LME copper ended higher on Friday on a weaker dollar

At 17:00 London time on May 3 (00:00 Beijing time on May 4), three-month copper closed up 1.
1% at $6,236 a tonne, rebounding
from a two-and-a-half-month low hit in the previous session.
Copper prices fell more than 2.
5% during the week, their biggest weekly decline since early November 2018, as computer-driven funds sold off after options expired
.

Analysts say the dollar's slide has boosted the attractiveness of most dollar-denominated base metals, making them cheaper
for holders of other currencies.
A weaker dollar has clearly improved sentiment
in commodity markets.

Analysts said investors remained optimistic ahead of next week's U.
S.
-China trade talks, which are widely expected to make good progress
next week after continuing talks in Beijing this week.
If there is no agreement in the trade talks over the next two to four weeks, the market will be very surprised, and if there is no agreement, the market may fall
sharply.
Traders focused on weaknesses in the U.
S.
jobs report, ignoring the sharp increase in nonfarm payrolls and the lowest unemployment rate
in 49 years.

U.
S.
nonfarm payrolls rose sharply in April, with the unemployment rate falling to a 49-year low of 3.
6 percent, according to data released by the Labor Department on Friday, pointing to solid
economic growth.
U.
S.
nonfarm payrolls rose by 263,000 in April, far beating analysts' estimates of 185,000
.
Meanwhile, comments from two Fed regional Fed presidents supported bets that the Fed could cut interest rates by the end of the year
.

Chicago Fed President Evans said on Friday that the Fed may need to cut interest rates
if the U.
S.
economy softens.
He is concerned about
continued weakness in inflation.
Evans said economic growth and inflation could also exceed expectations, pushing the Fed to raise interest rates
over time.
But he said he was more worried about the underperformance of the economy
.

Fed Vice Chairman Clarida said on Friday that the U.
S.
economy was in "very good" and inflation expectations appeared to be "stable," giving the Fed time to look at upcoming data
before deciding to adjust interest rates further.
Clarida said the U.
S.
economy is "at or very close to the Fed's dual mission goals," which are maximum employment and stable inflation
around 2 percent.
U.
S.
Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday that President Trump is optimistic
about a trade deal between the United States and China.

Copper registry receipts fell 5,750 tonnes to 164,375 tonnes, compared with 21,600 tonnes
in late February, LME data showed on Friday.
Among other base metals, three-month aluminum closed down 1.
1 percent at $
1,795.
50 a tonne.