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Informist, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

 

By Ashutosh Pati

 

MUMBAI – Futures contracts of most base metals rose on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India and the London Metal Exchange Friday, as lower-than-expected US inflation data reinforced hopes of more rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve next year.

 

Data released Thursday showed US consumer prices increased less than expected on year in November. The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics did not publish month-to-month CPI changes after the 43-day shutdown of the government prevented the collection of October data. The US CPI rose 2.7% year-on-year, against a 3.1% increase expected in a poll by Reuters. 

 

White House Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett welcomed the CPI report, saying the US economy was showing high growth and lower inflation. "I'm not saying we're going to declare victory yet on the price problem, but this is just an astonishingly good CPI report," Hasett, one of the frontrunners to succeed Fed Chair Jerome Powell, said in an interview with Fox Business Network.

 

"Copper prices remained elevated after last week's gains, following data showing underlying U.S. inflation rising at its slowest pace since early 2021. The cooling print eased concerns that sticky inflation could constrain the Federal Reserve's easing cycle, reinforcing the supportive macro environment for industrial metals," Kotak Securities said in a report.

 

"While the Fed has already delivered its third consecutive rate cut, policymakers remain cautious on signalling the pace of further easing, keeping markets attentive to incoming data. Traders are increasingly pricing in additional rate reductions in 2026, lending a medium-term tailwind to metals," it said.

 

At 1655 IST, on the MCX, the December futures contract of:
-–ALUMINIUM was at INR 283.15 a kg, up 0.3%
--COPPER was at INR 1,113.45 a kg, up 0.2%
–-LEAD was at INR 181.65 a kg, up 0.1%
–-ZINC was at INR 301.20 a kg, down 0.4%

 

The January futures contract of NICKEL was at INR 1,330.00 a kg, up 0.1%.

 

Trading levels for the day on the MCX:
--Aluminium contract seen at INR 279.60-INR 288.00
--Copper contract seen at INR 1,094.00-INR 1,141.60
--Lead contract seen at INR 180.30-INR 183.30
--Zinc contract seen at INR 295.70-INR 310.90

--Nickel contract seen at INR 1,310.00-INR 1,350.00

End

 

US$1 = INR 89.27

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

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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