METALS-Copper prices dip as doubts over China demand linger

Jan 31 (Reuters) - Copper prices dipped on Tuesday as traders exercised caution after physical demand in China, the world's biggest consumer of metals, remained stagnant following a week-long holiday. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.2% at $9,195 a tonne by 0301 GMT, while the most-traded March copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange dipped 0.2% to 69,570 yuan ($10,301.02) a tonne. Both copper contracts, however, are still set for a monthly gain, backed by a weaker U.S. dollar, rising inflows from funds and hopes that Chinese demand for the metal will improve following the removal of its strict COVID-19 restrictions.

China's manufacturing activity swung back to growth in January, beating expectations, as a wave of COVID-19 infections passed through the country faster than expected. LME aluminium fell 0.8% to $2,570 a tonne, zinc declined 0.3% to $3,435.50 a tonne, tin shed 1.4% to $29,400 a tonne while lead rose 0.4% to $2,169 a tonne. SHFE aluminium eased 0.8% to 18,920 yuan a tonne, tin declined 1.4% to 235,390 yuan a tonne, lead eased 0.3% to 15,245 yuan a tonne while zinc rose 0.8% to 24,480 yuan a tonne. SHFE nickel was up 1.2% at 221,930 yuan a tonne. Earlier in the session, it hit 223,290 yuan a tonne, its highest in 3-1/2 weeks, after Bloomberg reported that the Philippines may tax nickel exports.

For the top stories in metals and other news, click or DATA/EVENTS (GMT) 0630 France GDP Preliminary Q4 0745 France CPI (EU Norm) Prelim YY Jan 0745 France Producer Prices YY Dec 0855 Germany Unemployment Chg SA Jan 0855 Germany Unemployment Rate SA Jan 0100 EU GDP Flash Prelim Q4 0900 Germany CPI Prelim YY Jan 0900 Germany HICP Prelim YY Jan -- US Federal Reserve's FOMC starts its two-day meeting on interest rates

($1 = 6.7537 yuan) (Reporting by Mai Nguyen in Hanoi; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

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METALS-Copper prices dip as doubts over China demand linger

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