Commodity Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Integrated Brokerage Services’

Copper dropped today from its record prices on speculation that demand for the metal would wane as house prices in China will tumble. Chinese government was concerned after house prices jumped 68 percent in the first quarter that soaring prices would create bubble that sooner or later burst, crippling the nation’s economy. The government was already attempting to cool the overheated economy and bring prices down. Now Chinese banking regulators are going to perform stress tests on banks to discover how they would fare in case of a 60% slump of Chinese house prices. Housing market has great influence on copper prices as construction makes up a quarter of copper demand.

Frank McGhee, the head dealer at Integrated Brokerage Services LLC, thinks that “if China wants to signal a slowdown, then the copper rally may have run its course”. Another analyst said that that it’ll be good if annual growth of Chinese demand would be limited by 8 percent.

September futures for copper delivery slid $0.0480 (1.4 percent) to $3.3565 per pound by 11:21 on COMEX. Yesterday, price reached $3.4105, the highest level since April 29th. Delivery for copper in three months dropped $94.50 (1.3 percent) to $7,410.50 per metric ton on LME.

Gold futures rallied today to the highest level in a week as the rising stocks and commodities signaled about expanding global economic growth, causing speculations that demand for raw materials will rise. The MSCI World Index of stocks climbed to the highest level since May 13 and Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index of 19 commodities headed for the biggest rally in almost a year. Crude oil jumped above $81 per barrel, while copper surged to the highest level in three months. An outlook for a seasonal increase of demand in such countries as India and Turkey also supported gold prices.

Euro’s rally prompted investors to sell the precious metal and buy the 16-nation European currency, limiting gains of gold. As McGhee of Integrated Brokerage Services said:

On the rallies, you’ve got some investors moving out of gold and back into euros.

December futures for gold delivery advanced $1.50 (0.1 percent) to $1,185.40 by 13:35 on COMEX, following the surge to $1,193.90. Speculators raised net-long position by 5.9 percent on COMEX in the week ended July 27th.