US copper futures fell on Tuesday to close at their lowest levels in more than a week after Chinese data fed concerns of a slowdown in the world's top metals consumer and the dollar rallied in front of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement. Copper for September delivery shed 4.15 cents, or 1.2 percent, to end at $3.3125 per lb on the COMEX metals division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Range extended down from $3.3660 to $3.2715, its lowest level since July 30. COMEX estimated copper futures volume at 38,592 lots by 1 pm EDT (1700 GMT). Final volume on Monday was 40,400 lots. Open interest down 2,479 lots to 141,382 contracts open as of August 9.