* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns: (Adds closing prices, updates trade war)By Zandi ShabalalaLONDON, March 14 (Reuters) - Copper prices dropped onThursday as industrial output in top metals consumer China fellto a 17-year low in the first two months of 2019, while LMEstocks of the metal used in power and construction rose.Other Chinese data showed a mixed picture as the joblessrate climbed but property investment strengthened. Deutsche Bank metals strategist Nick Snowdon said thedelivery of copper metal into LME warehouses "has been taken asa signal that we are seeing the softness we saw in China feedinto ex-China market"."China data also disappointed and pointed to relativelysluggish growth," Snowdon said.Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange closed1.1 percent lower at $6,404 per tonne, its lowest in nearly aweek. U.S. President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary StevenMnuchin said on Thursday that discussions with China to end amonths-long trade war are progressing quickly, though Trump saidhe could not say whether a final deal would be reached.There were reports earlier saying a meeting betweenWashington and Beijing scheduled for later this month could bepushed back to at least April.Hopes for a resolution of the long-standing trade conflicthave helped propel the LME index of six major basemetals up nearly 9 percent so far this year.
STOCKS: On-warrant stocks of copper, those not earmarked fordelivery, in LME-approved warehouses jumped 34,900 tonnes to66,325 tonnes. SPREADS: The premium of cash copper over the three-month LMEcontract eased to $20 a tonne from a discount of $70last week, indicating worries over tight supply were easing.CHINA PREMIUMS: China's Yangshan copper import premium rose to $59 from $52.5 registered a week ago,which was a level not seen since April 2017.
CHINA STEEL: China's daily steel output rose in January andFebruary, as mills in the world's top producer raised productionamid firm steel margins and easier environmental restrictions. ZINC: Vedanta's Skorpion zinc refinery in Namibiahas suspended operations for five weeks due to lack of raw feedmaterial. The refinery has a capacity of 100,000 tonnesannually. "This comes with available LME inventories in zinc extremelylow, and while demand conditions remain subdued (as evidenced bylow physical premiums), ongoing supply issues may see furtheraggressive backwardation in the coming weeks," said BMO CapitalMarkets analyst Colin Hamilton.ZINC STOCKS: Headline LME inventories of zinc fell 250tonnes to 58,700 tonnes, their lowest since October 2007.
OTHER METALS: Aluminium fell 0.2 percent to $1,903per tonne, zinc shed 0.8 percent to $2,825, lead ceded 0.7 percent to $2,114, tin eased 0.7 percenthigher at $21,170 and nickel lost 2.5 percent to$12,880.<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Top Base and Precious Metals Analysis - GFMS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Melanie Burton in MELBOURNE and TomDaly in BEIJING; Editing by Catherine Evans)
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