Industrial metals see demand wain in China – TDS

Base metals have held strong as stimulus optimism gets baked in, however there’s an increasing level of bearishness on the ground in China, TDS com

Base metals see their longs liquidated

“With the upcoming plenum in China gaining plenty of market focus, base metals have held strong as stimulus optimism gets baked in. However, our tracking of top Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) traders highlights an increasing level of bearishness on the ground in China.”

“Traders add nearly 5k lots short and liquidated longs in Copper, seeing their net short position grow to roughly the largest it has been since the start of the year. Likewise, in Aluminium, Chinese traders have added 8k lots short and cut longs, seeing their position flip net short after holding a notable long position. Zinc also saw a heavy 8k lots worth of long liquidations.”

“Pressures are building on the industrial metals as our gauge of global commodity demand continues to weaken. Any disappointment on potential Chinese stimulus will likely see continued liquidations of bloated positioning. As upside momentum fails to manifest, CTAs have turned recent sellers of the Red Metal, while Aluminium could also be in the crosshairs in the near-term.”