RTRS:Soft dollar fuels copper's rally to one week high
By Pratima Desai
LONDON (Reuters) - Copper rallied to a one-week high on Wednesday as the dollar slipped and investors returned to commodity markets, but doubts about short-term fundamentals are expected to cap prices.
Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was trading at $8,926 a tonne at 0944 GMT from $8,799 at the close on Tuesday. The metal used in power and construction earlier touched $8,955 a tonne, its highest since May 11.
Behind higher prices of base metals is the weaker U.S. currency, which makes commodities priced in dollars cheaper for holders of other currencies.
"We've got a slightly weaker dollar in the last couple of days, it's supportive," said Daniel Major, analyst at RBS.
"There is a slightly more risk positive tone and prices are stronger across commodities and equities."
A stronger dollar and renewed concerns about global economic growth were behind crashing commodity prices in the first two weeks of May. Last week copper fell to $8,504 a tonne, its lowest since December last year.
"Investors are feeling their way back slowly, there's a general feeling the sell-off was overdone," a metal trader said.
"But I don't think we've seen an end to losses. Dollar strength and some bad economic news from China or the United States is all it will take." Continued...