BLBG:Copper Near Lowest Level in Two Weeks on U.S. Budget Talk
Copper declined to the lowest level in almost three weeks amid concerns that budget negotiations deteriorated in the U.S.
Metal for delivery in three months fell as much as 0.5 percent to $7,885 a metric ton, the lowest since Nov. 30, before trading at $7,886 on the London Metal Exchange at 10:30 a.m. in Shanghai. Copper for delivery in March on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell 1 percent to 57,070 yuan ($9,161) a ton.
House Speaker John Boehner’s “Plan B” would put “too big a burden on the middle class” and President Barack Obama would veto it, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said. House Republican leaders are considering giving members a chance to vote on spending cuts to firm up support for Boehner’s tax measure, said a Republican lawmaker and a congressional aide who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“U.S. fiscal concerns are affecting market sentiment when the fundamental picture remains lackluster,” said Li Peng, an analyst at Guotai Junan Futures Co.
LME stockpiles expanded for a 10th session to 304,900 tons yesterday, the longest rising streak since May 2011. Copper for immediate delivery traded at a discount of $28.50 a ton to the contract for delivery in three months. The so-called contango was $28.75 on Dec. 18, the widest since July 2010.
March futures on the Comex in New York dropped 0.2 percent to $3.60 a pound. On the LME, nickel, zinc and lead fell.
To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Helen Sun in Shanghai at hsun30@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net
