LME base metals close lower mostly on Monday

LONDON, Dec. 16 — The base metal prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) closed lower mostly on Monday.

Copper fell as a confidence index among houses builders in November lower than expectation, while industrial output beats market's estimates, the global second-biggest consumer of the metal.

U.S. builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell one point in December to a level of 57 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).

U.S. industrial production jumped 1.3 percent in November, after edging up 0.1 percent in October, the Federal Reserve said on Monday.

The three-month unofficial copper price dropped 30.5 U.S. dollars, or 0.47 percent, to 6,452.5 U.S. dollars per tonne.

The three-month unofficial aluminium price lost 6.5 U.S. dollars, or 0.33 percent, to 1,935 U.S. dollars a tonne.

The three-month unofficial lead price lost 17 U.S. dollars, or 0.85 percent, to 1,975 U.S. dollars a tonne.

Besides, the three-month unofficial zinc price lost 7 U.S. dollars, or 0.32 percent, to 2,186 U.S. dollars a tonne.

The three-month unofficial nickel price lost 30 U.S. dollars, or 0.18 percent, to 16,625 U.S. dollars a tonne.

The three-month unofficial tin price increased 37.5 U.S. dollars, or 0.18 percent, to 20,475 U.S. dollars a tonne. (PNA/Xinhua)

FPV/JSD