SHANGHAI, Apr 12 (SMM) –
Copper: LME copper registered a loss overnight, along with its Shanghai counterpart. We see it trading at $6,910-6,960/mt today. With strong support from the five- and 20-day moving averages, the SHFE 1806 contract is likely to trade at 50,800-51,500 yuan/mt with spot prices ranging from a discount of 40 yuan/mt to a premium of 20 yuan/mt today.
Aluninium: LME aluminium registered five consecutive days of gains as the US imposed sanctions on Russian aluminium giant Rusal. It hit $2,277.5/mt overnight, a record high since early January 2018. It is likely to remain strong in the short term and to trade at $2,220-2,260/mt today. The SHFE 1806 contract edged down with pressure from fundamentals overnight. It will face heavier resistance if LME aluminium loses its upward track. We expect it to trade rangebound at 14,280-14,400 yuan/mt with spot discounts at 110-70 yuan/mt today.
Zinc: LME zinc registered losses overnight after US President Donald Trump threatened military action in Syria. We expect it to open around the five-day moving average and to trade at $3,210-3,260/mt today. SHFE zinc fell to 24,460 yuan/mt last night. We see it trading between 24,200-24,260 yuan/mt today with limited support.
Nickel: Supported by an increase in crude oil prices, LME nickel staged a V-shaped recovery to reach a high of $13,900/mt and closed at $13,825/mt overnight. As inventories shrink steadily and the US dollar remains weak, LME nickel is likely to trade rangebound with upward room today. The SHFE 1807 contract is seen trading at 101,000-102,800 yuan/mt with spot prices at 100,500-102,200 yuan/mt today.
Tin: LME tin mostly hovered around the five- and 20-day moving averages and closed higher. Weighed down by potential US military action in Syria, the metal is likely to trade rangebound with support from $20,600/mt in the short term. SHFE tin extended its downward trend overnight, with pressure from all moving averages. It is expected to trade at 143,000-144,500 yuan/mt today.
Lead: LME lead gained support from long positions after it dipped to a low of $2,370/mt due to turmoil in Syria overnight. Boosted by longs, it is likely to stand above $2,400/mt in the short term. Affected by LME lead, the SHFE 1805 contract reversed its downward trend overnight. It is expected to test support at 18,500 yuan/mt today.
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