RTRS:METALS-Copper falls on dollar, China, euro zone worries
* China's Oct PMI slowest since Feb. 2009
* Euro falls versus dollar after Greece referendum call
* Coming Up: U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI Oct - 1400 GMT
By Susan Thomas
LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Copper fell on Tuesday on a stronger dollar and
worries about the impact on the global economy of a new euro zone crisis and an
unexpected slowdown in factory activity in big metals consumer China.
Investors rushed to put their money in safer assets after Greece's shock
decision to hold a referendum on its euro zone bail-out package, hitting stocks
and the euro. Some fear the Greek move could undermine Europe's efforts to stop
its sovereign debt concerns from spreading.
"It was unrealistic to expect someone could suddenly wave a magic wand and
expect everything to be alright," said Nic Brown, head of commodities research
at Natixis.
"We've avoided a catastrophe, but I think it is a little inevitable that the
market is backing away from the big gains we had last week. I would expect that
to continue in the near term."
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange fell 3.8 percent to
$7,685 a tonne by 1104 GMT, after losing 2.3 percent in the previous session.
Fears of a global economic slowdown were further stoked by official data
showing China's big manufacturers ran at their slowest rate in October since
early 2009, countering expectations of a rise.
"The Chinese number provided negative impetus...Being very cyclical,
industrial metals will remain vulnerable to any negative surprise in economic
data. Thus, a cautious near-term stance is warranted, in our view," Credit
Suisse said in a note.
The United States follows with its ISM Manufacturing PMI for October at 1400
GMT, and the eurozone on Wednesday. Credit Suisse said consensus expectations
were for a slight pick-up in the U.S. and for contracting activity in Europe.
The strengthening dollar is also making commodities priced in the currency
more expensive, deterring investors. The euro fell as investors cut exposure to
the common currency after Greece's referendum call.
MF GLOBAL
Adding to worries about companies' exposure to the eurozone crisis, futures
brokerage MF Global Holdings Ltd filed for bankruptcy protection after
bad bets on euro zone debt.
However, the impact of MF Global's bankruptcy filing, while an added
negative, was minimal, one trader said.
"Metals are coming off due to other factors rather than MF Global at the
moment," one metals trader said. "People have to liquidate positions but the
metals market is coming off more because of Chinese PMI and the Greek
referendum."
On Monday, London clearing house LCH.Clearnet declared MF Global, and the
LME suspended the brokerage from trading.
Limiting copper's losses, Freeport Indonesia said it would take a
month to fix its main sabotage-hit pipeline to take concentrate from the world's
second-biggest copper mine to its port, where there are no stockpiles left for
shipping.
Also helping the metal was data showing copper inventories fell for the
ninth session in a row. At 424,750 tonnes, stocks are the lowest since early
March and down more than 10 percent over the past month.
Tin stocks fell by 325 tonnes to a 2011 low of 16,120 tonnes, but the pace
of new orders or net cancelled warrants is dropping off, suggesting tempered
appetite.
Three-month tin was down 2.8 percent at $21,375 per tonne from
$22,000 at the close on Monday.
Zinc fell 3.3 percent to $1,933.50 per tonne from $2,000, lead
was off 2.3 percent at $2,035 from $2,082, aluminium down 2.5
percent at $2,165 from $2,220, and nickel was down 3.4 percent at $18,900 from
$19,575.
Metal Prices at 1110 GMT
Comex copper in cents/lb, LME prices in $/T and SHFE prices in yuan/T
Metal Last Change Pct Move End 2010 Ytd Pct
move
COMEX Cu 349.45 -13.75 -3.79 444.70 -21.42
LME Alum 2157.75 -62.25 -2.80 2470.00 -12.64
LME Cu 7710.00 -290.00 -3.63 9600.00 -19.69
LME Lead 2030.75 -51.25 -2.46 2550.00 -20.36
LME Nickel 18836.00 -739.00 -3.78 24750.00 -23.89
LME Tin 21375.00 -625.00 -2.84 26900.00 -20.54
LME Zinc 1933.25 -66.75 -3.34 2454.00 -21.22
SHFE Alu 16340.00 -40.00 -0.24 16840.00 -2.97
SHFE Cu* 57710.00 -520.00 -0.89 71850.00 -19.68
SHFE Zin 15305.00 -30.00 -0.20 19475.00 -21.41
** Benchmark month for COMEX copper
* 3rd contract month for SHFE AL, CU and ZN
SHFE ZN began trading on 26/3/07