A firmer dollar index , buoyed by data showing a strong U.S. jobs market, added to the pressure. A stronger U.S. currency makes dollar-priced metals more expensive for buyers holding other currencies. "The dollar has been quite strong over the last week and the last month. This is pushing metals down slightly," Dan Smith, head of research at Amalgamated Metal Trading, said. The dollar index gained 2.7% in February to mark its biggest monthly rise since September 2022. Copper has shed 6% since reaching a seven-month high of $9,550.50 in January, pressured by the strong dollar and relatively slow revival of demand in China after it abandoned strict COVID-19 controls. China's annual meeting of the National Party Congress is due to open on Sunday to set economic targets and elect top officials. "The meeting is definitely important. They will be discussing (China's 2026-2030) new five-year plan, so people are looking at it," Smith added. China is becoming increasingly ambitious with its 2023 growth target, aiming as high as 6%, as it builds on its post-pandemic recovery, sources involved in policy discussions told Reuters. LME three-month aluminium fell 1.3% to $2,399.50 a tonne, zinc shed 2.5% to $3,039, lead eased 0.8% to $2,124, nickel lost 2% to $24,400 and tin slid 2.8% to $24,630. For the top stories in metals and other news, click or (Reporting by Polina Devitt Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen in Hanoi and Eric Onstad in London Editing by Barbara Lewis, Elaine Hardcastle)
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