New Coronavirus Outbreak in China Dampens Copper Prices
The prices of copper decreased on Friday, with many concerned that the rising numbers of coronavirus cases in China following a fresh outbreak would impact demand. The new outbreak comes ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year holiday, which sees industrial activity in the country slow down. This comes after the copper smelting activity in the world increased in December 2020, led by China’s strong economy as well as its government’s stimulus efforts against the coronavirus pandemic. On the London Metal Exchange, three-month copper declined to $7,970 per ton, aluminum dropped to $1,985.50 per ton while nickel fell to $18,075/ton.…