METALS-Copper prices slip amid uncertainty over potential US tariffs

(Updates prices) By Polina Devitt LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Copper prices in London eased on Wednesday on technical factors as the market awaited more clarity on demand prospects in top metals consumer China and possible trade tariffs. Three-month copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was down 0.4% at $9,079 a metric ton by 1752 GMT. The metal used in power and construction rose 1.3% on Tuesday and closed at the highest since Nov. 12. But it remains range bound while investors watch for developments on import tariffs threatened by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and possible retaliation from China. "Copper has settled into a wide $8,900-$9,200 range which it is likely to stay within while we wait for more information," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. "Speculative length remains weak, leaving the market exposed to an upside surprise move within the range as we saw on Tuesday when a technical break gave the metal some upside momentum that is being partly reversed today." In the U.S., the Institute for Supply Management survey on Wednesday showed businesses were worried about potential import tariffs from Trump's incoming administration. On the metals supply side, mining giant Rio Tinto RIO.AX , RIO.L on Wednesday forecast higher copper production in its 2025 financial year. Copper miner Freeport Indonesia said its Manyar smelter in East Java would ramp up in the third quarter of 2025 after operations were halted by a fire. Meanwhile, aluminium CMAL3 rose 1.3% to $2,642 a ton, zinc CMZN3 was down 0.2% at $3,087, while tin CMSN3 added 0.8% to $29,020 and nickel CMNI3 edged 0.4% higher to $16,065. Lead CMPB3 gained 0.4% to $2,086 after hitting a six-week high of $2,087.5. (Reporting by Polina Devitt in London Additional reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru Editing by David Goodman and David Evans) (([email protected]; Reuters Messaging: [email protected])) (( For related news and prices, click on the codes in brackets: LME price overview RING= COMEX copper futures 0#HG: All metals news MTL All commodities news C Foreign exchange rates FX= SPEED GUIDES LME/INDEX ))