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Informist, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025

 

By Ashutosh Pati

 

MUMBAI – Futures contracts of copper rose on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India and the London Metal Exchange on Monday because of strong demand and persistent concerns about tight supply. Hopes of stimulus measures from top consumer China also lifted market sentiment.

 

"Renewed supply disruptions this year have triggered a rally in copper and other base metals," Daniel Hynes, senior commodity strategist at ANZ Research, said in a note. "However, the length of the rally suggests there is more to this than just supply disruptions. Demand continues to beat expectations, despite concerns over the global economy and the fall in China's economic growth," Hynes said.

 

However, LEAD, ZINC, and NICKEL prices edged lower due to disappointing economic data from China. According to data released earlier in the day, retail sales in China rose 1.3% on year in November, sharply lower than expectations of 2.8% growth, and lower from the 2.9% rise in the previous month. The country's industrial production grew 4.8% on year in November, also missing expectations and marking the weakest growth since August 2024.

 

"...the latest Chinese data pointed to a deepening economic slowdown, highlighting weak domestic consumer and business demand," Kotak Securities said in a report. "This reinforced expectations for additional stimulus early next year, following China's recent reaffirmation of a 'proactive' fiscal stance and a moderately accommodative monetary policy framework for 2026," the report said.

 

At 1725 IST, on the MCX, the December futures contract of:
-–ALUMINIUM was at INR 281.15 a kg, up 0.8%
--Copper was at INR 1,111.75 a kg, up 1.4%
–-Lead was at INR 181.60 a kg, down 0.2%
–-Zinc was at INR 312.90 a kg, down 1.2%

 

The January futures contract of NICKEL was at INR 1,308.00 a kg, down 0.5%

 

Trading levels for the day on the MCX:
--Aluminium contract seen at INR 276.10-INR 286.20
--Copper contract seen at INR 1,077.90-INR 1,141.10
--Lead contract seen at INR 180.50-INR 183.00
--Zinc contract seen at INR 308.40-INR 324.30

--Nickel contract seen at INR 1,189.00-INR 1,269.60

End

 

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Edited by Ashish Shirke

 

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