Copper eased from near-record highs as traders reevaluated the US rate outlook amid oil price swings and hawkish Fed comments. LME copper fell as much as 0.8% on Wednesday, snapping a six-day advance. Several Fed officials voiced concern about inflation—Richmond Fed's Barkin said inflation shocks may take time to fade and others signaled possible further tightening. A stronger dollar on rising bets of tighter Fed policy weighed on dollar-priced metals. Nickel slid 0.3%, giving back part of Tuesd

2026-09-23

Copper eased from near-record highs as traders reevaluated the US rate outlook amid oil price swings and hawkish Fed comments. LME copper fell as much as 0.8% on Wednesday, snapping a six-day advance. Several Fed officials voiced concern about inflation—Richmond Fed's Barkin said inflation shocks may take time to fade and others signaled possible further tightening. A stronger dollar on rising bets of tighter Fed policy weighed on dollar-priced metals. Nickel slid 0.3%, giving back part of Tuesday's 1.9% gain after drought-related water shortages forced smelters at Indonesia's Morowali processing hub to cut nickel pig iron output.