BLBG:Copper Retreats on Concerns Over China Error Trade, Fed Tapering
Copper retreated after advancing for three weeks as concerns that a trading error will further erode confidence in China’s stock market while any tapering of stimulus in the U.S. curbs demand of industrial metals.
Metal for delivery in three months on the London Metal Exchange fell as much as 0.7 percent to $7,347.50 per metric ton and was at $7,356.75 at 3:15 p.m. in Shanghai. Copper reached a 10-week high at $7,420 on Aug. 16.
Chinese brokerages’ shares plunged in Shanghai today, sending the benchmark composite index down by as much as 0.8 percent, following a trading error by Everbright Securities on Aug. Slowing economic growth in India and Indonesia are making them vulnerable to a pullout of funds from emerging markets, spurred by speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve will cool. The Federal Open Market Committee’s July meeting minutes are scheduled to be released this week.
“Friday’s trading error hurt market confidence,” said Lin Hui, head of research department at Orient Futures Co. in Shanghai “Metals are a bit weak today given the lack of momentum and unclear economic outlook in China, the U.S. and other parts of the world.”
The contract for delivery in December fell 0.7 percent to close at 52,740 yuan ($8,616) a ton the Shanghai Futures Exchange after gaining 6.2 percent in the past two weeks. Futures for delivery in December declined 0.3 percent to $3.3575 a pound on the Comex in New York.
On the LME, aluminum, lead, zinc, nickel and tin fell.
To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Alfred Cang in Shanghai at acang@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Brett Miller at bmiller30@bloomberg.net