MSN:Copper hits 4-month low on Greece turmoil, dollar
LONDON (Reuters) - Copper fell to a four-month low on Wednesday, extending losses to a fourth session, as investors recoiled from risky assets fearing the impact of Greece's possible exit from the euro zone and a slowdown in big metals consumer China's economy.
World shares fell and the euro touched a four-month low after talks in Greece for a new government failed, forcing another round of elections.
The dollar, seen as a safe haven from risk, rose, also weighing on dollar-priced commodities as it makes them more expensive for buyers holding other currencies.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 1.5 percent at $7,645 per tonne at 0911 GMT, off an earlier low of $7,625, its lowest since January 10.
"What you are seeing is base metals being pulled lower with the ramifications of the situation, particularly in Greece although to an extent across Europe," Ross Strachan at Capital Economics said, adding he expected copper to fall to $6,000 by the end of this year.
"This is both from the weak state of Chinese demand and the situation developing in Europe from the perspective of the strength in the U.S. dollar dragging down on the prices," he said.
Data last Friday showed China's economy weakening from its slowest quarter of growth in three years. Industrial production growth slowed sharply in April and fixed asset investment - a key growth driver - hit its lowest level in nearly a decade. China is the world's largest consumer of copper.
"There is more room on the downside for copper in the next few weeks, while we wait for China data to be released in mid-June and any consequential easing acts from the central bank," said Judy Zhu, an analyst at Standard Chartered in Shanghai.
COOL
The world's biggest miner BHP Billiton said it expects commodity markets to cool further and that investors have lost confidence in the longer-term health of the global economy.
"I think the actual state of Chinese demand has been weaker than many have believed...," Strachan said. "The potential is that the remainder of this year is going to be much weaker especially from a commodities demand standpoint."
Oil fell more than $1 on Wednesday, with the U.S. benchmark dropping to a more than six-month low, mostly on concerns about the euro zone and China's slowing economy.
Tin was almost flat at $19,807 from $19,810 while zinc was $1,910 from $1,934 at Tuesday's close.
Lead was at $1,985 from $2,008.50 and aluminum was flat at $2,025. Nickel was $16,933 from $16,995.