METALS-Copper edges lower on firmer US dollar

NEW DELHI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Copper prices eased on Monday, pressured by a stronger 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 edged lower 0.2% to $8,991 per metric ton by 0244 GMT, while the most-traded January copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) SCFcv1 was up 0.05% to 73,810 yuan ($10,166.53) a ton. The dollar crept higher on Monday in what is shaping up to be a critical week for the prospect of U.S. interest rate cuts, while the yen's recent rebound was underpinned by wagers on rising rates at home. 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 Donald Trump ramps up his trade threats. LME aluminium CMAL3 rose 0.5% to $2,606.5 a ton, nickel CMNI3 edged lower 0.08% at $15,890, zinc CMZN3 declined 0.7% to $3,081.5, lead CMPB3 was unchanged at $2,072.5 and tin CMSN3 fell 0.3% to $28,835. SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 edged up 0.4% at 20,410 yuan a ton, nickel SNIcv1 fell 1.6% to 125,160 yuan, lead SPBcv1 was up 0.5% at 17,455 yuan, tin SSNcv1 jumped 2.3% to 242,200 yuan while zinc SZNcv1 was up 1.2% to 25,510 yuan. For the top stories in metals and other news, click TOP/MTL or MET/L ($1 = 7.2601 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Neha Arora; Editing by Rashmi Aich) (([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 ))