US copper futures fell sharply at the open on Tuesday, erasing nearly all of the previous session's rally as a five-year high in warehouse stock levels and grim economic data weighed on sentiment.
Copper for March delivery plunged 10.05 cents, or 6.3 percent, at $1.4860 a lb by 10:16 am EST (1516 GMT) on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division. Morning range from $1.4735 to $1.6250. On Monday, benchmark March contract hit its highest level since December 2 at $1.6310.