Copper futures settled higher on Tuesday as the US dollar weakened against its major peers overseas even with caution ahead of a closely watched US consumer inflation report due Wednesday. Copper prices gained further on signs of healthy Chinese demand after data showed stimulus measures in China were kicking in as a Chinese official vowed to hit economic targets, while copper imports to China hit a 13-month high in December also lent support.
Copper futures for March delivery gained $0.017 to settle at $4.3425 a pound on the Comex metals division of New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper on the London Metal Exchange was up by 0.65 percent at $9,154 a ton.