RE: OMG7 May 2024 08:11
METALS – Copper back up above $10,000/T on Fed rate cut hopes
05:55
May 7 (Reuters) – Copper prices in London rose above a key resistance level of $10,000 a metric ton on Tuesday, buoyed by renewed hopes for U.S. interest rate cuts this year.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose 1.5% to $10,061.50 a ton by 0415 GMT, while the most-traded June copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) was nearly flat at 80,920 yuan ($11,213.35) a ton, hovering near the record high of 82,460 yuan. ...... A softer-than-expected U.S. labor market report on Friday led traders to revive bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve would ease monetary policy as early as September.
Lower interest rates could lift metals demand by boosting economic growth. They could also lead to a softer dollar, making greenback-priced metals cheaper to holders of other currencies. ...... Last month, top consumer China announced subsidies for scrapping old cars in exchange for new ones to boost car sales, especially for electric vehicles, which consume nickel in their batteries. And of course COPPER....