Copper jumps to nearly one-month high

LONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters): Copper prices jumped on Monday to the highest in nearly a month after top metals consumer China said it would take more action to boost its lethargic economy.

The three-month copper contract on the London Metal Exchange (LME) gained 1% to $9,215 per metric ton in official open-outcry trading after touching $9,241, the highest since Nov. 12. US Comex copper futures climbed 1.7% to $4.23 a lb.

Copper had been slightly weaker ahead of the announcement by the Chinese Politburo that it had shifted its monetary policy stance to imply more easing is coming.

The most-traded January copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) rose 0.3% to 74,740 yuan ($10,269.30).

Among other metals, LME aluminium dipped 0.3% in official activity to $2,596 a ton and nickel eased 0.6% to $15,945, while zinc climbed 2% to $3,132.50, lead rose 0.9% to $2,091 and tin added 0.2% to $29,205.