HANOI, June 24 (Reuters) – Copper prices fell on Thursday after comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials raised fears of a sooner-than-expected interest rate hike in the world\u2019s largest economy.<\/p>\n
A rate hike could dampen liquidity into metals and slow a global economic recovery, eventually hurting demand for metals. Copper is also often used as a gauge of global economic health.<\/p>\n
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange fell 1.2% to $9,370 a tonne by 0304 GMT, while the most-traded July copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose 0.6% to 68,520 yuan ($10,577.67) a tonne, tracking overnight gains in London.<\/p>\n
A period of high inflation in the United States may last longer than anticipated, two U.S. Federal Reserve officials said on Wednesday, prompting one to pull forward his views on when the central bank should start raising interest rates.<\/p>\n
* BHP Group plans to almost double exploration spending for base metals within five years, its Chief Technical Officer Laura Tyler said, after shifting its exploration headquarters to Canada.<\/p>\n
* LME aluminium fell 0.9% to $2,416.50 a tonne, nickel advanced 0.4% to $18,140 a tonne while ShFE nickel jumped 2.1% to 135,770 yuan a tonne and ShFE tin increased 1.5% to 208,120 yuan a tonne.<\/p>\n
* For the top stories in metals and other news, click or<\/p>\n
* Asian shares marked time, with China nudging lower, while the U.S. dollar held below an 11-week high as investors reassessed U.S. Federal Reserve statements on inflation and looked to upcoming data for direction.<\/p>\n
0645 France Business Climate Mfg June<\/p>\n
0800 Germany Ifo Business Climate New June<\/p>\n
0800 Germany Ifo Curr Conditions New June<\/p>\n
0800 Germany Ifo Expectations New June<\/p>\n
1100 UK BOE Bank Rate June<\/p>\n
1100 UK GB BOE QE Corp June<\/p>\n
1230 US Durable Goods May<\/p>\n
1230 US GDP Final Q1<\/p>\n
1230 US Initial Jobless Claim Weekly<\/p>\n