Most Shanghai base metals rise, but Fed rate hike expectations cap gain

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BEIJING — Most base metal prices in Shanghai rose on Wednesday, supported by expectations of stronger demand from top consumer China, but concerns of a global economic slowdown lingered ahead of an expected interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

The most-traded October copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was up 0.1% at 62,550 yuan ($8,879.65) a tonne by 0456 GMT.

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Improved operation rates among end-user manufacturers in China are expected to bolster metals demand in September and October.

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The commercial hub of Shanghai on Tuesday announced eight infrastructure projects with a total investment of 1.8 trillion yuan, to revive a COVID-impacted economy.

ShFE nickel gained 1.5% to 197,400 yuan a tonne, tin rose 2.4% to 182,010 yuan a tonne, while ShFE aluminum lost 0.8% to 18,580 yuan a tonne, following data on Tuesday that showed global primary aluminum output rose 3.5% in August to 5.89 million tonnes.

However, buyers in the physical market were hesitant to replenish stocks as the Fed rate hike expectations poses downside risks for commodity prices, a metal trader said.

The Fed started a two-day meeting on Tuesday, with rate futures traders pricing in an 83% chance of a 75 basis-point hike and a 17% probability of a 100 bps raise.

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Spot premium for refined copper has declined 20% this week so far to 660 yuan a tonne, as assessed by Shanghai Metals Market.

The U.S. dollar strengthened to a near two-decade high, making it more expensive for holders of other currencies to buy greenback-priced commodities.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange dipped 0.4% to $7,726 a tonne.

LME aluminum slid 0.3% to $2,239.50 a tonne, lead was down 0.2% to $1,876 a tonne, while zinc held at $3,127 a tonne.

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($1 = 7.0442 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Siyi Liu and Dominique Patton; Editing by Devika Syamnath)

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