MORNING VIEW: Dip-buying in base metals suggests underlying sentiment remains strong

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange were for the most part stronger this morning, Friday March 26, suggesting overall sentiment remains bullish while participants see dips as a buying opportunity.

Asian-Pacific equities were generally stronger this morningThe US Dollar Index was strong too
Base metals
LME three-month base metals prices were up across the board this morning by an average of 0.8%. Lead was the laggard with prices little changed at $21,937.50 per tonne, while the rest were up by between 0.5% for aluminium ($2.267.50 per tonne) and 1.2% for nickel ($16,360 per tonne). Copper was up by 1% at $8,888 per tonne - this after a low on Thursday of $8,702 per tonne.

The most-active base metals contracts on the SHFE were for the most part stronger this morning; with the exception of May lead that was down slightly, with a dip of 5 yuan per tonne, the rest were up by an average of 1%, led by a 1.9% rise in June nickel. May copper was unchanged at 66,170 yuan ($10,114) per tonne.

Precious metals
Precious metals prices were firmer this morning with gains averaging 0.6%, with spot gold prices up by $0.40 per oz at $1,727.76 per oz.

Wider markets
The yield on US 10-year treasuries was firmer at 1.64% this morning. The recent high was 1.75%.

Asian-Pacific equities were firmer on Friday: the CSI 300 (2.27%), the Nikkei (1.56%), the Kospi (1.09%), the Hang Seng (1.57%) and the ASX 200 (+0.5%).

Currencies
The US Dollar Index remains bullish and was recently at 92.80, the previous high being 92.51.

The other major currencies were mixed: the euro (1.1776) and the yen (109.44) were weaker, while sterling (1.3772) and the Australian dollar (0.7618) were firmer.

Key data
Data already out on Friday shows retail sales in the United Kingdom climbed by 2.1% month on month in February, after an 8.2% fall in January.

Later there is data on German Ifo business climate, along with data from the United States on personal spending, personal income, personal consumption expenditures consumer price index, goods trade balance, wholesale inventories and the revised University of Michigan consumer sentiment and inflation expectations readings.

In addition, the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee will release a statement and the minutes of their latest meeting and there is a European Union economic summit.

Today's key themes and views
Once again weakness in base metals prices has run into dip-buying, suggesting underlying sentiment remains bullish.

The underlying themes remain bullish and while prices have already performed surprisingly well over the past 12 months, suggesting a lot of the recovery news may be in the prices, dips are still finding support. This is a sign of robustness.

Gold prices got some lift in recent weeks, but seem to be lacking follow-through buying - the stronger dollar no doubt not helping. Out of all the precious metals, palladium looks the strongest.

Gold stocks mixed after previous week's huge gains

Large TSXV gold multiple driven up by high Artemis weighting

Monetary-driven precious metals outperform major base metals

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Gold stocks down as metal and equities momentum fades