Copper prices fell to their lowest in nearly a month on Wednesday as escalating unrest in Libya and surging oil prices threatened to derail global economic recovery, weighing on prospects for industrial metals. COMEX copper for March delivery ended down 7.15 cents at $4.2755 per lb, extending consolidative pullback from its record of $4.6495 set on February 15.
Turnover was about 50 percent higher than the 30-day average, consistent with recent larger-than-usual volume, prompting investors to worry that copper's decline could accelerate.