BEIJING, Apr 1 (Reuters): Copper prices kick started April higher on Monday, as positive industrial data posted by China bolstered demand outlook from the world's top metal consumer.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange added 0.3 per cent to $8,872 per tonne by 0146 GMT.
The most-traded May copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was up 0.7 per cent to 72,850 yuan per tonne, having notched 5.4 per cent in March, its biggest monthly gain in 16 months.
China's manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in six months in March, an official factory survey showed on Sunday.
Though the pace of growth was modest, it was also the highest PMI reading since March of last year, when momentum from the lifting of tough COVID-19 restrictions began to stall. Investors also eyed the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in June after data showed easing US prices.
LME aluminium increased 1.6 per cent to $2,335 a ton, nickel moved 0.2 per cent higher to $16,645, zinc little moved at $2,437, lead rose 2.5 per cent to $2,053, while tin eased 0.2 per cent to $27,475.
SHFE aluminium gained 0.4 per cent at 19,690 yuan a ton, while nickel lost 0.9 per cent to 129,300 yuan, zinc steadied at 20,890 yuan, lead declined 0.7 per cent to 16,610 yuan, and tin was down 0.4 per cent to 225,190 yuan.
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