Copper futures ended lower on Thursday after US Federal Reserve’s Beige Book Indicated slower pace of US economic growth, even though the world’s largest economy has recently grown at a modest to moderate rate. Further slowing demand in top metal consumer China too adding pressure on base metal prices. Stronger American currency also made dollar-denominated metals less attractive for buyers using other currencies.
Copper futures for December delivery lost $0.1760 to settle at $4.5585 a pound on the Comex metals division of New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 3.48 percent at $9,831.50 a ton.