The most-traded February copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange climbed 0.56 percent to close at 56,050 yuan ($9,000) a tonne on Monday with traders expecting fresh shoots of economic revival to be revealed in China this week, while hopes that US lawmakers would avert a looming fiscal crisis also stoked appetite for risk.
Copper has been one of the least spectacular performers in the commodity sector this year, pinned back by sluggish global growth and protracted debt problems in Europe. "Our trade clients, particularly in Europe, tell us of quiet market conditions and planned early plant closures for Christmas ... not a good sign for base metal demand," Triland Metals said in a note late on Friday.