Sept 18 (Reuters) - London copper and most other base metals were little changed in Asian trading on Monday as caution prevailed ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, policy guidance and economic outlook this week.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was up 0.1% at $8,411.50 per metric ton, as of 0532 GMT, while the most-traded October copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange dipped 0.3% to 69,430 yuan ($9,529.36) per ton.
"The US Federal Reserve interest rate decision is the key data point for the week for both metals and energy prices," National Australia Bank analysts said in a note.
With markets expecting another pause at the Sept. 20 Fed policy meeting, analysts said the focus will be on the updated economic and rates projections.
China's yuan, meanwhile, retreated from a two-week high against the dollar on Monday, after getting a boost on Friday from better-than-expected Chinese data.
Signs that top metals consumer China's economy was stabilising had helped the yuan strengthen against the greenback, making dollar-priced metals more attractive for Chinese buyers.
LME aluminium gained 0.1% to $2,192 per ton, zinc added 0.3% to $2,528.50, nickel was up 0.1% at $19,940, while lead edged down 0.1% to $2,259. Tin climbed 2.2% to $26,265.
In Shanghai, aluminium shed 0.9% to 19,170 yuan a ton, zinc dropped 0.6% to 21,820 yuan, lead added 1.2% to 17,210 yuan, nickel dipped 0.3% to 162,250 yuan, while tin climbed 1.9% to 222,820 yuan.
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($1 = 7.2859 Chinese yuan)
(Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz in Manila; Editing by Sohini Goswami)
