METALS-Copper prices edge lower on China stimulus uncertainty

(Updates prices after Shanghai market close, adds China data in paragraphs 2 and 7) Dec 9 (Reuters) - London copper prices edged lower on Monday as uncertainty over any fresh stimulus signals from China's leaders this month weighed on sentiment. Data showing persistent disinflationary pressures in the metal's top consumer China also soured the mood. The three-month copper contract on the London Metal Exchange (LME) CMCU3 shed 0.4% to $9,160 per metric ton, as of 0731 GMT. The most-traded January copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) SCFcv1 was up 0.3% to 74,740 yuan ($10,269.30). The market's focus is on China's Central Economic Work Conference meeting this month, where the country's top leaders will set economic growth targets for 2025. So far, investors have faced disappointment due to the lack of aggressive fiscal stimulus measures by China to boost its sluggish economy. "Any signals for higher monetary or fiscal stimulus will be well received - although it does appear as though markets have a default setting of being disappointed by Chinese stimulus efforts so far," said Natalie Scott-Gray, senior metals analyst, EMEA & Asia at StoneX. China's consumer inflation hit a five-month low in November as fresh food prices pulled back while factory deflation persisted, suggesting Beijing's recent efforts to shore up faltering economic demand are having limited impact. LME aluminium CMAL3 fell 0.3% to $2,597 a ton, lead CMPB3 decreased 0.1% to$2,070, nickel CMNI3 eased 0.3% at $16,005, tin CMSN3 dipped 0.1% at $29,125, while zinc CMZN3 added 0.4% at $3,083.5. SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 lost 0.4% to 20,340 yuan a ton, zinc SZNcv1 declined 0.1% to 25,590 yuan, lead SPBcv1 fell 0.1% at 17,740 yuan, while tin SSNcv1 gained 0.3% at 244,450 yuan and nickel SNIcv1 rose 1.4% to 127,000 yuan. For the top stories in metals and other news, click TOP/MTL or MET/L ($1 = 7.2780 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Neha Arora; Editing by Varun H K and Sumana Nandy) (([email protected]))