BENGALURU- London copper prices ticked higher on Tuesday, as hopes about further stimulus measures and demand recovery in top consumer China countered pressure from a firmer US dollar.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose 0.3 percent to $9,588 per metric ton after hitting a one-week high in the previous session.
The most-traded December copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) fell 0.7 percent to 76,890 yuan ($10,795.06) a ton.
The US dollar clung to two-and-half month highs, making greenback-priced metals less appealing for holders of other currencies.
China lowered benchmark lending rates at the monthly fixing on Monday, after reductions to other policy rates last month as part of a package of stimulus measures aimed at revitalizing the economy.
Recent data from China indicates a slowdown in economic growth, underscoring the necessity for additional stimulus measures.
Base metals are extensively used in sectors such as construction and electronics, with China as the leading consumer. Any measures to boost the country’s economic growth, particularly in light of ongoing weaknesses in the property sector, could potentially increase demand for physical metals.
