
The dollar hit a month-peak against a basket of currencies on Tuesday, as China and the US discussed plans for talks to avert a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies. Both LME and SHFE base metals ended in mixed territory overnight. LME aluminium fell 0.6% and aluminium dipped 0.2% and 0.3% respectively.
LME aluminium closed Tuesday’s trading at US$1949.50, slightly lower than Monday. As the US dollar rose, LME aluminium came off from the day’s highs of US$1,965 per tonne to close at US$1,936 per tonne on Tuesday night. With the dollar’s strength, LME aluminium is likely to remain weak and trade within a range of US$1,930-1,960 per tonne today.
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As on December 11, Tuesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1949 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1949.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1957 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1957.50 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2018 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 2023 per tonne.
The LME aluminium opening stock increased to 1072450 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 829500 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 242950 tonnes.
LME aluminium 3-months Asian Reference Price is hovering at US$ 1945 per tonne.
SME and SHFE Aluminium Price Trend
The benchmark aluminium price on Shanghai Metal Exchange dropped to US$ 1967 per tonne today from US$ 1970 per tonne on December 11.
As the US dollar declined from highs, the SHFE 1902 contract regained overnight losses yesterday but still closed slightly lower on the day at RMB 13,680 per tonne. The contract then fell into the red, to a low of RMB 13,595 per tonne, as longs took profits after the contract hit a high of RMB13,690 per tonne. It closed at RMB13,605 per tonne overnight. Declines in aluminium prices slowed as supply cuts and downstream purchases would support prices into the short term, but cost support is set to wane in the medium term. SHFE aluminium is expected to trade at RMB 13,550-13,700 per tonne today with spot prices at discounts of RMB 20 per tonne to premiums of 20 per tonne.
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