Speculative buying of commodities, including copper, may continue to gain traction as prices are pegged to rise amid a steady rebound in the global economy, especially in the United States. Although  Europe’s financial outlook remains on shaky ground, geopolitical risks in Iran and across the Middle East are pushing up energy costs, and China’s economy is showing signs of slowing down, demand for the red metal is expected to remain steady

Copper futures retreated Thursday, snapping Wednesday’s rally to a three-month high, as negative sentiment over China’s economic future outweighed better-than-expected US manufacturing data.