Base Metals Stage Rapid Retreat as Profit Taking Accelerates

  • Traders faced losses on short positions earlier this month
  • Downside for prices seen limited as investors buy the dips
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Copper extended its retreat from a record, and aluminum dropped from a two-year high, as investors looked to cash in after a blistering rally across industrial metals markets.

The red metal fell for the sixth time in seven sessions, losing as much as 3.8% during a broad sell-off on the London Metal Exchange. Prices have rallied sharply this year as mine supply tightened and macro-focused investors turned more positive on the global economy. Still, there have been consistent warnings the rally has run ahead of fundamentals.