Buoyed by optimism over the possibility of lower interest rates in the United States and after a strike at the world's largest copper mine, copper prices soared on Wednesday.

The three-month copper contract on the London Metal Exchange gained 0.8% to 9,026 dollars per metric ton at 09:50 GMT, while the September copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange lost 0.7% to 72,010 yuan (10,073.30 dollars) per ton. Investors hope that the US inflation data released later on Wednesday will also be favorable.

LME aluminum gained 1.2% to $2,360.50 per ton, zinc rose 1.5% to $2,727.50, lead rose 0.9% to $2,008, lead rose 0.9% to $2,008, tin rose 0.9% to $2,008, tin rose 0.9% to $31,470 per ton, while nickel fell 0.1% to $16,300.