Copper prices retreated from the highest in nearly five months on Thursday as investors locked in profits from a rally ahead of year-end. Aluminium also pulled back after a fresh build-up of inventories, highlighting potential oversupply. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.7% at $8,634 per metric ton by 1115 GMT, erasing gains after touching $8,716, its highest since Aug. 1. “Copper has gone a long way over the past few sessions, so it looks like a bit of profit taking. There are still a few worries about Chinese growth and the property sector,” said broker Robert Montefusco at Sucden ... (full story)