(Adds Powell comments, updates prices)
LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) - Copper prices lost ground in low volumes on Wednesday on tepid demand in top metals consumer China and uncertainty about rising inflation.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange had slipped 0.8% to $9,342 a tonne by 1600 GMT, the third straight day of losses.
LME copper has been trending lower since touching a record peak of $10,747.50 a tonne in May, but is still up 21% so far this year.
“Today the main focus of the market is on the Fed. We have low volumes because people are waiting for more guidance regading rate policy,” said Xiao Fu, head of commodity market strategy at Bank of China International.
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