Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Copper price gains 1pc as US dollar weakens

COPPER futures rose today as a weaker US dollar supported the metal amid some lingering uncertainty about Greece's debt crisis.

The most actively traded contract, for July delivery, settled up US4.05 cents, or 1 per cent, at $US4.0920 a pound on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Copper futures were supported by a weaker US dollar and rose along with equities, gold and crude oil.

The euro was recently up at $US1.4347, from $US1.4283 late the in previous New York session. A weaker greenback can cause copper to appear cheaper for buyers holding foreign currencies.

Greece's parliament is set to vote on a five-year austerity plan tonight or early Thursday (AEST), another step the country is taking to qualify for further financial aid from euro-zone members.

Protests in the country turned violent ahead of the vote, however, as Greeks rallied against tax increases and other proposals by the government to alleviate the debt crisis.

Copper traders worry about slower economic activity in Europe affecting demand.

asStill, Europe isn't as important to prices as China, the leading copper-consuming country. Everyday products like smartphones and cars are made with copper, and demand for these goods can drop when the economy slows.

Meanwhile, data showed US consumer confidence dropping to a seven-month low in June.

The Conference Board's index of consumer confidence declined to 58.5 this month, after dropping more than 4 points to 61.7 in May, the private research group reported. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had expected the index to reach 60.5.

The copper market is looking at higher demand to come from China, said Bob Haberkorn, senior market strategist with Lind-Waldock.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/markets/copper-price-gains-1pc-as-us-dollar-weakens/story-e6frg91x-1226083871166

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