Copper down 0.1% as speculators lock-in gains

Profit-booking also had a negative effect

Copper futures for February declined by 45 paise, or 0.1%, to Rs 439.60 per kg in 1,053 lots.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), the April contract fell by 40 paise, or 0.09%, to Rs 444.50 per kg in 78 lots.

The trade went down as speculators locked-in gains after recent gains.

Besides, profit-booking by speculators also has had a negative effect.

Firming trend in metal at the London Metal Exchange (LME) after data showed manufacturing in China expanded for the fourth consecutive month, fuelling optimism that demand for the metal may improve in the world's largest user, capped the fall.

At LME, the three months' contract rose by 0.7% to $8,223 a tonne.