Industrial Metals Steady During Lunar New Year Holiday

1 month ago 20

Jessica Zhou and Jack Ryan

Mon, February 16, 2026 astatine 9:54 AM CST 1 min read

Bloomberg

Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Industrial metals had a subdued commencement to the week, with galore Asian traders offline for the Lunar New Year break, and the US besides closed.

Copper was small changed beneath $12,900 a ton successful London, consolidating aft caller volatility. Aluminum edged little aft falling connected Friday pursuing a study US President Donald Trump whitethorn constrictive the scope of import tariffs.

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Near-record prices person chilled concern request for metals similar copper successful China, the world’s biggest buyer. As manufacturers propulsion backmost connected orders for metal, speech inventories person been rising, helping to replenish reserves aft ample volumes were drawn into the US successful anticipation of tariffs.

Readily disposable copper inventories tracked by the London Metal Exchange roseate again connected Monday, bringing full stocks astatine exchanges successful Shanghai, London and New York further supra a cardinal tons, the highest since 2003.

The LMEX Index that tracks the main six metals traded successful London deed a grounds past period connected a question of Chinese buying, coupled with a weaker US dollar. Since then, the scale has backtracked somewhat, arsenic traders await caller catalysts, including connected US tariffs and the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy.

Copper futures were dependable astatine $12,878 a ton astatine 3:40 p.m. successful London, portion aluminum dipped to $3,066 a ton aft losing arsenic overmuch arsenic 2.7% connected Friday. Tin fell 1.3%, and nickel roseate 1.2%.

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