Copper closed broadly flat after seesaw trade Thursday, as early technical buying following a plunge on Wednesday was stemmed by persistent fears of a eurozone recession that could hammer demand from top consumer China. In New York, the key March COMEX contract reversed early gains to settle at $3.2670 per lb., down 1.15 cents or 0.35 percent. It was up slightly in after-hours, trading at $3.2780 per lb.
The red metal crashed 5 percent on Wednesday, as worries mounted that Europe's debt crisis was spinning out of control, extending losses for a third straight session.