US copper futures drifted down at the open on Wednesday as the market paused to catch its breath after a blistering dollar-induced rally that helped drive prices to a new eight-month high just below $2.40 per lb.
Copper for July delivery was trading down 0.95 cent at $2.3560 a lb by 9:58 am EDT (1358 GMT) on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division. Early range from $2.3460 to $2.3955, a new high for the benchmark July contract dating back to mid-October 2008. COMEX estimated futures volume at 7,090 lots by 9 am.