SMM Morning Comments (Nov 14)

Published: Nov 14, 2018 09:57
SMM Morning Comments

SHANGHAI, Nov 14 (SMM) – 

Copper: LME copper unsuccessfully tested support at the daily moving average as slow growth in China’s social financing for October grew market pessimism. It closed at $6,070/mt after falling to a low of $6,043/mt overnight. On expectations of improved US-China trade tension, the SHFE 1901 contract rebounded after it fell below the daily moving average to a low of 48,860 yuan/mt. It settled at 49,020 yuan/mt. Despite a moderate decline overnight, the US dollar index remained at high levels, which will continue to weigh on copper prices in the short run. We expect LME copper to trade at $6,020-6,080/mt today with the SHFE 1901 contract trading at 48,800-49,100 yuan/mt. Spot offers are set at a discount of 20 yuan/mt to a premium of 30 yuan/mt today. 

Aluminium: The SHFE 1901 contract mostly hovered below the daily moving average, and rebounded a little with the highest level overnight at 13,840 yuan/mt. Limited upward momentum saw it grow 0.07% on the day and settle at 13,780 yuan/mt. It is likely to trade at 13,700-13,850 yuan/mt today with spot offers at a discount of 30 yuan/mt to a premium of 10 yuan/mt. LME aluminium traded relatively weaker overnight, pressured by high US dollar index. It stopped falling at $1,928/tmt and closed at $1,936/mt. Trading range is seen at $1,930-1,970/mt today. 

Zinc: LME zinc broke pressure at the 10- and 60-day moving average, and climbed to a high of $2,548/mt as optimism around US-China trade talks buoyed confidence across longs. It then consolidated around the $2,500/mt level and settled at $2,498/mt. The SHFE 1901 contract received support from current low-level social inventories. We expect it to trade rangebound at 20,850-21,300 yuan/mt today with its LME counterpart trading $2,480-2,530/mt today. 

Nickel: Record slowest growth of China’s M2 money supply and accumulated shorts lowered LME nickel by 0.18% and weighed the SHFE 1901 contract by 1.09% overnight. We expect LME nickel to trade around $11,300 /mt with the SHFE 1901 contract at 93,500-95,000 yuan/mt today. Spot prices are set at 94,500-106,000 yuan/mt.

Lead: Longs bolstered LME lead to a high of $1,955/mt during the European trading session. However, a high-level US dollar index capped upward room, and saw it close at $1,943.5/mt as longs took profits and left near closing. It is likely to test resistance at $2,000/mt today. The SHFE 1812 contract faced limited upward momentum, but support below remained effective at around 18,315 yuan/mt. It will continue to trade rangebound today.

Tin: LME tin came off after a gain, affected by lower US crude oil prices. It closed at $19,240/mt and may test pressure at $19,400/mt today. The SHFE 1901 contract inched down, with the lowest overnight at 150,490 yuan/mt, after five consecutive trading day of surges. It is likely to consolidate at highs in the short run. 

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.

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