w: www.basemetals.com | e: info@basemetals.com | t: +44 (0) 1799 516956
Base metals attract bargain hunting after Friday's and early Monday's weakness

13/02/06

Metals plunged on Friday, falling on average by 6% on a close-to low-basis. Although prices rebounded into the close, prices are down again in early Monday trading. The buy-the-dip mentality that has served the base metals well over the past few years let buyers down on Friday as the rebound from Tuesday’s sell-off failed. Nickel was up $700/mt on Thursday, but reversed all the gains on Friday and fell over $1000/mt at one stage. Likewise copper plunged below Tuesday’s low of $4860/mt, to set a low on the day of $4785/mt. The breach of $4800/mt, looks dangerous on the charts, but it remains to be seen whether this triggers wider liquidation selling or even short selling. CFTC data shows that the recent weakness has encouraged 740 new long positions and saw 1,839 short positions covered, taking the net long position from 1,173 contracts to net long 3,752 contracts. This is still a very small long position considering the extent of the rall since the start of the year.

Shanghai stocks also rose strongly, with aluminium rising a whopping 58,923mt taking the total to 139,572 mt, while copper rose a decent 7,580mt to 58,923mt. Other points of note are the continuing easing of the spreads, which saw copper’s cash-to-threes narrow to 45 back at one stage, compared to 90 back at the start of the week. Aluminium’s cash-three’s has also eased with it holding around 31 contango for most of the week. So although some of the data from within the metals market has been looking less bullish, it has taken prices a long time to react.

With metal prices trading in most cases on or below Friday’s lows, Monday is off to a weak start. The question is whether there will be follow through selling in which case a larger part of the market may start to worry. Although if the buying manages to absorb the selling, stable prices could attract the bargain hunters. Expect a volatile day.

- ends -

For further information please contact:

William Adams
Metals analyst, BaseMetals.com
press@basemetals.com
http://www.basemetals.com

BaseMetals.com
12 Rose and Crown Walk
Saffron Walden
Essex CB10 1JH
UK

T: +44 (0) 1799 516 956
F: +44 (0) 1799 516 941

 Live base metals price charts available at www.basemetals.com/freecharts/
BaseMetals.com Disclaimer and Privacy Policy

BaseMetals.com has taken every precaution to provide the most accurate information possible. However it is provided without warranty or claim of reliablity.

PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING THE SITE. BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH BELOW. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, YOU MAY NOT ACCESS OR USE THE SITE. BASEMETALS.COM MAY MODIFY THIS AGREEMENT FROM TIME TO TIME, AND SUCH MODIFICATIONS SHALL BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON POSTING OF THE MODIFIED AGREEMENT ON THE SITE. YOU AGREE TO REVIEW THE AGREEMENT PERIODICALLY TO BE AWARE OF SUCH MODIFICATIONS AND YOUR CONTINUED ACCESS OR USE OF THE SITE SHALL BE DEEMED YOUR CONCLUSIVE ACCEPTANCE OF THE MODIFIED AGREEMENT.

It is accepted by the site visitor on the condition that errors or omissions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action. The information and data were obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy.

YOU MAY NOT MODIFY, COPY, REPRODUCE, REPUBLISH, UPLOAD, POST, TRANSMIT, OR DISTRIBUTE, IN ANY MANNER, THE MATERIAL ON THE SITE, INCLUDING TEXT, GRAPHICS, CODE AND/OR SOFTWARE. You may print and download portions of material from the different areas of the Site solely for your own non-commercial use provided that you agree not to change or delete any copyright or proprietary notices from the materials. You agree to grant to BaseMetals.com a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license, with the right to sub-license, to reproduce, distribute, transmit, create derivative works of, publicly display and publicly perform any materials and other information (including, without limitation, ideas contained therein for new or improved products and services) you submit to any public areas of the Site (such as bulletin boards, forums and newsgroups) or by e-mail to BaseMetals.com by all means and in any media now known or hereafter developed. You also grant to BaseMetals.com the right to use your name in connection with the submitted materials and other information as well as in connection with all advertising, marketing and promotional material related thereto. You agree that you shall have no recourse against BaseMetals.com for any alleged or actual infringement or misappropriation of any proprietary right in your communications to BaseMetals.com.

YOU ASSUME TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK FOR YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND THE INTERNET. BASEMETALS.COM PROVIDES THE SITE AND RELATED INFORMATION "AS IS" AND DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR ENDORSEMENTS WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF TITLE OR NONINFRINGEMENT, OR THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE) WITH REGARD TO THE SERVICE, ANY MERCHANDISE INFORMATION OR SERVICE PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICE OR ON THE INTERNET GENERALLY, AND BASEMETALS.COM SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY COST OR DAMAGE ARISING EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM ANY SUCH TRANSACTION. IT IS SOLELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EVALUATE THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS AND USEFULNESS OF ALL OPINIONS, ADVICE, SERVICES, MERCHANDISE AND OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICE OR ON THE INTERNET GENERALLY. BASEMETALS.COM DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SERVICE WILL BE CORRECTED.

IN NO EVENT WILL BASEMETALS.COM BE LIABLE FOR (I) ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF PROGRAMS OR INFORMATION, AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, OR ANY INFORMATION, OR TRANSACTIONS PROVIDED ON THE SERVICE, OR DOWNLOADED FROM THE SERVICE, OR ANY DELAY OF SUCH INFORMATION OR SERVICE. EVEN IF BASEMETALS.COM OR ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR (II) ANY CLAIM ATTRIBUTABLE TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR OTHER INACCURACIES IN THE SERVICE AND/OR MATERIALS OR INFORMATION DOWNLOADED THROUGH THE SERVICE.

BaseMetals.com makes no representations whatsoever about any other web site which you may access through this one or which may link to this Site. When you access a non-BaseMetals.com Web site, please understand that it is independent from BaseMetals.com, and that BaseMetals.com has no control over the content on that Web site. In addition, a link to a BaseMetals.com Web site does not mean that BaseMetals.com endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content, or the use, of such Web site.

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless BaseMetals.com, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, suppliers and any third party information providers to the Service from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting from any violation of this Agreement (including negligent or wrongful conduct) by you or any other person accessing the Service.

contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of BaseMetals.com Limited. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that the actual events or results may differ materially.

This agreement shall be construed according according to the laws of the United Kingdom.

© 2005 BaseMetals.com

BaseMetals.com is a trading name of TheBullionDesk Limited