METALS-Copper, aluminium gain on U.S. jobs data, stronger euro
* U.S. weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fall
* Euro gains vs dollar after ECB gives no hints on easing
* Copper trading 1.9 percent lower year-to-date
* Coming up: U.S. non-farm payrolls data 1330 GMT on Friday
LONDON, March 7 (Reuters) - Copper and aluminium prices rebounded on Thursday, lifted by a strong euro and better-than-expected U.S. data that boosted the outlook for growth, but slow demand from top consumer China may keep further gains in check. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange gained 1.1 percent to $7,777 a tonne by 1457 GMT after shedding 1 percent on Wednesday. Aluminium jumped 1.6 percent to $1,986 a tonne. Although copper has rebounded off three-month lows hit last week, prices are still trading 1.9 percent lower in the year to date after the metal used in power and construction shed more than 4 percent in February. Investors were encouraged on Thursday after data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week. "It's a very encouraging number. It shows now that we have a few consecutive weeks where new claims are at this lower trend," said Russell Price, senior economist at Ameriprise Financial Services in Michigan. Data on Wednesday that showed U.S. private employers hired more workers than expected in February and demand for a range of factory goods was solid in January. Investors are likely to pay close attention to U.S. non-farm payrolls data due on Friday, seen as a key labour market indicator for the world's largest economy. "As far as the U.S. is concerned there are clearly a lot of things that are positive," said Nic Brown, head of commodity research at Natixis. "The housing market is clearly improving and that will have a knock-on effect but equally the whole question of fiscal retrenchment will be a serious drag to growth for some to time." Also helping lift prices was a rise in the euro against the dollar, which makes commodities priced in the U.S. dollar cheaper for holders of other currencies. The single currency rose to a session peak against the dollar after the European Central Bank gave no hints about monetary policy easing in the months ahead after leaving its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low 0.75 percent.
REBOUND Brown at Natixis said base metals were unlikely to show significant gains until the market gets clear signs of strong demand from top consumer China, where recent tighter measures for the property market have acted as a drag on copper prices. "We would expect copper buying (from China) to increase more strongly if prices reach closer to USD7,500/t, but there are signs of some traders buying on the dips," ANZ analysts said in a note. All eyes were on the outlook for demand from China, which accounts for 40 percent of global copper consumption, after consumption slowed last month ahead of the week-long Lunar New Year holiday. China's new leadership meet this week and markets are closely watching their policy announcements for potential impact on metals demand. So far these include allowing more flexibility in the yuan's exchange rate and prioritising urbanisation. Tin climbed 1.3 percent to $23,780 a tonne and zinc gained 1.5 percent to $2,003. Lead added 1.2 percent to $2,219 a tonne while nickel rose 0.9 percent to $16,658.
Metal Prices at 1503 GMT Comex copper in cents/lb, LME prices in $/T and SHFE prices in yuan/T
Metal Last Change Pct Move End 2012 Ytd Pct
move
COMEX Cu 351.50 3.25 +0.93 365.25 -3.76 LME Alum 1984.75 31.75 +1.63 2073.00 -4.26 LME Cu 7770.25 80.25 +1.04 7931.00 -2.03 LME Lead 2217.50 25.50 +1.16 2330.00 -4.83 LME Nickel 16662.00 -38.00 -0.23 17060.00 -2.33 LME Tin 23726.00 256.00 +1.09 23400.00 1.39 LME Zinc 2002.75 28.75 +1.46 2080.00 -3.71 SHFE Alu 14885.00 145.00 +0.98 15435.00 -3.56 SHFE Cu* 56540.00 -320.00 -0.56 57690.00 -1.99 SHFE Zin 15165.00 -150.00 -0.98 15625.00 -2.94 ** Benchmark month for COMEX copper * 3rd contract month for SHFE AL, CU and ZN
SHFE ZN began trading on 26/3/07