(corrects to make clear price closed up in para 4)
* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns:
* China data boosts metals sentimentBy Zandi ShabalalaLONDON, April 17 (Reuters) - Copper prices hit a nine-monthhigh on Wednesday as firmer-than-expected economic growthfigures from China boosted expectations for higher demand in theworld's top metals consumer.China's economy grew at a 6.4 percent pace in the firstquarter from a year earlier, defying expectations for a furtherslowdown, as industrial production jumped sharply and consumerdemand showed signs of improvement. "The data is confirmation that there are clear tailwinds toChinese growth into the second quarter and mid-year," saidDeutsche Bank metal strategist Nick Snowdon.Benchmark copper touched its highest since July 3 at$6,608.50 per tonne before finishing up 0.9 percent at $6,556.
China, which is in the midst of a trade conflict with theUnited States, ramped up fiscal stimulus this year to supportthe world's second largest economy after a slew of disappointingdata pointed to a potential slowdown.But some analysts warned it may be too early to say the GDPdata was a sign of a full turnaround in the Chinese economy anda break from narrow trading ranges for metals.
"Whilst potentially the first quarter represents a keyturning point for the balance of 2019, as to whether it presentsa panacea to the mean reversion/range trading so evident in ourspace seems unlikely," said Alastair Munro at broker MarexSpectron.
OUTPUT: China's crude steel output grew 10 percent in Marchcompared with the same month a year ago as mills ramped upoperations amid a profit margin recovery and less stringentcurbs on production in the country's anti-smog crackdown. DATA: China's aluminium production fell 3.6 percent on adaily basis in March from the previous two months to its lowestrate since October, pressured by winter curbs on industry andlow prices. This pushed Shanghai aluminium up as high as 13,995yuan ($2,092.59) a tonne, its highest intra-day level sinceDecember.LME ALUMINIUM: LME aluminium inched down 0.3 percentto $1,850 per tonne.AUSTRALIA RAILWAY: A railway that carries zinc from majorproducers such as Glencore , MMG Ltd and South32 across Australia's Outback is expected to reopenthis month after it was damaged in floods. COLUMN: Zinc is coming under sustained attack from bearishfunds. The trigger for the assault was Tuesday morning's LondonMetal Exchange (LME) stocks report, showing 10,625 tonnes ofinflow into exchange warehouses. PRICES: Zinc climbed 0.4 percent to $2,819.50 pertonne, lead gained 1.4 percent to $1,946 while tin was down 0.5 percent at $20,405 per tonne.Nickel did not trade in closing rings, nor werethere any bids or offers. In electronic trading, prices weredown 0.7 percent at $12,865 a tonne at 1624 GMT.<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Top Base and Precious Metals Analysis - GFMS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen, editing by Louise Heavens,Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Ken Ferris)
zandi.shabalala.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))