Copper falls on China demand worries and Fed outlook

Copper futures dropped to around $4.13 per pound on Monday, marking a fourth consecutive session of declines as concerns over demand in China, the world’s largest consumer, persisted.

Copper falls on China demand worries and Fed outlook

Recent data revealed that China’s retail sales grew slower than expected in November, highlighting weakness in consumer spending, while industrial production exceeded forecasts. Additionally, new home prices in China fell for the 17th consecutive month in November, reflecting the ongoing downturn in the property market. Despite Beijing's promises of more fiscal stimulus and looser monetary policy, investor sentiment remained subdued due to the lack of specific details regarding the scale of the proposed measures.

Fed expected to cut rates, but further easing expectations drop

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points this week in the US. However, traders have lowered their expectations for further rate cuts in the coming year, contributing to a cautious market outlook.