By Deborah Levine
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Copper and gold futures declined modestly in early trading on Wednesday before a pair of U.S. economic reports. Copper futures for March delivery slipped 2 cents, or 0.4%, to $4.26 a pound, after touching a record high on Tuesday. Gold for March delivery lost 80 cents to $1,388.20 an ounce. "Given the thin conditions and proximity to year-end there is the risk of profit taking across the metals," said analysts at FastMarkets.
