SMM Evening Comments (Mar 16)

Published: Mar 16, 2018 18:15
SMM Evening Comments

SHANGHAI, Mar 16 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals regained some losses in this afternoon but remained weak at the end of the day. SHFE aluminium, zinc, and lead inched up, while copper, nickel, and tin dropped slightly. 

The ferrous complex saw mixed trading today as iron ore led losses with a drop over 1%. Rebar and coke edged down, while hot-rolled coil and coking coal inched up.

Copper: As investors reduced their short bets, SHFE copper rebounded slightly and hovered between the 10- and 20-day moving averages. We see it remaining rangebound tonight. The US industrial production index for February will give more guidance to the market tonight.

Aluminium: SHFE aluminium hovered around the five-day moving average as investors closed out their positions. We expect it to trade rangebound at the 14,000 yuan/mt level next week at 13,850-14,150 yuan/mt. 

Zinc: SHFE zinc inched up today and touched a high of 24,990 yuan/mt before it traded rangebound at 24,940 yuan/mt. We see it continuing to test resistance at 25,000 yuan/mt tonight. 

Nickel: SHFE nickel edged down today with support from three moving averages. We expect it to remain rangebound tonight. Investors will take cues from February’s data of the eurozone's consumer price index (CPI) and of the US industrial production.

Lead: SHFE lead rebounded to stand above the 18,500 yuan/mt level during the day, with support at the 10-day moving average. We expect it to consolidate around the 18,500 yuan/mt level tonight.

Tin: SHFE tin climbed up from lows as investors took profits and reduced their short bets. We see it trading rangebound in the short term.

 


For editorial queries, please contact Daisy Tseng at daisy@smm.cn 
For more information on how to access our research reports, please email service.en@smm.cn 

 

 

 

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
"Premier Li Qiang Leads State Council Meeting on Enhancing Effective Investment, Boosting Economic Growth"
Feb 6, 2026 23:56
"Premier Li Qiang Leads State Council Meeting on Enhancing Effective Investment, Boosting Economic Growth"
Read More
"Premier Li Qiang Leads State Council Meeting on Enhancing Effective Investment, Boosting Economic Growth"
"Premier Li Qiang Leads State Council Meeting on Enhancing Effective Investment, Boosting Economic Growth"
Premier Li Qiang presided over an executive meeting of the State Council to study policy measures for promoting effective investment. The meeting noted that promoting effective investment plays an important role in stabilizing economic growth and strengthening momentum for development. It is necessary to innovate and improve policy measures, and intensify efforts to enhance the efficiency of utilizing funds such as central budget investments, ultra-long-term special treasury bonds, local government special bonds, and new-type policy-based financial instruments. In conjunction with formulating and implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan
Feb 6, 2026 23:56
"Guided by Xi Jinping Thought, Implement 20th CPC Congress Spirit, Apply New Development Philosophy...
Feb 6, 2026 23:54
"Guided by Xi Jinping Thought, Implement 20th CPC Congress Spirit, Apply New Development Philosophy...
Read More
"Guided by Xi Jinping Thought, Implement 20th CPC Congress Spirit, Apply New Development Philosophy...
"Guided by Xi Jinping Thought, Implement 20th CPC Congress Spirit, Apply New Development Philosophy...
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the plenary sessions of the Party’s 20th Central Committee, fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy, strengthen top-level design, build computing power interconnection nodes oriented toward national hub periods, major strategic regions, and key industries, establish a system of computing power interconnection nodes, improve the efficiency and service level of public computing power resources, and promote high-quality development of computing power.
Feb 6, 2026 23:54
Indirect Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Muscat Show Progress, Omani FM Mediates Tense but Efficient Discussions
Feb 6, 2026 23:47
Indirect Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Muscat Show Progress, Omani FM Mediates Tense but Efficient Discussions
Read More
Indirect Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Muscat Show Progress, Omani FM Mediates Tense but Efficient Discussions
Indirect Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Muscat Show Progress, Omani FM Mediates Tense but Efficient Discussions
After intensive indirect consultations, the new round of nuclear talks between Iran and the US in Muscat, the capital of Oman, has achieved phased progress. It is reported that during this round of talks, the Iranian and US delegations did not meet directly. Instead, Omani Foreign Minister Badr acted as an intermediary, conveying a series of core proposals, strategic concerns, and policy positions to the other side. The atmosphere at the talks was tense yet efficient. According to preliminary on-site assessments, although both sides continue to negotiate over specific terms, they have reached a consensus on the key objective of "continuing dialogue."
Feb 6, 2026 23:47