We see an upward room in copper prices as downstream consumption continues to recover and sellers are keen to destock. LME copper is expected to trade at $6,890-6,970 mt with SHFE at 52,000-52,700 yuan/mt today.

Aluminium: LME aluminium is facing increasing downward pressure but support was seen at the five-day moving average. We expect it to trade at $2,135-2,160/mt today with SHFE aluminium rangebound at 14,250-14,450 yuan/mt. Spot discounts are seen at 170-130 yuan/mt.

Zinc: A jump in LME zinc inventory led the contract to touch a low at $3,273.5/mt overnight. Market sentiment remained cautious as neither technical nor fundamental side provides support for LME zinc, which is expected to trade at $3,275-3,325/mt today. In China, SHFE zinc is to move at 25,150-25,600 yuan/mt today with sluggish recovery of consumption.

Nickel: Nickel prices continue to face pressure due to a weak stainless steel market in China. We expect LME nickel to edge down today with the SHFE 1805 contract to trade at 101,000-102,800 yuan/mt. Spot prices are expected at 100,300-102,000 yuan/mt.

Lead: LME lead touched a two-month low and tested the $2,400/mt level following a slump in zinc prices and a rangebound US dollar. We expect it to remain rangebound today while SHFE lead is to test support at the 60-day moving average.

Tin: LME tin stayed rangebound with support at $21,000/mt and resistance at $22,000/mt overnight, while SHFE tin fell slightly. We expect SHFE tin to trade at 146,500-148,000 yuan/mt today. In the physical market, spot prices are seen at 145,000-147,000 yuan/mt under the pressure from high inventories of low prices.

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