Weak dlr, China data lift US copper to 15-mth peak

NEW YORK Dec 1 (Reuters) - U.S. copper futures rallied to their highest levels since early September 2008 on Tuesday as further weakness in the dollar and solid manufacturing data in China combined to drive prices higher, analysts said.

By 11:26 a.m. EST (1626 GMT), copper for March delivery HGH0 jumped 6.10 cents, or nearly 2 percent, to $3.2380 a lb on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division, surpassing last Friday's previous peak at $3.23. (Reporting by Chris Kelly) ((chris.kelly@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 223 6042; Reuters Messaging: chris.kelly.reuters.com@reuters.net))