Copper prices tripped up by political tensions and slow growth

LONDON: Copper tracked equity markets lower on Tuesday on concerns of slowing demand in China and as geopolitical tensions escalated over the killing of a prominent Saudi journalist.

Benchmark copper was down 1.1 percent at $6,173 a tonne in official trading rings. It touched a one-week high in the previous session on expectations of strong demand in China  after the top metals consumer said it would provide stimulus to illiquid firms.

In the latest development since the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said there were strong signs that the killing was planned and that he was killed in a "savage way".

"Metals are reacting to what is happening in equity markets right now," said Capital Economics senior commodities economist Caroline Bain, adding that concerns relate to slow global growth and potential escalation of tensions over the Khashoggi murder.

STIMULUS: Investors were unconvinced by pledges from Chinese officials of an expansion of targeted measures to ease company financing problems after China's third-quarter growth slowed to its weakest since the global financial crisis.

"Most stimulus takes time to work through and turn into an upturn in commodities demand," said Capital Economics's Bain.

TAX: China's tax cuts next year could exceed the equivalent of 1 percent of gross domestic product, a central bank adviser said, in a sign that policymakers might consider another round of tax reductions.

TECHNICALS: Marex Spectron said support for benchmark LME copper is at last week's low in the $6,120-25 area.

DOLLAR: The dollar index, a gauge of its value against six other major currencies, edged lower but was still near a two-month high.

EQUITIES: World stocks fell to their lowest in a year, pushed down by a range of political and economic concerns including the U.S.-China trade war and the Saudi Arabia situation.

INVENTORIES: Total copper inventories in LME-approved warehouses fell to 151,100 tonnes, the lowest level since April 2016.

ALUMINA: China's alumina exports in September registered a more than fivefold increase from August to 165,839 tonnes, customs data showed on Tuesday. That represented the highest monthly volume this year.

Producers of the main ingredient of aluminium have been shipping more cargoes overseas this year to cash in on favourable arbitrage between domestic and international prices amid tighter global supplies.

PRICES: Aluminium was bid up 0.4 percent to $2,015 a tonne, zinc eased by 0.5 percent to $2,641, lead was up 1.2 percent at $2,016.50 and tin added 0.8 percent to $19,375 while nickel retreated by 1 percent to $12,400.