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US copper up early on weak dollar, momentum buying
Thu Dec 24, 2009 9:15am EST

NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - U.S. copper futures strengthened to near
15-month highs Thursday morning, driven by extended losses in the dollar,
supply threats in Chile, and pre-holiday momentum buying.

For detailed report on global copper markets, click on [MET/L]

* Benchmark copper for March delivery HGH0 firmed 4.45 cents to
$3.2480 a lb by 9:09 a.m. EST (1409 GMT) on the New York Mercantile
Exchange's COMEX division.

* Range from $3.1920 to $3.25, the contract's loftiest level since Dec.
4, and near a 15-month peak at $3.2750.

* Weekly buy-signal triggered at $3.22 a lb drove early gains. Momentum
could carry market up to challenge of yearly high at $3.2750 - Larry Young,
senior trader at Infinity Futures Inc. in Chicago.

* Weaker dollar driving much of the rally in treacherously thin market
conditions - MF Global analyst Edward Meir.

* COMEX estimated futures volume at 5,002 lots by 9 a.m.

* Some New York energy and commodity will close early on Thursday, Dec.
24, and all will be closed on Friday for Christmas Day. Business will
resume on Monday.

* The dollar trimmed losses against the euro on Thursday after data
showed U.S. durable goods orders rose in November, while initial jobless
claims fell last week. [ID:nN24182625] [ID:nN23158877]

* Weaker dollar makes commodities priced in the American currency more
attractive to non-U.S. investors. [USD/]

* Copper underpinned by potential supply threat at one of the world's
largest copper mines, Codelco's Chuquicamata, if union workers reject final
wage offer.

* Codelco said it will have enough copper stocks to honor contracts
early next year if union workers strike. [ID:nN23160262]

* London Metal Exchange copper warehouse stocks added another 2,025
tonnes to eight-month peak at 484,800 tonnes on Thursday. <0#LME-STOCKS>

* COMEX copper stocks rose by 827 short tons to 98,021 short tons as of
Wednesday.

* Japanese and Chinese copper smelters agreed to a 38 percent cut in
2010 treatment charges with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc (FCX.N).
[ID:nSGE5BN025]

* LME three-month copper MCU3 last traded at $7,080 a tonne, up $80
from Wednesday's close.
(Reporting by Chris Kelly; Editing by John Picinich)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2433099520091224