Economic data out of China sent three month London Metal Exchange (LME) copper up to US$6,300 per metric ton on Friday (January 17). The country reported a 6.9 percent year-on-year increase in industrial output in December, along with a 5.4 percent increase in fixed-asset investment over the same period. Its GDP was at its weakest level in almost three decades last year, but on track with expectations. China is the world’s largest consumer of copper by far, and the health of its economy is a key point for copper market participants to watch. Friday’s US$6,300 price level is slightly under the eight month high copper ... (full story)