METALS-Copper falls as dollar firms, U.S. jobs data in focus

* Euro falls against euro on German growth downgrade

* China industrial production figures due at weekend

* Coming Up: U.S. nonfarm payrolls report; 1330 GMT

LONDON/SINGAPORE, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Copper dipped on Friday as the dollar rose and the euro fell after Germany's central bank cut the country's growth outlook and on investor caution ahead of jobs data from the United States which would give an indication of the health of the world's largest economy. China's industrial production figures due at the weekend and a U.S. rate meeting next week by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will also be scrutinised for signs of economic recovery and future policy. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was $7,991 in official rings, from $8,000 at the close on Thursday. Keeping metals under pressure, the euro fell to a nine-day low against the dollar after the Bundesbank slashed its growth outlook for Germany, with the single currency at risk of more losses on prospects of a euro zone rate cut. A stronger dollar makes metals prices in the currency more expensive for holders of other currencies. "The Bundesbank downgrade of German growth is taking the wind out of the euro and there is quite a thin turnover as people are waiting to see the non-farm payrolls," said Standard Bank analyst Leon Westgate. "The focus is on whether the data has a bearing on fiscal cliff discussions and whether poor data encourages politicians to seek a speedy agreement or not." The U.S. non-farm payrolls report, due at 1330 GMT, is forecast to have risen by 93,000 jobs in November. The White House and Republicans in Congress dropped hints on Thursday that they had resumed low-level private talks on breaking the stalemate over the "fiscal cliff" but refused to divulge details. Traders hope Washington will eventually avert some $600 billion of tax hikes and spending cuts scheduled to start in January that threaten to tip the economy back into recession, but they are turning risk-averse as the deadline draws closer with no agreement in sight. "Those sceptical of a fiscal cliff resolution may be hoping that the non-farm payrolls shocks to the downside in order to jolt politicians into meaningful action," Citi said in a research note. "Those bearish on a resolution may wish for poor data leading to the short-term pain of a negative market reaction but long-term gain as politicians are coerced into compromise over fiscal cliff talks."

REFINING CHARGES Traders were busy putting together term shipment deals for 2013, with Chinese smelters and miners likely to forge agreements of $70 dollars per tonne and 7 cents per pound for treatment and refining charges, Macquarie said in a note. China's smelters received term 2012 TC/RC at $60 and 6 cents from BHP for Escondida concentrates and $63.5 and 6.35 cents from Freeport, both seen as benchmarks in Asia. Global miners pay TC/RC to smelters to convert concentrate into refined metal and the charges are deducted from the sale price based on LME copper prices. Higher charges are typically seen when concentrate supply rises. Three-month nickel was $17,070 in the rings from a last bid of $17,175 on Thursday. Three-month tin, untraded in rings, was bid at $21,525 from a close of $21,925 while zinc, also untraded, was bid at $2,013 f rom $2,030 a t T h ursday's close. Lead, also untraded, was bid at $2,193 from a last bid of $2,214 and aluminium was bid at $2,077 from a last offer on Thursday of $2,085.

Metal Prices at 1316 GMT Comex copper in cents/lb, LME prices in $/T and SHFE prices in yuan/T

Metal Last Change Pct Move End 2011 Ytd Pct

move

COMEX Cu 364.35 0.85 +0.23 344.75 5.69 LME Alum 2082.25 -22.75 -1.08 2020.00 3.08 LME Cu 8013.50 13.50 +0.17 7600.00 5.44 LME Lead 2195.25 -43.75 -1.95 2034.00 7.93 LME Nickel 17089.00 -461.00 -2.63 18650.00 -8.37 LME Tin 21600.00 -325.00 -1.48 19200.00 12.50 LME Zinc 2014.75 -15.25 -0.75 1845.00 9.20 SHFE Alu 15325.00 -5.00 -0.03 15845.00 -3.28 SHFE Cu* 57370.00 30.00 +0.05 55360.00 3.63 SHFE Zin 15350.00 65.00 +0.43 14795.00 3.75 ** Benchmark month for COMEX copper * 3rd contract month for SHFE AL, CU and ZN

SHFE ZN began trading on 26/3/07