Copper futures closed down on Thursday as data pointing toward slowing manufacturing growth put the growth-sensitive red metal under pressure.
Copper futures were volatile on Tuesday, but closed higher for the second-straight day as better-than-expected US consumer confidence data and a relative calm tone in the European markets overshadowed a disappointing home sales data.
A strike at Freeport McMoRan's Grasberg project in Indonesia has impacted the company's copper output and aided in tightening the copper supply chain as a whole, positioning copper for a price rally.
Copper futures ended nearly flat Thursday, supported by some better-than-expected US economic data; however, futures remained under pressure due to the sentiment that the global economy is barreling towards another recession.
Copper prices staged a modest recovery on Monday, gaining 4.4 percent on the COMEX and 4.1 percent on the LME, as investors digested last week’s slide to a 14-month low as an opportunity to bargain hunt.
On Thursday, copper prices plunged as China’s released a preliminary purchasing manager’s index of 49.4, signalling that the world's largest copper consumers economy is contracting.
Copper prices continued to hover around nine-month lows following the release of more negative economic data and IMF cutback.
Copper plunged to a one-month low on Monday, as fears that Greece would default on its debt permeated the markets.
Copper futures edged down half a percentage point in early trading Thursday, however, trading volumes were thin as traders adapted a wait-and-see approach ahead of anticipated statements by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and President Barack Obama for further insight into the state of the US economy.
After rallying aggressively in 2010- analysts and investment firms had very bullish projections for copper’s price outlook for 2011; with forecasts ranging between $11,000 per tonne to 13,000 per tonne.
Friday, December 2, 2011