Copper steadied on Thursday after U.S. data signalled a strengthening economy, but sluggish growth elsewhere in the world kept the metal under pressure.

While the U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in August, business growth in China and across Europe slowed, surveys showed on Thursday, providing more evidence that the world economy is stuttering and may need more monetary stimulus to keep it going.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange closed at $7,017 a tonne from $7,010 at the close on Wednesday when it jumped 2.1 percent.

Metals investors were also cautious about selling a day after some were forced to bail out of short positions.

Wednesday's move wrong-footed many bearish investors as stops were hit, forcing them to buy back bets on falling prices.