Copper dealer disappears

There is widespread speculation among traders in London over the disappearance of Liu Qibing, a trader with the State Reserve Bureau, who is said to have built a big short position on the London Metal Exchange, reported the Wall Street Journal. London dealers say Liu took short copper positions amounting to 100,000 to 200,000 tons. Sources said he would find it hard to deliver the promised amounts by a December 21 deadline given the rising price of the metal.