Copper slips on firmer dollar, higher China inventories

BEIJING, Feb 26 (Reuters) – Prices of copper opened the week lower on Monday, under pressure from a firmer U.S. dollar ahead of key economic data, while higher inventories in top consumer China also weighed. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange shed 0.4% to $8,537 per metric ton by 0128 GMT, while the most-traded March copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange slid 0.3% to 69,110 yuan ($9,605.01) per ton. The dollar was on the front foot on Monday ahead of a week packed with key economic releases. Investor focus shifted towards inflation data from the United States, Japan and Europe that will help refine expectations for future rate moves. Deliverable copper stocks on SHFE <CU-STX-SGH> after the Lunar…