Copper prices edged lower on Monday as the U.S. dollar steadied after last week’s inflation data cast doubts on when the Federal Reserve would begin to ease interest rates, while trading resumed in China after the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange 
HG1! was down 0.7% at $8,426 per metric ton by 0400 GMT.
The most-traded March copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) HG1! rose 0.7% to 68,330 yuan ($9,495.69) a ton.
Data last week showed both U.S. producer prices and consumer prices increased more than expected in January, with the apparent stickiness in inflation raising the prospects of a delayed start to the Fed’s rate cuts.
A stronger U.S. currency makes dollar-priced metals more expensive for holders of other currencies.
However, there were expectations of demand revival in China.
“Any signs of stronger buying from China following its week-long Lunar New Year holiday should boost sentiment,” ANZ Research said in a note.
Among other metals, LME aluminium 
ALI1! edged 0.2% lower to $2,213 a ton, nickel 
NICKEL1! eased 0.4% to $16,290, zinc 
ZNC1! was down 0.2% at $2,381, lead 
LEAD1! decreased 0.9% to $2,046 and tin 
FTIN1! fell 2.1% to $26,395.
SHFE aluminium ALI1! edged lower 0.6% to 18,775 yuan a ton, nickel NICKEL1! was up 0.3% at 125,970 yuan, tin FTIN1! rose 1.6% to 217,640 yuan, while zinc ZNC1! fell 0.7% to 20,330 yuan, lead LEAD1! was down 1.8% to 15,955 yuan.
For the top stories in metals and other news, click
or
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
n/a UK House Price Rightmove MM, YY Feb
($1 = 7.1959 Chinese yuan)
