Most Chinese base metals ended lower on Wednesday, while lead gained more than 1 percent as parts of the United States braced for more frigid weather. The peak demand period for lead, which is largely used to make batteries, is during the height of winter when freezing temperatures cause battery failures.

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange slipped 0.53 percent to 54,850 yuan ($8,428.74) a tonne. ShFE lead was the top gainer on the exchange, closing 1.6 percent higher, while zinc slipped 0.31 percent, failing to build on a significant move in the LME contract overnight to a 10-year price peak on expectations of supply deficit.

Copyright Reuters, 2018