Shanghai Futures Exchange copper slipped 0.5 percent to 46,960 yuan ($6,903) a tonne on Thursday underpinned by a weaker dollar and the threat of strikes at mines in Chile. "Rallies remain short-lived, with investors reluctant to chase prices higher until there is evidence that markets are tightening significantly," ANZ said in a report
Chile's Antofagasta Minerals said this week that it was facing potential strikes from workers at two mines. Federal Reserve policymakers were increasingly split on the outlook for inflation and how it might affect the future pace of interest rate rises, according to the minutes of the Fed's last policy meeting on June 13-14, released on Wednesday.
The United States cautioned on Wednesday it was ready to use force if need be to stop North Korea's nuclear missile programme, but said it preferred global diplomatic action against Pyongyang. The Democratic Republic of Congo plans to impose harsher punishments on mining companies that fail to repatriate at least 40 percent of their revenue from mineral exports, central bank governor Deogratias Mutombo said on Wednesday.