Investing.com - Copper prices edged lower on Monday, after disappointing Chinese trade data added to speculation that policymakers in Beijing may implement further stimulus measures.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, copper for March delivery fell by as much as 2.4 cents, or 0.92%, to hit a session low of $2.561 a pound, before trading at $2.574 during European morning hours, down 1.2 cents, or 0.46%.
On Friday, copper for March delivery dipped 0.9 cents, or 0.37%, to end at $2.585 a pound.
Futures were likely to find support at the $2.533, the low from February 5, and resistance at $2.615, the high from February 6.
Over the weekend, China reported a trade surplus of $60.0 billion in January, compared to expectations for $48.9 billion and up from a surplus of $49.6 in December.
Exports slumped 3.3% from a year earlier last month, missing expectations for a 6.3% increase, while imports tumbled 19.9%, much worse than forecasts for a decline of 3.0%.
According to the data, China imported 410,000 tons of copper in January, down 2.4% from 420,000 tons in December.
The disappointing data added to speculation policymakers will have to introduce further stimulus measures to support the economy and boost growth.
China's central bank cut banks' reserve requirement ratios last week in an effort to boost lending and spur economic activity.
The Asian nation is the world’s largest copper consumer, accounting for almost 40% of world consumption last year.
Elsewhere on the Comex, gold futures for April inched up $4.50, or 0.36%, to trade at $1,239.10 a troy ounce, while silver futures for March delivery tacked on 9.4 cents, or 0.56% to trade at $16.78 an ounce.
The dollar rallied after data on Friday showed that the U.S. economy added 257,000 jobs in January, far more than the 234,000 forecast by economists. December’s figure was revised to 329,000 from a previously reported 252,000.
While the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.7% last month from December’s 5.6% hourly earnings and the participation rate both saw increases in January.
The upbeat jobs report reinforced expectations for a mid-year rate hike by the Federal Reserve.
Expectations of higher borrowing rates going forward is considered bearish for gold, as the precious metal struggles to compete with yield-bearing assets when rates are on the rise.
Meanwhile, the euro remained under pressure as concerns over Greek debt negotiations continued to weigh on market sentiment.
Greece after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Sunday that he would stick to plans to roll back austerity measures and reject an international bailout extension.
Ratings agency Standard and Poor’s downgraded Greece to one notch above default late Friday and warned that time is running out for Athens to reach an agreement on a new financing program with creditors.