US MIDDAY: copper dips

Copper ended down for the first time in four sessions on Tuesday, pressured by a firmer dollar and disappointing data that raised further doubts about the global economic recovery. In New York, prices managed to eke out modest gains by the close, with the July COMEX contract ending at $3.9985 per lb, up 0.80 cent on the day.
Still, prices were well within reach of their recent lows. Last week they fell to their lowest in more than five months at $8,504.50 per tonne and $3.8535 per lb, and now stand some 12 percent below record highs of $10,190 and $4.6535 in February.