Copper ended the previous year with a gain of 2% while aluminium and lead prices lost 1% and 4%, respectively. In the meantime, zinc was the worst-performing metal in the group shedding more than 14% in the domestic market and 10% in the overseas market.
The prospect of slower global price pressures may be one of the few upsides of Chinas descent into deflation as the economy struggles to regain its footing after a post-Covid bounce faded. Inflation is likely to remain muted as a property slump and troubles in the shadow banking industry curb spending and investments by both consumers and companies.