US copper futures climbed as much as 2.4 percent Thursday morning, as encouraging labour market data, Greek bailout optimism, and Chinese inflation data out-weighed the bearish impact of a stronger dollar. Benchmark copper for March delivery rose 5.10 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $3.04 per lb by 10:24 am EST (1524 GMT) on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division.
Range from $2.98 to $3.0615. COMEX estimated futures volume at 25,174 lots by 10 am.