Copper futures settled lower on Tuesday due to concerns over demand from the world's top metals consumer followed by weaker-than-expected Chinese trade data, while the market awaiting inflation readings from China on Wednesday and the US on Thursday, that could influence the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy path. Moreover, a stronger US dollar makes copper more expensive for buyers using other currencies.
Copper futures for September delivery lost $0.0685 to settle at $3.7665 a pound on the Comex metals division of New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper on the London Metal Exchange was down by 1.62 percent at $8,347.50 a ton.