Copper fell for the first time in four days

Copper fell for the first time in four days in New York as a potential reduction of Spain's interest credit rating debts are revived hinder economic recovery in Europe.

Spain's rating may be cut from Aa1, Moody's Investors Service said, amid concern that Greece and Ireland would continue seeking a ransom. Copper also fell as the dollar rose before the forecast data to show growth in U.S. industrial production.

"The reduction potential of the Spanish debt weakened the euro, adding to the downward pressure of the metals," said William Adams, analyst at Basemetals.com in London.

Copper for March delivery fell 6.75 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $ 4.1415 a pound at 7:46 am on the Comex in New York. Copper for delivery in three months declined 1 percent to $ 9,075 a ton on the London Metal Exchange.

LME copper stocks gained 7,050 tonnes, or 2 percent, to 357,950 tons, the largest percentage increase since December 30, 2009, the figures showed daily exchange. Orders for drawing copper in LME stocks or warrants canceled, fell 6 percent, to 19,200 tonnes, the lowest since 06 October.

The U.S. currency gained as much as 0.6 percent against a basket of currencies. A stronger dollar reduces demand for raw materials as an alternative investment and makes metals priced in the currency more expensive in terms of other currencies. The U.S. industrial production probably rose 0.3 percent in November after being unchanged the previous month, according to economists polled by us before the report of the Federal Reserve at 2:15 pm London time.

Tin for delivery in three months on the LME fell 1 percent to $ 26,000 a tonne. Aluminium fell 0.9 percent to $ 2,330 a tonne and nickel fell 0.5 percent to $ 24,387 a tonne. Lead fell 1.9 percent to $ 2,404 a tonne and zinc fell 1.4 percent to $ 2,269 a tonne.