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Copper prices hit 11-month highs on Monday as worries about supplies due to mooted production cuts in China,above consensus industrial production data from the top consumer and a softer dollar triggered buying.
A rare agreement by China’s copper smelters to cut output last week is fuelling a rally that has propelled copper prices to 11-month highs of $9,138.5 a metric ton CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange (LME).
On the Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) prices of the metal used in the power and construction industries SCFcv1 hit a record high at 73,440 yuan.
Traders said a breach of key technical levels had created momentum for LME copper to break through the $9,000 level. It traded up 0.1% at $9,082.5 a ton in official rings.
“The reaction to Chinese copper smelters cutting back was big … It’s looking a little bit toppy now,” said Dan Smith, head of research at Amalgamated Metal Trading. “Chinese macro data is definitely improving.”
China’s industrial output rose 7% in January and February, the fastest pace in almost two years and well above expectations for a 5% increase.
However, a protracted crisis in China’s property sector, a key pillar of the economy, remains a major concern and Monday’s data offered little relief on that front with declines in property investment narrowing in January-February.
In other metals, nickel came under pressure from higher stocks in LME registered warehouses MNISTX-TOTAL, which are at two-year highs of 77,424 tons.
However, stronger than previously expected demand is likely to support prices of the stainless steel ingredient CMNI3.
Three-month nickel was down 1.1% at $17,875 a ton.
Overall, metals were supported by a lower U.S. currency, which when it falls, makes dollar-priced commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies.
In other metals, aluminium CMAL3 fell 0.1% to $2,272, zinc CMZN3 ceded 0.1% to $2,559, lead CMPB3 slipped 0.3% to $2,121.5 and tin CMSN3 gained 0.1% to $28,700 a ton.
Stronger sales of semiconductors are expected to boost prices of soldering metal tin trading near their highest since July last year.