METALS-Copper slides to 3-week low as Chinese demand disappoints
* Falls limited by better-than-expected German ZEW data
* Traders say China post-holiday buying may yet emerge
* Nickel biggest loser, falls 2.6 percent
LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Copper hit a three-week low on Tuesday, depressed holiday, although losses were limited by better-than-expected German investor sentiment data. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange slipped 0.6 percent to $8,070 a tonne by 1623 GMT, erasing early gains to hit an intraday low of $8,061.50, the weakest since Jan. 29. Nickel, tin and zinc also hit multi-week lows. Copper prices have built a base above $8,000 this year but have failed to find traction above $8,346 a tonne, a four-month peak hit early this month. Volumes were expected to pick up as U.S. traders returned on Tuesday from the Presidents' Day holiday. Chinese traders reported low overall post-holiday interest in the metal, weighing on prices, though some purchases had been completed that narrowed Shanghai's price discount to London cash copper to $80 from about $200 pre-holiday. China consumes about 40 percent of the world's copper. "We need to see more substance in terms of underlying demand if the run up in prices is to be sustained. All eyes were on the return of the Chinese. It's still early to say but yes, it's been a no show so far," said Macquarie analyst Duncan Hobbs. "Also there are reports circulating that the Chinese government may start to tighten (monetary policy)." There was also concern that Beijing and Hong Kong would launch more curbs to cool rising property prices, which weighed on shares there. There were still hopes among traders that post-holiday buying might yet resume. "A lot of Chinese guys are still out. We might get a bit more action when Chinese New Year officially finishes with the Lantern Festival on the 24th," a Singapore-based trader said. Limiting falls, however, was data showing better-than-expected ZEW economic sentiment in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, which helped push European shares higher. "Over the balance of this week, we could see the softer tone in metals remain in place," INTL FCStone said. "We have yet to see the Japanese economy recovering in any significant fashion, and while China's growth is ramping up, it is largely on account of over reliance on a dominant government sector," it said in a note.
NICKEL BIGGEST LOSER In other metals, stainless-steel ingredient nickel was the biggest loser, falling 2.6 percent to $17,390 a tonne, having earlier hit its lowest since Jan. 28 at $17,350. "Nickel has struggled more than most... Interestingly, on-warrant nickel stocks climbed by 3,528 tonnes this morning," Leon Westgate at Standard Bank said in a note. Aluminium shed 0.64 percent to $2,103.50 a tonne and open interest data showed a drop of 13,117 lots on Monday, indicating that investors holding long positions have been liquidating contracts. Soldering metal tin fell 1.85 percent to $23,850 a tonne after hitting its lowest since Jan. 7 at $23,750, and zinc, used in galvanizing, lost 0.66 percent to $2,140.75 a tonne, having earlier hit its lowest since Feb. 1 at $2,138. Battery material lead fell 0.7 percent to $2,373.25 a tonne. Metal Prices at 1630 GMT Comex copper in cents/lb, LME prices in $/T and SHFE prices in yuan/T
Metal Last Change Pct Move End 2012 Ytd Pct
move
COMEX Cu 365.55 -8.15 -2.18 365.25 0.08 LME Alum 2103.00 -14.00 -0.66 2073.00 1.45 LME Cu 8063.25 -55.75 -0.69 7931.00 1.67 LME Lead 2373.00 -17.00 -0.71 2330.00 1.85 LME Nickel 17382.00 -473.00 -2.65 17060.00 1.89 LME Tin 23840.00 -460.00 -1.89 23400.00 1.88 LME Zinc 2140.75 -14.25 -0.66 2080.00 2.92 SHFE Alu 15090.00 -115.00 -0.76 15435.00 -2.24 SHFE Cu* 58780.00 -390.00 -0.66 57690.00 1.89 SHFE Zin 15785.00 -35.00 -0.22 15625.00 1.02 ** Benchmark month for COMEX copper * 3rd contract month for SHFE AL, CU and ZN
SHFE ZN began trading on 26/3/07