US MIDDAY: copper plunges

US copper futures fell early on Thursday when the euro erased early gains on the dollar, US economic data were mixed and some short-term funds sold metals, traders said. Most active copper for May delivery lost 6.40 cents, or 1.86 percent, to $3.3710 per lb on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division.
Range ran from $3.33485 to $3.4350 a lb. COMEX estimate 1100 am EST (1600 GMT) copper volume at 27,529 lots. Copper declined in earnest after the euro erased gains on the dollar, triggering metal sales across the board, said traders. Initial copper selling triggered stop-loss sell orders that prompted further selling, said traders. Mixed US economic data cast doubt on prospects for growth and a pickup in copper demand, said traders.