The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange dropped 0.80 percent to 49,520 yuan a tonne on Friday. It earlier fell to its weakest since late April, at 48,390 yuan. "If you look at all the indicators, China is not doing well. The economy is slowing down and the Chinese government has made it clear they are tolerating the slowdown and they are expecting it," said Joyce Liu, an investment analyst at Phillip Futures.
"I think the outlook for base metals is not good because it's very closely tied to the Chinese economy. But from what they are saying, the Chinese government is not going to try to ease the situation now."