Copper fell to a two-week low on Tuesday, pressured by a strong dollar and concerns that slower economic growth in top consumer China will weaken demand for the industrial metal. China, the world's second-largest economy, on Monday cut its economic growth goal to an eight-year low of 7.5 percent, sending global equities and commodities lower.
Investors appeared to have used the lower target to take profits on long positions in commodities, such as copper, and currencies that are linked to global growth, analysts said. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange ended at $8,289.50 a tonne, down around 2.5 percent from Monday's close of $8,505.
The metal used in power and construction slipped to a two-week low at $8,250 a tonne and fell below its 200-day moving average of 8,380 for the first time in more than two weeks, but it was still trading 9 percent higher for the year to date. "More than anything we had a market that had gone a bit too far, too soon without there being that much fundamental strength," said Nikos Kavalis, an analyst at RBS.
"We're seeing the aftermath of this rally, but I am no less bullish now in the medium to longer term than I was a month ago." Reflecting the risk-off sentiment in broader financial markets, European shares dropped to their lowest level in nearly a month and gold prices fell more than 2 percent.
The euro slipped towards a two-week low against the dollar on concerns about whether Greece would be able to complete a major debt restructuring deal with private sector creditors before Thursday. A stronger dollar makes commodities priced in the US unit more expensive for holders of other currencies. "The market is very unsure on the direction of the euro/dollar," said Gianclaudio Torlizzi, a partner in metals consultancy T-Commodity.
"You cannot be bullish on euro/dollar at the moment. I think we will reach a point in the following days when we see euro/dollar at a lower level than the current one and that will push metals lower." Credit Suisse said the current mixed bag of economic indicators in the United States and Europe may be fuelling the recent declines in industrial metal prices.
"We think the sector needs confirmation from hard data that the economic recovery remains on track. In this context, US non-farm payroll data will be important," the bank said, adding a strong number could end recent metals price falls. The government's jobs report for February, due on Friday, is expected to show non-farm payrolls added 210,000 jobs last month, according to economists polled by Reuters, after gaining 243,000 in January.
Signals from the physical base metals markets do not offer much to cheer about, with a slow improvement in buying following the New Year, Barclays Capital analyst Gayle Berry said in a research note. "Physical premiums are low, time spreads are weak, SHFE (Shanghai Futures Exchange) inventories have been rising and ... stainless producers are reducing output," Berry said.
"Indeed, we understand that slower demand for primary nickel and NPI (nickel pig iron) has resulted in a build in nickel port ore stocks." Traders and analysts told Reuters on Tuesday that China's nickel consumption may drop in March and that imports are likely to take a hit as stainless steel producers, the top users of the metal, cut output.
Nickel ended at $18,745 from $19,075 at the close on Monday. Tin ended at $22,310 from $23,050 at Monday's close while zinc closed at $2,012 from $2,087. Battery material lead ended at $2,068 from $2,146 at the close on Monday and aluminium closed at $2,235.50 from $2,290.
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