MW: Copper reverses gains after jump in inventories
* Copper stocks up 7,275 tonnes to highest since March 2004
* China's factory output shrinks in October
* RUSAL suspends output at Zaporozhye Complex in Ukraine
(Updates prices)
By Julie Crust
LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Copper reversed earlier gains on
Monday to fall as much as 3.5 percent after a sharp jump in
inventories fanned pessimism about Chinese demand.
Copper stocks on the London Metal Exchange grew 7,275 tonnes
to 237,925, the highest level since March 2004. The increase
followed gains of 6,775 and 6,575 at the end of last week.
"This is three days of substantial additions," said John
Meyer, analyst at investment bank Fairfax. "This is combined
with further negative news out of China.
A measure of Chinese manufacturing activity showed factory
output shrank sharply in October in the face of waning orders,
while officials pledged further steps to boost domestic demand
to keep the economy from slowing too much. [ID:nPEK294272]
Three-month copper MCU3 on the LME fell as low as $3,954 a
tonne, reversing an earlier high of $4,270. It last traded at
$3,960 in official rings versus Friday's close of $4,099 per
tonne.
Prices for the metal, used in construction and power, have
fallen more than 50 percent since reaching a record high of
$8,940 a tonne in July.
Last month, LME copper fell nearly 36 percent, its biggest
drop since at least 1970 and possibly in the exchange's 130-year
history of copper trading. Nickel dropped 24 percent, its
second biggest fall on record.
"I don't see any dramatic turnaround this month in
commodities. Manufacturing is slowing in China. Industry is
slowing down and for the next couple of weeks at least there is
no light at the end of the tunnel," said Peter McGuire of
Commodity Warrants Australia.
Base metal prices had started this month stronger, buoyed by
a weaker dollar and rising equity markets, although European
shares turned negative in mid-morning trade.
The dollar softened against the euro as rising Asian and
European equities helped to dampen extreme risk aversion. [USD/]
PRODUCERS REACT
Aluminium MAL3 rose as much as 2.6 percent before moving
lower. It was last bid at $2,025 compared with Friday's close of
$2,045.
Prices for the energy-intensive metal have dropped 40
percent since reaching a high of $3,380 a tonne in July.
A number of mining companies have been forced to cut
production, reduce capital expenditure and postpone new projects
as metal prices have fallen close to or below marginal costs.
United Company RUSAL said it had suspended production at the
Zaporozhye Alumina and Aluminium Complex in Ukraine because
current metal prices make the plant unprofitable. [ID:nL3617340]
Nickel MNI3 last traded at $11,700 a tonne in volatile
trading compared with $12,100 at the close on Friday.
Tin MSN3 surged 5.2 percent to $14,100 a tonne before
moving lower. It was last bid at $13,550 a tonne compared with
the close on Friday of $13,400.
Zinc MZN3 was at $1,136 from $1,125 a tonne, while lead
MPB3 was trading down $35 at $1,470 a tonne.
Metal Prices at 1314 GMT
Metal Last Change Pct Move End 2007 Ytd Pct
move
LME Cu 3935.00 -164.00 -4.00 6670.00 -41.00
SHFE Cu* 32580.00 1180.00 +3.76 56880.00 -42.72
LME Alum 2017.00 -28.00 -1.37 2403.00 -16.06
SHFE Alu* 14105.00 200.00 +1.44 18180.00 -22.41
COMEX Cu** 187.75 3.35 +1.82 303.05 -38.05
LME Zinc 1122.00 -3.00 -0.27 2370.00 -52.66
SHFE Zinc* 9445.00 350.00 +3.85 18950.00 -50.16
LME Nick 11475.00 -625.00 -5.17 26350.00 -56.45
LME Lead 1443.00 -62.00 -4.12 2550.00 -43.41
LME Tin 13450.00 50.00 +0.37 16400.00 -17.99
** 1st contract month for COMEX copper
* 3rd contact month for SHFE AL, CU and ZN
SHFE ZN began trading on 26/3/07
(Editing by Karen Foster)