* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns: (Adds closing prices) By Zandi Shabalala LONDON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Copper was steady on Tuesday asdownbeat factory data from China, the biggest producer of themetal, highlighted the impact of Beijing's trade conflict withthe United States and reinforced concerns about demand for themetal. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME)ended 0.2% higher at $5,825 a tonne after remaining in the redfor most of the trading session. That's not far above $5,518 ithit on Sept. 3, which was the lowest since May 2017. "There is lack of a clear trend generally for industrialmetals. They are still looking for signals," said ING analystWenyu Yao. "Looks like the macro is winning at the moment." Factory-gate prices in China fell in August at the quickestpace in three years, reinforcing the pressure on Beijing to stepup economic stimulus as the trade war intensifies. Customs data on Sunday showed China's unwrought copperimports fell in August after a bounce the previous month. COPPER CHINA: Refined copper cathode production by majorChinese smelters fell 0.5% in August from a month earlier,according to a survey of producers by research house Antaike. STIMULUS: In the latest attempt to shore up China's slowingeconomy, the central bank said last week it was cutting theamount of cash banks must hold as reserves for the third timethis year, releasing 900 billion yuan ($126 billion) inliquidity. NICKEL: Production of nickel ore in the Philippines rose 3%in the first half of 2019 to 11.31 million tonnes, its Mines andGeosciences Bureau said, even though more than half thecountry's mines didn't produce any. The Philippine producer Marcventures Holdings said it plansto develop a new mine slated to begin commercial operation by2021, seeking to take advantage of Indonesia's nickel exportban, which has been brought forward by two years. PRICES: LME nickel was flat at $18,045 a tonne,still trading near five-year highs touched last week onlingering concern over potential shortages. JAKARTA CONFERENCE: Traders in nickel, which is used to makestainless steel and electric vehicle batteries, have startedarriving in Indonesia for the Asian Nickel conference. POSITIONING: The net speculative long position on LME nickelreached a two-year high at 43% of open interest, or 75,000 lots,on Sept. 5, brokerage Marex Spectron estimated. OTHER METALS: Aluminium ended 1.2% higher at $1,820a tonne after touching its highest since July 31, zinc gained 1.2% to hit $2,337, lead rose 0.3% to $2,100.50,and tin added 0.6% to reach $17,400. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^China Aug copper imports, aluminium exports fall as slowdownbites ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Tom Daly in Beijing; editing by DavidGoodman, Uttaresh.V and David Clarke)
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