Copper Muted as China Outlook Mulled
Copper futures were largely unchanged around $4.02 per pound on Monday as investors weighed the economic outlook for China, the top consumer of the metal. Beijing recently pledged to implement "more proactive" macroeconomic policies and lower interest rates this year in an effort to stimulate economic growth. Additionally, data showed that China’s services sector growth accelerated to a seven-month high in December, signaling resilient consumption. However, copper and other commodities continued to face pressure from a strong US dollar, driven by expectations of fewer Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. A stronger dollar makes commodities priced in US dollars more expensive for holders of other currencies.