Officials in New Delhi are expected to soon ask importers to register with authorities as a first step towards tighter controls that would require permits for individual shipments of the two metals,
The purpose of (the) system is to have adequate information ... so that an appropriate policy intervention could be devised.
The world's No. 2 copper producer said production of the red metal plunged 20.4% in the first half of 2020 versus the same period in 2019.
Gold production also fell 34.7% in the first six months of the year, while zinc output dropped off 23.7%, the country's Energy and Mines ministry said in a statement.
In Europe, shares fell on dismal earnings reports and data showing Europe's biggest economy Germany had shrunk by a record 10.1pc in the second quarter.
Positive COVID-19 vaccine developments, with Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc launching two late-stage vaccines trials that could achieve regulatory approval and widespread use by end-2020.