US copper futures end up on Chilean supply threats

NEW YORK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - U.S. copper futures closed
higher on Friday, maintaining momentum near this week's
14-month high, with supportive supply-side issues in Chile, the
world's biggest supplier, off-setting the bearish impact of a
stronger dollar.

For detailed report on global copper markets, click on
[MET/L]

* Copper for December delivery HGZ9 rose 2.70 cents to
settle at $3.1080 a lb on the New York Mercantile Exchange's
COMEX division.

* Range from $3.0515 to $3.1145.

* On Wednesday, December hit $3.1720, highest level since
late September 2008.

* COMEX estimated futures volume at 29,470 lots by 1 p.m.
EST (1800 GMT). Final volume on Thursday was 33,371 lots.

* Open interest down 880 lots at 150,059 contracts as of
Nov. 19.

* Threats of widespread labor action against BHP Billiton's
(BHP.AX) (BLT.L) mining operations in Chile [ID:nN20226032]
holding copper prices up, in spite of a strengthening dollar
and rising inventories - Bart Melek, Global Commodity
Strategist with BMO Nesbitt Burns in Toronto.

* Striking workers at Chile's Spence copper mine agree to
resume wage talks with owner BHP. [ID:nN20205475]

* Dollar up for a second straight session Friday as fading
risk appetite boosts safe-haven demand for the currency.
[USD/]

* London Metal Exchange inventories grew by 1,325 tonnes to
total 421,875 tonnes, up 60 percent since the middle of July
and their highest since April. <O#LME-STOCKS>

* Shanghai warehouse stocks rose 2.3 percent to 107,405
tonnes from 104,939 tonnes one week ago.

* COMEX copper warehouse stocks climbed 1,478 short tons to
76,210 short tons as of Thursday. CMWSU

* Japanese copper wire and cable shipments dropped 14.3
percent year-over-year to an estimated 61,000 tonnes in
October. [ID:nT258759]

* LME three-month copper MCU3 bid at $6,845 a tonne, up
from $6,790 a tonne at the close on Thursday.
(Reporting by Chris Kelly; Editing by Walter Bagley)