Copper prices rallied in London on Tuesday, recouping some of the previous session's 1 percent loss, while Shanghai futures ticked down in light trade, after fresh news of disruption to copper smelting following the Japan earthquake. Shanghai's most-active copper futures contract, June fell 0.3 percent to 71,280 yuan a tonne.
"Markets are still a bit up in the air right now. Chinese consumers still think prices are too high and just don't want to buy in a big way," said a trader in Singapore.