By Reuters Staff
(Updates prices, China to curb high prices)
LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) - Copper prices fell on Wednesday as rising inflation pushed investors into a risk-off sentiment, offsetting the impact of potential supply disruptions in the top producing region of South America.
Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) shed 3% to $10,101 a tonne by 1311 GMT.
The metal, widely used in the power and construction industries, was on track for its biggest daily fall since February. Last week, copper hit a record of $10,747.50 a tonne and has jumped 32% so far this year.
“A lot of good news has already been priced into copper,” said Julius Baer analyst Carsten Menke, citing the muted impact of potential for higher royalties and strikes in top producer Chile and a socialist party leading polls in Peru have had on prices.