
According to the latest update from the market, LME aluminium prices plunged to a 16-month low in early Asian trade on Thursday after the United States said it would withdraw sanctions on UC Rusal.
The dollar came off its lows but remained weaker on Wednesday anticipating fewer interest rate hikes than it had in September. LME base metals mostly gained on Wednesday but aluminium fell some 1%. SHFE base metals traded higher across the board overnight and aluminium grew some 0.3%.
{alcircleadd}The LME aluminium contract closed yesterday’s trading at US$ 1928 per tonne, much lower than last closing. LME fell to a low of US$1,906.5 per tonne from the 10-day moving average on Wednesday and closed at US$1,908 per tonne overnight. LME aluminium is likely to trade weaker at US$1,900-1,930 per tonne.
As on December 19, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1927 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1928 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1928 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1929 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 1978 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 1983 per tonne.
The LME aluminium opening stock increased to 1255925 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 1052900 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 203025 tonnes.
LME aluminium 3-months Asian Reference Price is hovering at US$ 1927 per tonne.
SME and SHFE Aluminium Price Trend
The benchmark aluminium price on Shanghai Metal Exchange dropped to US$ 1957 per tonne today from US$ 1973 per tonne on December 19.
News around the central economic working conference and the latest Federal Reserve’s rate decision affected market sentiment, and this lowered both shorts and longs in the SHFE 1902 contract yesterday. The contract dipped to an intraday low of RMB13,630 per tonne at noon, and rebounded to end at RMB 13,665 per tonne on Wednesday. We expect the contract to continue to trade weakly tonight.
After a higher open, the SHFE 1902 contract broke through the 20-day moving average to a high of RMB 13,745 per tonne and ended at RMB 13,725 per tonne overnight. The SHFE 1902 contract is expected to trade at RMB 13,600-13,700 per tonne with spot discounts at RMB 70-40 per tonne.
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