Copper declined for a fourth day after economic reports from Japan to Australia fueled concern that slowing global growth will cut demand, including in China, the biggest user. Tin dropped to the lowest level in a week. Three-month copper fell as much as 0.5 percent to $7,536 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange, and traded at $7,555 at 1:09 p.m. in Shanghai. The contract was little changed from the end of July. Japan’s retail sales fell more than economists’ forecast in July, recording the first drop in eight months, while Australian home-building approvals declined last month by the most in almost a decade. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke will speak at a meeting of central bankers in Wyoming tomorrow in an address that may give hints about prospects for further stimulus. “The world economy isn’t doing well, but there have been concerns recently that improving data in the U.S. will prevent the Fed from easing,� He Shan, an analyst at Galaxy Futures Co., said from Beijing. “The focus is on Bernanke’s speech.� U.S. gross domestic product climbed at a 1.7 percent annual rate from April through June, up from an initial estimate of 1.5 percent, data showed yesterday. The world’s biggest economy continued to expand “gradually� in July and early August, the Fed said in its Beige Book survey, also issued yesterday. Copper consumption in China is expected to expand 5 percent this year, the slowest rate since 1997, according to Yang Changhua, an analyst at Beijing Antaike Information Development Co. “We’re not optimistic about next year,� Yang said The December-delivery contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was unchanged at 55,210 yuan ($8,690) a ton, while Comex futures lost 0.3 percent to $3.4405 a pound. Tin fell 1.3 percent to $19,300 a ton in London, the lowest level in a week. The metal tumbled 5.2 percent yesterday after PT Timah said that it was resuming spot sales. Aluminum, lead, zinc and nickel declined. To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Helen Sun in Shanghai at hsun30@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net

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