METALS-Metals edge up; uncertainties around Trump's tariff plans in focus

(Updates prices) By Violet Li and Mei Mei Chu SHANGHAI, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Most base metal prices moved up in a tight range on Thursday, with traders keeping an eye on uncertainties concerning U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans amid economic data from top consumer China and the restraining influence of a strong dollar. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) edged up 0.3% at $9,056 per metric ton by 0716 GMT. China's consumer inflation slowed in December, while producer price deflation persisted. China's consumer price index crept up 0.1% last month year-on-year, slowing from November's 0.2% increase, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. This is the weakest pace of growth since April. "The market's attention is... centred on the potential tariff policies that might be introduced following Trump's inauguration... Until then, a cautious stance is being adopted," Galaxy Futures said in a note. Earlier this week, reports circulated that Trump's team was contemplating selective tariffs on sectors crucial to national or economic security. However, Trump subsequently denied these reports on social media. The dollar remained strong, underpinned by rising Treasury yields. The dollar index =USD was at $109.13, as of 0716 GMT, slightly down from a two-year high of $109.25 touched on Jan. 2. A stronger dollar makes it more expensive for holders of other currencies to buy greenback-priced commodities. The most-traded February copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SCFcv1 added 0.6% to 74,920 yuan ($10,218.64) a ton by the end of Asia afternoon trade. LME aluminium CMAl3 rose 0.9% to $2,521 a ton, nickel CMNI3 gained 0.1% to $15,465, zinc CMZN3 added 0.1% to $2,827, tin CMSN3 was flat at $30,080, while lead CMPB3 gained 0.2% to $1,942. SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 gained 1.1% to 19,945 yuan a ton, nickel SNIcv1 gained 0.8% to 125,510 yuan, zinc SZNcv1 retreated 0.7% to 24,110 yuan, lead SPBcv1 lost 1.5% to 16,505 yuan, and tin SSNcv1 rose 0.2% to 252,070 yuan. For the top stories in metals and other news, click TOP/MTL or MET/L ($1 = 7.3317 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Violet Li and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Janane Venkatraman and Mrigank Dhaniwala) (([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 ))