Copper prices in London fell on Thursday and hit their first monthly decline since May on tepid consumption amid slowing economic growth in top consumer China.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange declined 0.2 percent to $8,452.50 per metric ton. On a monthly basis, the contract was down 4.3 percent .
China’s manufacturing activity contracted for a fifth straight month in August, an official survey showed, extending a streak of weak macroeconomic data that have weighed on metals prices.
A stronger dollar this month also made greenback-priced metals more expensive to holders of other currencies.
However, the Chinese data maintained pressure on officials to provide support to shore up economic growth amid soft demand both at home and abroad, which would benefit metals demand.
The most-traded October copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose 0.2 percent to 69,450 yuan ($9,531.19) a ton, aluminum increased 1 percent to 18,910 yuan and zinc advanced 0.5 percent to 20,990 yuan.
SHFE lead edged up 0.3 percent at 16,300 yuan a ton, tin climbed 1 percent to 215,540 yuan, while nickel fell 0.7 percent to 164,270 yuan.
