Shanghai Base Metals Mixed; Copper Up Despite PMI Data

Base metals on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed, with copper rising for a third consecutive session on the back of improving sentiment and a strong demand outlook, despite the slowdown reflected in China's manufacturing data for February.

Shanghai copper was lifted by overnight gains on the London Metal Exchange on the back of a weaker dollar and robust manufacturing data out of the U.S., though volumes were limited by geopolitical concerns about the continuing unrest in Libya.