Non-ferrous metals stocks in Hong Kong continued their downward trajectory. At the time of writing, MMG was down 5.41% at HK$9.79. JIANGXI COPPER fell 4.82% to HK$37.5. CHINFMINING declined 4.45% to HK$1.17. CHALCO dropped 4.29% to HK$10.92.

The market sentiment was weighed down by hotter-than-expected U.S. producer price data. The April Producer Price Index rose 6% year-on-year, the highest level since December 2022, while the core PPI increased 5.2% annually, both significantly exceeding market forecasts. Rising costs in energy and transportation, coupled with services inflation hitting a four-year high, fueled expectations for further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

Guoxin Futures noted that while copper prices remain strong and are approaching historical highs, upward resistance may gradually emerge. Huaxin Securities pointed out that high copper prices are suppressing procurement意愿. The market is currently dominated by restocking for essential needs, and prices are expected to fluctuate within a range.

Regarding aluminum, downstream demand has shown signs of疲软 as the sector gradually enters a seasonal lull. The weekly operating rate for downstream sectors saw a slight decline this week. The overall market is characterized by robust supply against weaker demand, leading to expectations that aluminum prices will remain weak and stable with fluctuations in the near term.