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Industrial metals slide as oil surge fuel inflation, growth worries
Industrial metal prices came under pressure on Monday as surging oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East fuelled fears about inflation and global growth prospects, traders said. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.1% at $12,765 a metric ton at 1055 GMT. Investors see copper as a gauge of economic health due to its use in the power and construction industries. Oil prices have jumped more than 40% as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran continued to disrupt oil production and shipping in the Middle East. High energy costs damage growth by pushing up costs for households and businesses, squeezing ... (full story)