METALS-Copper ends off 14-mth top after weak housing data

* Analysts expect stronger copper demand next year

* Weak dollar helps boost industrial metals

* Some caution after U.S. housing data

(Recasts with New York closing copper prices, adds analyst
comments, NEW YORK to dateline)

By Chris Kelly and Pratima Desai

NEW YORK/LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Copper backed away from a
14-month peak by the close on Wednesday, as the market paused to
catch its breath from recent gains and early momentum faded as
inventories rose, while weak U.S. housing data fanned economic
recovery concerns.

Copper for December delivery HGZ9 on the New York Mercantile
Exchange's COMEX division ended up 0.20 cent at $3.1105 a lb, away
from a session peak at $3.1720, its highest level since late
September 2008.

On the London Metal Exchange (LME), benchmark copper MCU3
touched $6,992 a tonne, another high dating back to September 2008,
and more than double the levels seen in January. The metal used in
power and construction settled up $25 at $6,880 a tonne.

"It's very hard to make a fundamental argument for copper," said
Bill O'Neill, partner of LOGIC Advisors in Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey.

"Warehouse inventories keep going up and the (housing) data
today is certainly not encouraging here, but the funds keep pouring
in ... there is just avaricious demand for commodities," he said,
referring to data on Wednesday showing construction of new U.S.
homes off sharply last month.

Separately, the U.S. Labor Department said the Consumer Price
Index rose 0.3 percent last month, a touch above market
expectations. [ID:nN1899353]

Prices of industrial metals have been rising since early April,
when markets with the help of stronger economic data from around the
world, including top consumer China, started to think the worst of
the recession could be over.

"Expectations of better times in 2010 is behind the strength in
industrial metals," said Robin Bhar, analyst at Calyon.

"There is a feeling that it will take time for more positive
data to translate into final real demand."

Furthermore, a weaker dollar, which makes commodities cheaper
for holders of other currencies, has helped push up prices of base
metals in recent months. [USD/]

Chinese purchases of copper for stockpiling up until the middle
of July meant stocks of the metal in LME warehouses fell. But since
then stocks have risen by more than 60 percent to above 410,000
tonnes, the highest since late April.

LOCAL SPECULATION

LME stocks of aluminum at above 4.55 million tonnes are still
within touching distance of the record high of 4.629 million tonnes
seen in September. Aluminum MAL3 closed at $2,065 a tonne from
$2,036 on Tuesday.

The metal used widely in transport and packaging hit $2,095 a
tonne, its highest since Aug. 5, after it held above support at
$2,040 a tonne and markets started to factor in seasonally higher
options activity.

Options give holders the right to buy or sell the three-month
aluminum contracts.

Stainless steel ingredient nickel MNI3 hit $17,475 a tonne,
the highest in more than a week. It closed at $17,200 a tonne from
$16,900 at the close on Tuesday.

Prices of nickel have come under pressure from stocks at 15-year
highs above 132,000 tonnes. Expectations are for nickel stocks to
move towards record highs above 150,000 tonnes set in November 1994.
[ID:nLI531468]

"There is local speculation in China that part of the country's
privately held nickel stocks could be released to market, perhaps as
much as 50,000 tonnes before year end," investment bank Fairfax said
in a note.

Battery material lead MPB3 touched a one-month high at
$2,447.75 and ended at $2,403 from $2,385 on Tuesday.

Zinc MZN3 closed at $2,248 a tonne from $2,263 on Tuesday and
a three-week high at $2,313.75 set earlier on Wednesday.

Zinc stocks jumped 15,650 tonnes to hit a four-year high at
449,375 tonnes. Warehouses in New Orleans was the destination for a
large chunk of this stock, according to LME data.

The news had little immediate impact on the metal used to
galvanize steel, but traders are watching the trend.

Tin hit MSN3 $15,300, the highest since late October. It
closed at $15,195 from $14,950 on Tuesday.
Metal Prices at 1945 GMT
Metal Last Change Pct Move End 2008 Ytd Pct

move
COMEX Cu 310.75 0.35 +0.11 139.50 122.76
LME Alum 2053.00 23.00 +1.13 1535.00 33.75
LME Cu 6857.50 2.50 +0.04 3060.00 124.10
LME Lead 2385.00 -5.00 -0.21 999.00 138.74
LME Nickel 17150.00 350.00 +2.08 11700.00 46.58
LME Tin 15050.00 300.00 +2.03 10700.00 40.65
LME Zinc 2255.00 -24.00 +1.05 1208.00 86.67
SHFE Alu 15515.00 130.00 +0.84 11540.00 34.45
SHFE Cu* 53940.00 740.00 +1.39 23840.00 126.26
SHFE Zin 17835.00 295.00 +1.68 10120.00 76.24
** 1st contract month for COMEX copper * 3rd contract month for
SHFE AL, CU and ZN SHFE ZN began trading on 26/3/07
(Additional reporting by Michael Taylor in London; editing by
Marguerita Choy)