METALS-LME copper sinks to 8-month lows on US job worries
SINGAPORE, April 4 (Reuters) - London copper slipped to its lowest in eight months on Thursday after weak jobs data sparked worries a U.S. labour market recovery may not prove sustained, hurting demand expectations for metals in a thin market with China out for a two-day break.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange fell to its lowest since August 3 at $7,356.25 a tonne before paring loses to $7,369 a tonne by 0130 GMT, still down 0.24 percent and extending losses from the previous session.
* The Shanghai Futures Exchange is shut Thursday and Friday.
* North Korea has moved what appears to be a mid-range Musudan missile to its east coast, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on Thursday, quoting multiple government sources privy to intelligence from U.S. and South Korean authorities.
* Sterlite Industries Ltd has halted deliveries of copper from India's largest smelter after it shut down last week due to complaints over emissions, a move that could tighten local supplies and force imports.
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MARKETS NEWS
* Asian stocks eased on Thursday after weak data stoked concerns the key American jobs report due later in the week will signal slowing U.S. growth, while the yen remained firm ahead of the Bank of Japan's policy decision this session.
* The yen held near one-month highs against the dollar early in Asia on Thursday, with investors adopting a cautious stance as they waited to see just how aggressive the Bank of Japan will be in tackling deflation.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT) 0200 Bank of Japan rate decision 0743 Italy Markit/ADACI Services PMI 0748 France Markit Services PMI 0753 Germany Markit Services PMI 0758 Euro zone Markit Services PMI 0900 Euro zone Producer prices 1145 European Central Bank rate decision 1230 ECB President Mario Draghi holds news conference 1230 U.S. Weekly jobless claims 1430 Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks PRICES Base metals prices at 0130 GMT
Metal Last Change Pct Move YTD pct chgLME Cu 7369.00 -17.50 -0.24 -7.06SHFE CU FUT JUL3 54060 -210 -0.39 -6.28HG COPPER MAY3 332.50 -0.80 -0.24 -8.97LME Alum 1870.50 -1.00 -0.05 -9.68SHFE AL FUT JUL3 14580 -40 -0.27 -4.99LME Zinc 1855.75 -1.25 -0.07 -10.07SHFE ZN FUT JUL3 14555 -990 -6.37 -6.37LME Nickel 16050.00 -55.00 -0.34 -6.44LME Lead 2044.75 -5.25 -0.26 -12.62SHFE PB FUT 14350.00 -115.00 -0.80 -5.90LME Tin 22700.00 0.00 +0.00 -2.99LME/Shanghai arb^ -607
Shanghai and COMEX contracts show most active months
(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Ed Davies)