US copper futures opened in negative territory Tuesday in mostly technical business as increased production forecasts were seen adding pressure to an already volatile market amid the second day of the LME dinner week, floor sources said.

By 10:20 a.m. EST (1520 GMT), copper for December delivery was off 2.50 cents, or 1.38 percent, at $1.7910 a lb, at the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, moving between $1.7830 and $1.8190. Spot November was weaker by 2.10 cents at $1.8750 a lb. COMEX copper volume at 9 a.m. EST was estimated at 4,000 lots.

Copyright Reuters, 2005