The value of base metal miners and the diversified giants fell on Tuesday as metals prices dropped back to near financial crisis lows after Chinese manufacturing data shocked commodity markets.

In New York trade on Tuesday copper for delivery in December dipped below the $2.30 per pound or around $5,070 a tonne as the red metal's recovery from July 2009 levels hit last week begins to look shaky.

Last week Freeport became the first major copper miner to announce its slashing production to cope with the depressed copper price

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