Copper prices in London edged up on Tuesday, as a weak dollar kept greenback-priced metals cheaper to holders of other currencies, but weak Chinese economic data weighed on sentiment.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.1% to $8,497.50 per metric ton by 0319 GMT, having lost 2.1% in the previous session, its biggest decline in more than three weeks.
The dollar index wobbled near its one-year low, as investors awaited fresh catalysts to gauge if the currency has further downside risk in the wake of cooler-than-expected US inflation.
But a series of weak economic data from top metals consumer China dented appetite for copper, which is often used as a measure of global economic health.
However, the Chinese state planner said on Tuesday it will roll out policies on consumption recovery and expansion, boost automobile and electronics demand and increase household income, which could eventually help metals demand.
The most-traded August copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell 0.9% to 68,580 yuan ($9,564.85) per metric ton, tracking overnight losses in London.
Sliding dollar propels copper to 2-1/2-week high
LME aluminium rose 0.1% to $2,257.50 per metric ton, nickel increased 0.3% to $21,125, lead advanced 0.1% to $2,102, tin was up 0.1% at $28,400 while zinc eased 0.2% to $2,406.50.
SHFE nickel fell 2% to 164,040 yuan per metric ton, zinc dropped 0.4% to 20,245 yuan, tin declined 0.6% to 231,590 yuan while lead rose 0.1% to 15,715 yuan and aluminium increased 0.2% to 18,255 yuan.
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