World copper prices were given a sharp boost on Wednesday after China’s September trade data revealed a rise in metal imports in the month – the first rise for five months. Gold also rose on higher US inflation data but iron ore dropped after news of an extension of production cuts for much of the Chinese steel industry into the first quarter of 2022. Comex copper prices jumped nearly 20 cents a pound to top the $US4.50 level for the first time in a month. September’s rise reversed the trend to lower import volumes since earlier this year, ostensibly taken as a reaction to world prices hitting all-time highs in May ... (full story)