Copper fell on Friday as demand worries intensified after worse than expected employment data in the United States, the world's largest economy. Copper for three-month delivery on the London Metal Exchange ended at $6,490 a tonne from $6,530 at the close on Thursday, and compared with a session low of $6,440.50.
The Labour Department said on Friday US employers cut a more-than-expected 190,000 jobs last month, taking the unemployment rate to 10.2 percent, the highest in 26-1/2 years. "The US economy is not recovering at the pace everyone would like it to," said Alex Heath, head of base metals at RBC Capital Markets. "Fundamentals are beginning to weigh on people's minds, with rising stocks seeping into the market."
"Copper has been hit by a double whammy - one a weak economy meaning weak demand, and secondly a strengthening dollar," said Calyon analyst Robin Bhar. "But it may be viewed as a buying opportunity by investors who think if the economy is weak, the Fed has to keep rates low and that will mean overall a weak dollar." Earlier this session, copper benefited from data showing German manufacturing orders rose in September on firmer foreign demand.
Also boosting economic sentiment was an improving outlook from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Copper prices have more than doubled this year, driven by strong investment interest, a weak dollar and record imports from China, the world's largest industrial metals consumer.
LME copper stocks continue to rise, however, indicating demand has yet to recover outside China. Latest data showed stocks rose 5,750 tonnes to total 385,575 - their highest since early May. Copper stocks in warehouses monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose 1 percent from a week earlier to 104,275 tonnes, the highest since late April, 2004.
"Fundamentals remain uncertain," said Francois Lauras, credit analyst at Moody's. "Demand has been supported by China but ... the Western economies haven't really picked up." Aluminium ended at $1,910 from $1,925. LME stocks of the metal, used in transport and packaging, eased 3,275 tonnes but remained near record levels at 4.54 million tonnes.
Steel-making ingredient nickel ended at $17,350 from $17,760 while zinc, used to galvanise steel, ended at $2,174 from $2,219. In industry news, Tata Steel Ltd, the world's No 8 steelmaker by output, said steel sales at its Indian operations rose 38 percent in October from a year earlier. Elsewhere, battery material lead ended at $2,250 from $2,340, and tin at $14,750 from $14,950.