METALS-Copper declines on firmer US dollar

(Updates prices) NEW DELHI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Copper prices edged lower on Monday, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar, shrugging off signals of optimism in China with latest economic data showing a slight uptick. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) CMCU3 slipped 0.5% to $8,967 per metric ton by 0713 GMT. The most-traded January copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) SCFcv1 fell 0.07% to 73,720 yuan ($10,144.91) a ton. The dollar pushed higher again in what is shaping up to be a critical week for the prospect of U.S. rate cuts, while drawing verbal support from President-elect Donald Trump. FRX/ A stronger dollar makes greenback-priced metals costlier to holders of other currencies. "We highlight that the market is poised for a period of significant price volatility, with anticipated U.S. dollar strength and shifts in trade policies following a Trump victory acting as major headwinds, while the outlook remains heavily contingent upon China's economic momentum," said BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions. China's factory activity expanded modestly for a second straight month in November, an official survey showed, adding to a string of recent data suggesting a blitz of stimulus is finally trickling through the world's second-largest economy just as Trump ramps up his trade threats. LME aluminium CMAL3 eased 0.04% to $2,593 a ton, nickel CMNI3 added 0.2% at $15,930, lead CMPB3 climbed 0.07% at $2,074, while zinc CMZN3 declined 0.7% to $3,082 and tin CMSN3 fell 0.5% to $28,780. SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 edged up 0.3% at 20,390 yuan a ton, lead SPBcv1 advanced 1.5% at 17,630 yuan, tin SSNcv1 jumped 1.9% to 241,400 yuan, zinc SZNcv1 added 1% to 25,455 yuan, while nickel SNIcv1 fell 1.2% to 125,690 yuan. For the top stories in metals and other news, click TOP/MTL or MET/L ($1 = 7.2667 yuan) (Reporting by Neha Arora; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Sumana Nandy) (([email protected]; Reuters Messaging: [email protected])) (( For related news and prices, click on the codes in brackets: LME price overview RING= COMEX copper futures 0#HG: All metals news MTL All commodities news C Foreign exchange rates FX= SPEED GUIDES LME/INDEX ))