US copper futures rose to their highest levels in nearly two weeks early Friday as strength from Shanghai markets this week drove momentum and helped override worse-than-expected employment data in the US. Copper for March delivery firmed 8.10 cents, or 5.4 percent, to $1.5810 a lb by 10:37 am EST (1537 GMT) on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division.
-- Ranged from $1.5085 to $1.5950, its highest level since January 27.