Copper futures settled marginally down on Tuesday amid firm US dollar, that makes greenback-priced metals more expensive to holders of other currencies. Copper prices weakened further on some doubts over early interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve. However, hopes of stimulus measures in the world's top metals consumer China and tighter supplies have limited further fall in copper prices.
Copper futures for March delivery lost $0.01 to settle at $3.8805 a pound on the Comex metals division of New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper on the London Metal Exchange was down by 0.17 percent at $8,544.50 a ton.