Copper down

Melbourne

London copper traded little changed on Thursday in trade marked by low volumes as the final U.S. presidential debate got underway, while China´s steps to cool its real estate market, a key metals user, also dampened buying interest.

China´s economy expanded at a steady 6.7 percent in the third quarter, partly fuelled by red-hot growth in property prices, which Beijing is now taking steps to cool down.

China´s Guangzhou city will step up its monitoring of irregular activities in its property market while developers in Wuhan will be more closely scrutinised.

"Near-term, the market remains worried about the negative impact of cooling measures on the property market and the ramification on steel and base metals demand, while steel and aluminium production is increasing," said Helen Lau of Argonaut Securities in a report.