* Chinese copper imports fall, but economic data robust

* Dollar hits 15-month low, recovers to pressure metals

* Analysts see investment money lifting copper
(Recasts, updates prices, market activity to New York close; adds second
byline, dateline, previously LONDON)

By Carole Vaporean and Michael Taylor

NEW YORK/LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Copper ended slightly higher on
Wednesday, underpinned by the strong demand implied by robust economic data
from China, the world's top copper user.

But the industrial metal came off session highs in late trading as the
dollar rebounded,

Chinese factory output growth surged to a 19-month high in October, showing
the world's third-largest economy has put the worst of the global financial
crisis behind it. [ID:nPEK212006]

"Much anticipated Chinese economic data was generally positive, with
better-than-expected industrial production, retail sales and trade surplus
lending background support to base metals," said RBC Capital Markets analyst
Suraj Raythatha in a note.

China's imports of unwrought and semi-finished copper products were down 34
percent in October from September, but copper traders seemed to shrug off the
news. [ID:nSP438867]

Copper for three-months delivery MCU3 on the London Metal Exchange closed
at $6,540 a tonne, up from $6,530 a tonne at the close on Tuesday. It hit a
session high at $6,660.

For a graphic on China's monthly copper imports, click:
here

"The (growth) data and the fact they are going to continue a looser
monetary policy is positive," said David Wilson, director of metals research at
Societe Generale. "The unwrought imports were down and stocks continue to rise,
but who gives a damn about the fundamentals? China are just going to carry on
spending."

Copper rallied when the dollar hit a 15-month low against major currencies
on the view that U.S. interest rates will remain low well into next year,
though it regained some ground after failing to push below key levels. [USD/]

On Tuesday, Federal Reserve officials said any recovery in the U.S. economy
would be erratic, bolstering the view that interest rates would stay low.
[ID:nN10315173]

Commodities priced in dollars become cheaper for non-dollar investors as
the U.S. currency weakens.

On the supply side, copper was underpinned by a strike over wages by
workers at Konkola Copper Mines, a unit of London-listed Vedanta Resources
(VED.L: Quote, Profile, Research), that halted most units at the facility in Zambia. [nLB669456]

In Peru, workers at Antamina, a major copper mine, said on Tuesday contract
talks with the company had broken down and that they would prepare to strike.
[nN10315484]

INVESTMENT MONEY

Copper has more than doubled since the start of the year, driven by heavy
Chinese restocking, signs of improved demand and dollar weakness.

But some say end-user consumption still remains low at high price levels
and investment money has been the main driver behind metals recent gains.

LME copper inventories rose on Wednesday, up 3,175 tonnes at a six-month
high of 397,325 tonnes. <0#LME-STOCKS>

China's refined copper production hit a record high for the second straight
month as producers geared up to meet their yearly output plans.
[ID:nPEK304880]

For a graphic on China's copper output, click:
here

Rising domestic Chinese production along with rising inventories "should
raise legitimate concerns about a short-term copper glut," said MF Global
analyst Edward Meir in a note.

Aluminium MAL3 was untraded at the close, but last bid at $1,970.50 a
tonne from $1,960 a tonne on Tuesday, despite a more than 7,000-tonne increase
in aluminium inventories.

Zinc MZN3 ended at $2,184 from $2,161 and battery material lead MPB3
closed at $2,304.50 from $2,288. Tin MSN3 ended at $14,725 from $14,825.

Nickel MNI3 prices recovered from a seven-week low hit on Tuesday to
touch a high of $17,270 tonnes, but closed at $16,850 versus $16,825.

Metal Prices at 1716 GMT
Metal Last Change Pct Move End 2008 Ytd Pct

move
COMEX Cu 296.00 0.30 +0.10 139.50 112.19
LME Alum 1960.00 0.00 +0.00 1535.00 27.69
LME Cu 6535.00 5.00 +0.08 3060.00 113.56
LME Lead 2295.00 7.00 +0.31 999.00 129.73
LME Nickel 16845.00 20.00 +0.12 11700.00 43.97
LME Tin 14675.00 -150.00 -1.01 10700.00 37.15
LME Zinc 2180.00 19.00 +0.88 1208.00 80.46
SHFE Alu 15115.00 -5.00 -0.03 11540.00 30.98
SHFE Cu* 50770.00 30.00 +0.06 23840.00 112.96
SHFE Zin 16725.00 70.00 +0.42 10120.00 65.27 ** 1st
contract month for COMEX copper * 3rd contract month for SHFE AL, CU and ZN
SHFE ZN began trading on 26/3/07
(Editing by David Gregorio)