Base metals, including copper, lead, nickel, and tin, fell in thin holiday trade as a stronger US dollar made greenback-priced commodities more expensive for buyers holding other currencies. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) dropped 0.9% to $9,901.50 per metric ton, while LME lead slid 0.3% to $2,209.50, nickel shed 0.3% to $19,175, and tin rose 0.2% to $31,270 a ton. The decline in base metals prices was attributed to the stronger US dollar ahead of a Federal Reserve policy decision, where the central bank is expected to maintain its interest rates amid sticky inflation. However, tin has been an exception to the downward trend in base metals prices. Tin is currently trading at $33,250 per ton, up 31% year-to-date. The rally in base metals came to an end in June as high inventory levels and soft demand in China hit the market. The global supply of tin decreased 38% during the first half of the year due to disruptions in shipments of refined tin from Indonesia and a slowdown in tin production in Myanmar. [0778f685] [92d75f10]