Base metals on the London Metals Exchange (LME) have closed mostly lower compared with Friday's settlement price in muted European trading hours.
Some metals made intra-day gains in Monday's session but gave up ground by the close of open-outcry trading in the London ring, after US equities opened lower ahead of congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen on Tuesday. Only tin and nickel closed slightly higher from Friday's close.
LME three-month copper closed 0.6 per cent lower than Friday's closing price, at $US7,095 a metric ton, while aluminium closed 1.1 per cent lower at $US1,701/ton.
LME trading activity on the whole was quiet with low volumes, said Liz Grant, a senior account executive at broker Sucden Financial.
"Tomorrow sees the new Fed chairwoman -- Janet Yellen -- deliver her first report on policy, which should focus some attention," said Grant.
