SMM Morning Comments (Mar 29)

Published: Mar 29, 2019 09:34
SMM Morning Comments

SHANGHAI, Mar 29 (SMM) – 

Copper: While the US dollar strengthened, optimism around the latest round of US-China trade talks bolstered confidence in longs and lifted prices of copper. LME copper ended at $6,366.5/mt after increased to a high of $6,387.5/mt. The SHFE 1905 contract rebounded from a low of 48,430 yuan/mt, to above the daily moving average with the highest overnight at 48,620 yuan/mt. Support from the Bollinger lower band is likely to keep LME copper at $6,330-6,380/mt today. The SHFE 1905 contract is likely to trade at 48,300-48,700 yuan/mt today, with spot premiums at 1,100-1,250 yuan/mt amid quiet trades. 

Aluminium: LME aluminium rebounded and ended 0.11% higher overnight after it fell below support from the 40- and 60- day moving averages, to a low of $1,896/mt. The SHFE 1905 contract rallied to the five- and 20- day moving averages after shorts dragged it to a low of 13,655 yuan/mt. It is expected to trade at 13,500-13,800 yuan/mt today, with its LME counterpart at $1,870-1,930/mt. Spot premiums are seen at 250-290 yuan/mt. 

Zinc: A higher US dollar firm above 97 reduced LME zinc by 0.64% lower at $2,867/mt overnight, but fundamentals are likely to keep it above all moving averages, at $2,855-2,900/mt today. Recovering consumption is also expected to limit any downside room in the SHFE 1905 contract today, after the contract lost 0.4% and closed at 22,480 yuan/mt last night. 

Nickel: LME nickel received support from $12,950/mt, but unsuccessfully tested pressure from the 13,000 yuan/mt level, before a higher US dollar depressed it below the 40-day moving average, to a low of $12,825/mt. It ended at $12,875/mt, with LME nickel inventories shrinking 24 mt to 183,102 mt. The SHFE 1905 contract dropped after rose to a high of 100,450 yuan/mt, pressured by a stronger US dollar. Today, the contact is likely to trade at 99,000-101,000 yuan/mt with LME nickel at $12,800-13,000/mt. Spot prices are likely at 101,500-103,500 yuan/mt.

Lead: LME lead returned to around the daily moving average after rose to a high of $2,026/mt. However, pressure from shorts weighed it 0.32% lower overnight, at $2,013/mt. The SHFE 1905 contract partly recovered losses from early trades and ended 0.4% lower at 16,755 yuan/mt. While support from longs will continue today, fundamentals are expected to cap any rebound.

Tin: Lower LME tin inventories at 1,000 mt underpinned LME tin when the US dollar increased. It stood around the five- and 20- day moving averages, as it rallied from a low of $21,180/mt and rose to a high of $21,485/mt. Pressure above is set at $21,600/mt today. The SHFE 1905 contract settled 720 yuan/mt higher at 147,300 yuan/mt, after exiting shorts lifted it to a high of 147,470 yuan/mt. It is likely to trade with resistance at 148,000 yuan/mt today. 

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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