International copper prices fell on Monday as a fall in Chinese equities prompted renewed concerns among traders about the weak demand for the world's largest copper buyer.

New York Mercantile Exchange Comex December copper futures settled down 0.85 cents to $ 2.3375 a pound, down 0.4%.

Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.8 percent Monday to 3207.07 points, prompting investors to sell copper futures.

George Gero, senior vice president, Global Futures, RBC Capital Markets, said the impact of China's weakness on copper prices is greater than people realize.

Linn & Associates trader Ira Epstein said the copper market will not return to normal until China is back on track.

Some traders said that despite the prospect of copper is still bleak, but the rise in short covering is still a risk, because the market a lot of short traders.