(Update prices for Asia market close, adds analyst comment in
paragraphs 3 and 4 and details in paragraph 5.)
By Hongmei Li
SINGAPORE, June 12 (Reuters) - London copper prices rose
on Thursday, although the market expects volatility amid
persistent uncertainty over the U.S-China trade deal.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was
up 0.4% at $9,683.5 per metric ton by 0706 GMT, while the
most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange
lost 0.7% to 78,610 yuan a ton ($10,947.40).
"LME and SHFE copper prices have been diverging as China's
domestic demand for copper has shown signs of seasonal
weakening, while LME is being supported by possible U.S. tariffs
on copper imports," a Hangzhou-based metals analyst said.
Copper inventories in SHFE-registered warehouses are
building up but at a slow pace, which is unlikely to pressure
SHFE prices too much, she said.
SHFE copper inventories rose to 107,404 tons in
the week ended June 6, from 98,671 tons in the week ended May
23.
The U.S. and China reached agreement on Tuesday that
restores a trade truce, removing Beijing's export curbs on rare
earths and allowing Chinese students access to U.S.
universities, although markets remain cautious about further
developments.
Meanwhile, the dollar slid after U.S. inflation rose
less than expected in May, suggesting the Federal Reserve could
cut rates soon.
A weaker dollar typically supports metal prices by making
them more attractive to buyers using other currencies.
Among other LME metals, zinc added 0.5% to $2,666
per ton, lead gained 0.4% to $1,995.5, aluminum
advanced 0.2% to 2,521.5, while nickel fell 0.2% to
$15,140, and tin inched 0.1% lower to $32,630.
Among SHFE metals, aluminium gained 1.1% to 20,395
yuan a ton, zinc rose 0.3% to 22,085 yuan, lead
gained 0.3% to 16,890 yuan, while nickel fell
1.2% to 120,000 yuan.
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DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
1230 US Initial Jobless Clm Weekly
1230 US PPI Machine Mfg May
1600 US Federal Reserve issues Quarterly
Financial Accounts of the United States
($1 = 7.1807 Chinese yuan)