SMM Evening Comments (Apr 25): Shanghai Nonferrous Metals Closed Mostly with Losses on Stronger Hopes for May Rate Hike and Delayed Rate Cut

SHANGHAI, Apr 25 (SMM) - Shanghai nonferrous metals closed mostly with losses in day trading. On the macro front, the US Dallas Fed manufacturing index in April recorded -23.4, far below market expectations. More market players believed that the US Fed will raise interest rate in May and delay rate cuts. However, the market remained rattled, and the US dollar dropped as a result.

SHFE copper fell 0.47%, aluminium dropped 0.53%, lead dipped 0.07%, zinc lost 1.68%, tin declined 0.34%, and nickel expanded 0.13%.

Copper: The most-traded SHFE 2306 copper closed down 0.47% or 320 yuan/mt at 68,080 yuan/mt, with open interest up 7,505 lots to 172,143 lots.

In the spot market, the transactions declined, and some traders began to quote over the next-month contract. At the same time, some traders who were concerned about the imported copper when the imported losses narrowed to about 100 yuan/mt were more willing to sell at lows.

Aluminium: The most-traded SHFE 2306 aluminium closed down 0.53% or 100 yuan/mt at 18,800 yuan/mt, with open interest down 3,030 lots to 259,965 lots.

April is still the peak season for downstream consumption, and the domestic aluminium ingot social inventory remains in a destocking state. At the same time, there are concerns that aluminium smelters in Yunnan may face additional production cuts. However, downstream buyers have not shown strong willingness to stock before the upcoming Labour Day holiday. And risk aversion may emerge before the holiday.

Lead: The most-traded SHFE 2306 lead closed down 0.07% or 10 yuan/mt at 15,295 yuan/mt, with open interest down 2,688 lots to 63,238 lots.

As SHFE lead prices rallied, goods holders quoted based on market dynamics, with a few offering prices at small discounts. The downstream purchases of lead ingots varied in different places as enterprises had different plants for the Labour Day holidays. The trades in mainstream markets were brisk, but those in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai were sluggish.

Zinc: The most-traded SHFE 2306 zinc closed down 1.68% or 365 yuan/mt at 21,355 yuan/mt, with open interest up 3,951 lots to 122,426 lots.

Although zinc prices hovered at lows today, the market transactions thinned instead as downstream enterprises had been active in purchasing the day before. The spot prices were relatively stable.

Tin: The most-traded SHFE 2306 tin closed down 0.34% or 730 yuan/mt at 212,490 yuan/mt, with open interest up 1,554 lots to 49,108 lots.

Despite the discounts in the spot market, the trading in the tin market was still quiet with only a few deals down.

Nickel: The most-traded SHFE 2305 nickel closed up 0.13% or 240 yuan/mt at 183,140 yuan/mt, with open interest up 1,533 lots to 83,484 lots.

In the spot market, Jinchuan nickel was quoted in premiums of 4,200-4,300 yuan/mt, with an average of 4,250 yuan/mt, down 350 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. NORNICKEL nickel was in premiums of 3,500-4,000 yuan/mt, with an average of 3,750 yuan/mt, down 800 yuan/mt from the prior trading day. SMM learns that some NORNICKEL has already flowed into the spot market and the shortage of pure nickel has eased, which caused a slump in NORNICKEL premiums. As for nickel briquette, the prices stood between 189,300-189,800 yuan/mt, up 1,150 yuan/mt from the previous trading day.

[Disclaimer: The above representation and data is based on market information SMM believes to be reliable at the time of acquiring as well as the comprehensive assessment by SMM research team, and any and all information provided in this article is for reference only. This article does not constitute a direct recommendation for investment or any decisions in any form and clients shall act on their own discreet and any decisions made by clients are not within the responsibility of SMM.]