NEW DELHI, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Copper prices fell slightly on Tuesday on a firmer U.S. dollar, with the market focussed on key inflation data out of the United States that could offer clarity on whether the Federal Reserve is likely to raise interest rates further to tame inflation.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange eased 0.1% to $8,158 a metric ton by 0215 GMT.
The most-traded December copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was up 0.7% to 67,480 yuan ($9,257.53) a ton.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his chorus of policymakers have in recent days pushed back against market expectations that the U.S. central bank was done with its aggressive rate-hike cycle after it held rates steady at its latest policy meeting.
The dollar rose marginally to 105.64 against a basket of currencies. A stronger U.S. currency makes dollar-priced commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies.
"Traders were also wary ahead of key US inflation data that could determine the Fed's next move on interest rates. This comes as the industry gathers in Shanghai for Asia Copper Week," ANZ Research said in a note.
LME aluminium gained 0.1% to $2,226 a ton, nickel fell 0.05% to $17,390, zinc eased 0.1% to $2,550, lead was down 0.3% at $2,164 and tin gained 0.1% to $24,950.
SHFE aluminium gained 0.08% to 18,935 yuan a ton, nickel was up 0.5% to 138,940 yuan, zinc gained 0.2% to 21,610 yuan, lead fell 0.3% to 16,435 yuan and tin rose 0.6% to 213,450 yuan.
For the top stories in metals and other news, click or
($1 = 7.2892 yuan) (Reporting by Neha Arora; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
