METALS-Copper, zinc push higher as speculators return to market...

METALS-Copper, zinc push higher as speculators return to market

Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:46am GMT

By Eric Onstad

LONDON, April 20 (Reuters) - Copper, zinc and other base metals gained on Thursday as investors, speculators and consumers resumed buying after recent losses, expecting increased seasonal demand.

The London Metal Exchange index of the six major base metals had slid about 7 percent during April up to Tuesday after the easing of supply problems such as a strike in top copper producer Chile.

But after prices largely stabilised on Wednesday, investors gained confidence to return to the market since the second quarter is regarded as the peak period for physical demand because the construction industry gears up in spring.

During the prior rally, the LME index had surged 23 percent from late October to the end of March, which many analysts regarded as excessive.

"With a lot of speculative excess, we needed for that to be addressed, which has happened with the sell-off in copper and zinc. But now we're into the second quarter so we should expect more physical interest," said Robin Bhar, head of metals research at Societe Generale.
"I suspect that the CTA models are starting to flash some buy signals since prices have held above those longer term moving averages and consumers have been waiting for a pull back."
Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs) often run funds that use computer models to track momentum and technical signals, such as the 200-day moving average, which zinc and lead tested but remained above.


* Nickel and zinc, both used in steel-making, got a boost after iron ore and steel prices in China bounced back from a three-day fall. Zinc was the biggest LME gainer with a jump of 3.2 percent to close at $2,632. Nickel added 1.6 percent to $9,490.



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