Shanghai third month copper closed down 0.2 percent to 72,680 yuan a tonne on Wednesday. Investors may be consolidating positions ahead of the China July PMI flash survey by HSBC due out on Thursday, said ANZ's Robertson.
The factory sector in China, the world's No 1 copper consumer, grew at its slowest pace in 28 months in June as new orders expanded less quickly, with weaker global demand and tight monetary policy at home pinching production.