LME copper closed down $230 at $6,590/mt.

"It's primarily dollar-related," Michael Gross, futures analyst with Optionsellers.com in Tampa, Florida, said of the sell-off. "The sharp (dollar) upswing shows there are additional concerns
about credit problems overseas in Europe."

"It's (economic data) been a see-saw ... fits and starts," Optionsellers.com's Gross said. "It's going to be more of a daily thing, whereas copper is reacting now to more of the bigger macroeconomic factors."

"China's macro environment has changed from one predominantly focused on growth to one where balancing growth and inflation has become increasingly important to policymakers," Barclays Capital said in a note.

"Given China's importance to key commodity markets, these moves have had a noticeable impact on sentiment."

Aluminium ended at $2,083/mt, $37 down.

"Overall an annualized figure of 10.80 million units represents a solid figure especially given the state of the economy," Standard Bank said in a note.

"It will take time for sales to recover back to pre-crisis levels, however the steady increase in sales is another positive sign that should continue to underpin ... industrial metal prices."

Zinc closed at $2,095/mt, $65 down, while lead ended at $2,020/mt, down $118. Tin closed at $16,600, $150 up, and nickel was last bid at $18,195, down $105.