SMM Evening Comments (Dec 3)

Published: Dec 03, 2018 17:18 (GMT+8)
SMM Evening Comments

SHANGHAI, Dec 3 (SMM) – The SHFE nonferrous and ferrous complexes increased across the board on Monday as coke led the gains and surged 5.49%. 

Zinc closed 3.82% higher, aluminium grew 1.54%, lead jumped 1.34%, copper rose 1.33%, nickel went up nearly 1%, and tin nudged up. 

Coking coal and iron ore increased over 3%, rebar jumped nearly 3%, and hot-rolled coil closed 2.58% higher. 

Copper: The SHFE 1902 contract registered a fourth consecutive day of increase and stood above the Bollinger higher band, buoyed by Sunday’s reports that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will temporarily halt the imposition of new tariffs. The contract jumped to an intraday high of 50,740 yuan/mt in two minutes after opening. It settled 1.47% higher on the day at 50,280 yuan/mt, with open interests up 6,004 lots to 177,000 lots. As its KDJ indicators expanded upwards, and the MACD red line lengthened, the contract is expected to test support at 50,000 yuan/mt tonight. Investors would take more guidance tonight from the movement in prices of LME copper. 

Aluminium: The SHFE 1901 contract climbed above five-, 10-, and 20-day moving averages, tested pressure at the 40-day average, and closed 210 yuan/mt higher at 13,810 yuan/mt. Investors cutting their shorts pulled up the contract. Open interests lost 41,708 lots to 196,000 lots. We expect it to test support at the five-day moving average tonight. 

Zinc: Macroeconomic optimism bolstered the SHFE 1902 contract above the 10-, 20-, and 60-day moving averages, to a high of 21,275 yuan/mt. It closed at 20,820 yuan/mt with open interests up 1,156 lots to 180,000 lots. Current low-level inventories and improved risk aversion are likely to see the contract hovering around the 60-day moving average tonight.

Nickel: The SHFE 1901 contract surged to the highest in ten trading days at 93,910 yuan/mt after opening, on potential truce in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies. With support at the daily moving average, the contract consolidated around 92,180 yuan/mt and closed higher on the day at 91,800 yuan/mt. Its KDJ indicators expanded upwards, and the MACD green line lengthened today. Key data to monitor tonight include the US Markit manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) for November. 

Lead: Surging longs pulled the SHFE 1901 contract up to a high of 18,765 yuan/mt after opening, as base metals rose across the board. When some longs took profits and left, the contract hovered above the daily moving average, around 18,570 yuan/mt, and ended at that level. Standing above the Bollinger upper band, it faced heavy pressure at 18,800 yuan/mt. Limited upward momentum will keep it trading around 18,500 yuan/mt tonight.  

Tin: The SHFE 1901 contract rebounded after nine consecutive trading days of decline. It closed above the five-day moving average at 144,700 yuan/mt, amid improved market sentiment. It faced resistance above at 146,500 yuan/mt. There is further upward room 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.

For any inquiries or for 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
Platinum and palladium both closed lower this week; as the holiday approaches, the spot market is steeped in a holiday atmosphere【SMM Platinum and Palladium Weekly Review】
1 hour ago
Platinum and palladium both closed lower this week; as the holiday approaches, the spot market is steeped in a holiday atmosphere【SMM Platinum and Palladium Weekly Review】
Read More
Platinum and palladium both closed lower this week; as the holiday approaches, the spot market is steeped in a holiday atmosphere【SMM Platinum and Palladium Weekly Review】
Platinum and palladium both closed lower this week; as the holiday approaches, the spot market is steeped in a holiday atmosphere【SMM Platinum and Palladium Weekly Review】
Platinum and palladium both closed lower this week, with relatively large declines. The US-Iran standoff pushed oil prices higher and reignited rate hike expectations, while US Treasury yields broke above 5.25% and the dollar strengthened, sending platinum and palladium down for two consecutive days. On Wednesday, Williams said there was no rush to act, cooling rate hike expectations and driving a rebound from oversold levels. Going forward, attention will turn to tonight's PCE data, nonfarm payrolls, and progress in US-Iran talks.
1 hour ago
Burkina Faso inaugurates its first national gold refinery
1 hour ago
Burkina Faso inaugurates its first national gold refinery
Read More
Burkina Faso inaugurates its first national gold refinery
Burkina Faso inaugurates its first national gold refinery
[SMM Gold Flash] Burkina Faso inaugurated RAFFINOR-BF in Ouagadougou on 28 September, the government and mines ministry said. The ministry reported that officials observed the refining of initial gold bars during a tour of the plant. It puts the first phase’s theoretical refining capacity at 164 tonnes a year; an additional phase would raise that to 515 tonnes a year. The government says the facility cost about CFA11 billion and was financed mainly through the state precious-metals company SONASP and private partners. The opening marks a step in Burkina Faso’s effort to refine industrial and artisanal gold domestically and retain more processing value. Capacity is a design figure, however: neither the inauguration nor the observed first bars establishes annual throughput, sustained operation or sufficient supply. Feedstock collection, refinery utilisation and the proposed expansion remain the figures to watch.
1 hour ago
Gold Price Analysis: Fed Rate Hike Fears Weigh on Gold – Central Banks Continue to Buy
3 hours ago
Gold Price Analysis: Fed Rate Hike Fears Weigh on Gold – Central Banks Continue to Buy
Read More
Gold Price Analysis: Fed Rate Hike Fears Weigh on Gold – Central Banks Continue to Buy
Gold Price Analysis: Fed Rate Hike Fears Weigh on Gold – Central Banks Continue to Buy
3 hours ago