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Copper retreats on rising inventories, sluggish need

Copper prices drew back on Tuesday after 3 sessions of gains, strained by surging stocks and drab demand in top metals customer China.

Copper pared losses, however, after a union source informed Reuters that workers at BHP's Escondida copper mine in Chile will go on strike after failing to reach a contract with the company.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME). was down 0.5% to $8,979 per metric ton by 1000 GMT,. after increasing 2.9% over the previous 3 sessions.

LME copper has shed 19% considering that touching a record peak of more. than $11,100 a ton in May.

LME inventories extended their steep get on Tuesday to the. highest levels in almost 5 years, having more than doubled. over the past 2 months. << MCUSTX-TOTAL > For copper>

, it's quite an unfavorable signal. It makes individuals a. little anxious that there's possibly a larger surplus out there. than we identify, said Dan Smith, head of research study at. Amalgamated Metal Trading.

Current inflows have been to Asian LME storage facilities, indicating. that China was exporting surplus material, traders said.

Newest data likewise provided cause for issue, revealing China bank. loans in July fell month-on-month and undershot analyst. forecasts, highlighting weak need worldwide's. second-largest economy.

Likewise moderating losses was data showing some physical. consumers in China benefiting from the current weaker rates. to purchase, consisting of from the state grid, according to a copper. producer in China.

Market positioning was likewise an aspect, with some speculators. offering to lock in short-term benefit from the recent bounce, a. trader said.

We're attempting to find out where the floor is for copper. I. sense we could see a bit more disadvantage. These wash-outs tend to. run a long method and copper at $9,000 is not especially low-cost,. Smith said.

LME zinc and lead sank after more arrivals of LME stocks,. with zinc sliding 1.5% to $2,701.50 a heap and lead. dropping 1.3% to $2,021.

Among other metals, LME aluminium added 0.2% to. $ 2,309 a ton, nickel slipped 0.3% to $16,305, and tin. shed 0.9% to $31,300.

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(source: Reuters)