Copper extended the bearish momentum for the third consecutive weak and suffered losses amid a broad decline for industrial metals on Friday as worries over political instability and global demand prompted investors to cut bets on higher prices. Currently, copper is trading 255.65 intraday.
Investors have overestimated global growth and the impact of supply disruptions at major copper mines, said Norbert Rucker, head of commodity research at Julius Baer. Copper could slip to $5,200 a tonne in the next three months, he said.
* COPPER SUPPLY: The global refined copper market had a 51,000 tonne surplus in January, up from a 44,000 tonne surplus in January last year, the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) said. But the strike at the Escondida mine in February-March meant "next month's report should reflect a tighter market", analysts at ING said.
* FREEPORT EXPORTS: Freeport McMoran Inc's Indonesia unit has been granted a permit to export 1.11 million wet metric tonnes of copper concentrate until February of next year, a trade ministry official said. (Reuters).
* FREEPORT STRIKE: Freeport also warned that it would punish workers for absenteeism at its Indonesian operation, a day after one of its main unions announced plans for a one-month strike over employment conditions. (Reuters).
Technical Overview:
Trend: Bearish
Resistance levels: R1 257.01, R2 259.36, R3 261.69
Support levels : S1 254.04, S2 249.35, S3 246.10
Comment: The market is triggering a downturn from congestion and targets a stretch down under 249.00. A close below 249.00 is bearish. Any correction should stay contained under 260.00 and use congestion to bear flag. A close above R3 level is needed for trend reversal and shift to higher prices.