Copper climbed to within a whisker of record highs on Tuesday, as the dollar slipped and a surge in German investor sentiment reinforced views of improving economic growth prospects. Since hitting historic peaks at $9,754 per tonne in London and $4.4980 per lb in New York this month, copper has struggled to break from a two-week trading range as the impetus to carve out a near-term price move is largely absent, analysts said.
COMEX copper for March delivery rose 1.60 cents to finish at $4.4280 per lb, after dealing between $4.3665 and $4.4630.