* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns:
* Speculators raise net short positions
* Nickel prices touch highest since March (Updates with closing prices)By Pratima DesaiLONDON, July 15 (Reuters) - Copper prices touched two-weekhighs on Monday as better than expected industrial output andinvestment data from top consumer China boosted sentiment,though gains were capped by the protracted U.S.-China tradedispute.Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME)ended 0.8% up at $5,983 a tonne. The metal used widely in thepower and construction industries earlier reached $6,020, itshighest since July 1."Copper's fortunes are very much tied to what is going onwith the U.S.-China trade talks and the outlook for Chinesedemand and stimulus," said Citi analyst Oliver Nugent."There are some bullish backstories on the micro side, likeshortages of concentrate, but on the refined metal side there isnothing substantial enough to displace the macro story."
DATA: China's June industrial output rose 6.3% from a yearearlier. That beat May's 5% growth - a 17-year low - and the5.2% expected by analysts polled by Reuters. Fixed-asset investments for the first half of the year rose5.8% from a year earlier, ahead of a consensus forecast of 5.5%.STIMULUS: The numbers suggest an improving outlook, but someanalysts say they may not be sustainable and expect Chinesepolicymakers to provide more economic stimulus in coming months.CONVICTION: "China's economic data in June was better thanexpected, but industrial metal markets seemingly were notconvinced that this marks a turning point," Julius Baer analystssaid in a note.
"Chinese metals demand is sufficiently solid to supportprices but not strong enough to push them higher."China acounts for nearly half of global copper consumptionestimated at about 24 million tonnes this year.TRADE: White House adviser Peter Navarro on Friday told CNBCthat the United States trade talks with are in a "quiet period"and that negotiations will start soon. FUNDS: Negative sentiment is higlighted by data from theU.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission showing speculatorsraised net short copper positions on COMEX. NICKEL: Prices of the stainless steel ingredient touched $13,615, their highest since March 7, on worries aboutsupply after major producer Indonesia said it would stick toplans to reimpose an ore export ban from 2022.Further price support comes from falling stocks inLME-registered warehouses. At 150,324 tonnes, stocks have halvedsince May last year .
Three-month nickel was up 1.4% at $13,660 a tonne by theclose.PRICES: Aluminium was up 1.1% at $1,842, zinc gained 0.2% to $2,444, lead rose 0.2% to $1,981 and tin retreated 1.6% to $17,900. (Reporting by Pratima DesaiAdditional reporting by Mai NguyenEditing by David Goodman)