US copper finished up over 2 percent on Tuesday, after another sharp drop in London inventory levels and an unexpected rise in US building permits signalled brighter demand prospects going ahead. Copper for September delivery jumped 6.35 cents, or 2.2 percent, to finish at $3.0015 per lb on the COMEX metals division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Range from $2.9315 to $3.0165. COMEX estimated final copper futures volume at 39,138 lots, against 29,313 lots on Monday. Open interest up 749 lots at 132,776 contracts open as of July 19.