(Updates with closing prices)By Peter HobsonLONDON, April 3 (Reuters) - Prices of copper and otherindustrial metals rose on Wednesday as strong Chinesemanufacturing data and reports of progress in U.S.-China tradetalks bolstered the demand outlook.
Copper also reflected indigenous leaders in Peru rejectingtalks with the government to end disruption at a major mine.
Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME)closed up 1 percent at $6,492 a tonne, near last month'seight-month high of $6,555.50.
Metals prices have been stuck in a narrow range since lateFebruary, but strong Chinese purchasing managers' index (PMI)data and positive signals from trade talks are lending support,BMO analyst Kash Kamal said.
"Pessimism is dissipating," he said.
CHINA ECONOMY: The Chinese Caixin/Markit compositemanufacturing and services PMI rose to a nine-month high inMarch, adding to signs that stimulus is gradually kicking in. China is the world's largest consumer of metals.
TRADE TALKS: The United States and China expect to make moreheadway in trade talks this week, White House economic adviserLarry Kudlow said. "It's a larger, grander discussion than anything we've hadbefore in U.S.-China trade relations, and there's a certainamount of optimism," Kudlow said.
The dispute pushed metals prices sharply lower last year.
GLOBAL MARKETS/DOLLAR: World stocks rallied to six-monthhighs, while the dollar weakened, helping metals by making themcheaper for buyers with other currencies. PERU: An indigenous community that has blocked roads to thecopper mine has decided not to negotiate with the governmentfurther until the group's lawyers are freed from jail. The blockade has halted exports from Las Bambas, whichproduces about 400,000 tonnes of copper a year, accounting forabout 2 percent of global production.
COPPER SPREAD: Cash copper on the LME has flipped from a $70premium to the three-month contract last month to an $8discount, suggesting a supply shortage has eased. OUTLOOK: "The overall picture is of a (copper) market insignificant surplus and therefore lacking fundamental support inthe first quarter of this year," Barclays analysts said in anote, pointing to a build-up in inventories in China that hasoffset a decline in LME warehouses.They said however that demand would likely improve,forecasting an average copper price of $6,230 this year and$6,350 in 2020.
NORSK HYDRO: The company said it could take monthsto return its Karmoey aluminium plant in western Norway to fullcapacity after a power outage that cut production by about 10percent. OTHER METALS: LME aluminium ended up 0.4 percent at$1,896 a tonne, zinc finshed 2.6 percent higher at$2,930, nickel gained 2.2 percent to $13,375 and lead rose 1.4 percent to $2,012. Tin bucked thetrend, slipping 0.1 percent to $21,175.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Top Base and Precious Metals Analysis - GFMS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Peter Hobson; Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen;Editing by David Holmes, Jan Harvey and Alexandra Hudson)