Copper futures ended lower on Tuesday as the US dollar index rebounded after the US trade deficit increased by 27% last year to an all-time high of $859.1 billion. Meanwhile, investors are waiting for the release of US consumer price data for January on Thursday, which could influence how fast the US Federal Reserve raises interest rates.
Copper futures for March delivery lost $0.0015 to settle at $4.4610 a pound on the Comex metals division of New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper on the London Metal Exchange was up 0.04 percent at $9,781 a ton.