Copper futures settled down on Thursday as firm dollar made copper more expensive for customers using other currencies. Moreover, uncertainty over the pace of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year and weak inflation data in the world’s top metals consumer China have also fuelled demand concerns. Data showed that China's consumer inflation cooled more than expected in March, while producer price deflation persisted.
Copper futures for May delivery lost $0.0290 to settle at $4.2530 a pound on the Comex metals division of New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper on the London Metal Exchange was down by 0.34 percent at $9,342 a ton.