Sector movers: Miners gain on stronger than forecast Chinese trade numbers
Metals and Miners' shares bounded higher at the tail-end of the week amid stronger than expected foreign trade data out of China referencing the month of January, together with sharp gains in the price of some bulk metals.
Nonetheless, in the case of Dr. Copper note should be taken of the strike launched the previous day at the BHP Billiton's Escondida copper deposit in Chile.
As of 1644 GMT the US dollar spot index was lower by one basis point to 100.64, while March 2017 copper futures were higher by 4.30% to $2.7675 an ounce on COMEX.
To be seen leading gains was stock in Anglo American, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto and Vedanta.
Asia's largest economy recorded a foreign trade surplus of $51.4bn, a six-month high, with both exports and imports easily surpassing economists' forecasts for the month of January.
Economists had projected a trade surplus of $47.9bn.
On a related note, commenting on the latest China commodity import numbers, analysts at Barclays said strong iron ore import totals pointed to continued strength in the country's steel sector, which it expected to continue in the backhalf of 2017.
They were similarly upbeat on the crude import data, telling clients: "appetite for crude imports should remain strong in 2017, with demand growth continuing at 280 kb/d, while total liquids production is expected to decline 230 kb/d on average."
Another decline in unwrought copper imports on the other hand might be an early sign of a slowdown in China's copper consumption.
Top performing sectors so far today
Industrial Metals & Mining 2,566.79 +3.96%
Mining 16,707.71 +2.91%
Oil Equipment, Services & Distribution 15,950.34 +1.58%
Aerospace and Defence 4,744.13 +1.42%
Construction & Materials 6,767.42 +1.35%
Bottom performing sectors so far today
Electronic & Electrical Equipment 5,179.56 -0.96%
Household Goods & Home Construction 16,978.71 -0.72%
Personal Goods 29,765.32 -0.52%
Mobile Telecommunications 4,448.23 -0.43%
Beverages 17,787.14 -0.37%