Copper prices rose on optimism on Tuesday after data showed the rapid rise in US consumer prices was slowing.
Copper for March delivery rose 3.1% to hit $3.92 a pound, or $8,624 a tonne, on Comex in New York.
The most-traded January copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell 0.3% to 66,070 yuan ($9,466.16) a ton.
In the 12 months to the end of November, inflation was 7.1%, down from 7.7% in October, according to the Labor Department.
That was the slowest pace in nearly a year and better than analysts had expected.
Metals markets have rallied recently on expectations that U.S. inflation has peaked, allowing the U.S. central bank to slow the pace of interest rate hikes.
Uncertainty after China recently began easing restrictions on COVID-19 has weighed on the market.
"We believe the migration wave around the Chinese New Year holiday in late January could lead to an unprecedented spread of COVID-19," said Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura Securities.
Chinese companies are struggling to keep their operations on track as the number of infections rises.
"I think the market is confused about what to make of the short-term outlook for China. On the one hand, prices have been supported by the reopening, but the fear is that we could go through a period of a large spike in cases, "Hansen said.
