CIJENE OBOJENIH METALA NA BURZI U LONDONU

LONDONSKA BURZA KOVINA: SLUŽBENE CIJENE 01.07.1997. LME OFFICIAL PRICES - JUL 01 CASH 3 MTHS 15 MTHS 27 MTHS SETT COPPER 2522.0/23.0 2396.5/97.5 2160.0/70.0 2050.0/60.0 2523 (STG EQV) 1516.13 1444.49 TIN 5485/5490 5535/5540 5675/5685 5490 LEAD 621.00/1.50 633.00/4.00 655.00/0.00 621.5 (STG EQV) 373.48 381.99 ZINC 1415.0/16.0 1425.0/26.0 1328.0/33.0 1263.0/68.0 1416 ALU.HG 1574.0/75.0 1596.5/97.5 1620.0/25.0 1630.0/35.0 1575 NICKEL 6750/6760 6875/6880 7160/7180 7390/7410 6760 ALALLOY 1415.0/16.0 1445.0/50.0 1495.0/15.0 1416 SETTLEMENT RATES - GBP 1.6641 DEM 1.7441 JPY 114.94 Copper jumpy on LME, others mixed LONDON, July 1 (Reuter) - Copper prices gravitated towards the $2,400 level during Tuesday's LME ring and kerb trading, attempting to settle after a nervy morning when the market ranged between $2,430 and $2,383. Other metals were mixed although aluminium defended its hold on $1,600 and zinc heated up again to a new 6-3/4 year high. But the main area of attention was copper, the July spreads and nervousness ahead of Wednesday's option declarations for this month which promise to be lively. "At the moment you cannot say what strike is going to be in play. It (the market) is jumping around all over the place," one trader said. Copper fell soon after the opening, tumbling after a 3,175-tonne stock rise on investment selling which triggered delta sales against the imminent options. Also at that time, spreads were softening with July/threes and cash/threes both nearing $120 backwardation. On Monday these rates were near $170. However, the market rallied in the official sessions on simultaneous threes months support and borrowing of various July dates. July/threes traded at $125, July/August between $90 and $92, and July to early-August at $75. Last three months trade was at $2,396, still down $26 from Monday's kerb close. Traders expect a difficult 24 hours trading until the air clears after the option declarations. At present, the July date is between strikes at $2,500 and $2,500. Once the options are out of the equation, the market may rally as near-term fundamentals are still tight and the July prompt is two weeks away. Zinc raced to a fresh 6-3/4 year high of $1,435, mostly on speculative buying against a backdrop of underlying technical tightness. Cash/threes is around $6.50 contango, but there is talk of major Far Eastern shorts battling against influential European merchants. Stocks fell 950 tonnes with a net drawdown seen from the Singapore warehouse, which may yet see significant deliveries of Chinese metal. Last LME trade was at $1,433, up $15. Aluminium grimly held on to the $1,600 level despite being hit by speculative sales in the rings. Chart-linked buying is supportive but there is likely to be producer selling above this level. Options on Wednesday should not provide any surprises at present levels. Last business was at $1,602, up $4. The nickel market was less volatile and remained steady, albeit at lower levels after the sell-offs on Friday and Monday. It closed the morning $20 higher at $6,880. Lost output at Outokumpu's smelter in Finland hlped soften negative sentiment slightly, traders said. Lead was helped by the run in zinc as well as solid borrowing of July/August and it concluded the kerb at $634, up $7. Tin sagged on scattered liquidation and was $25 softer at $5,545. Alloy was stable at $1,450/55. 011527 MET jul 97