U.S. copper ends down on dollar rise, Obama

NEW YORK, Jan 21 (Reuters) - U.S. copper futures ended down 1.79
percent on Thursday, sinking to a 3-week low, pressured by the dollar's
rise and as U.S. equity markets fell after President Barack Obama proposed
rules aimed at making the financial system safer.

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

* Benchmark copper for March delivery HGH0 lost 6 cents, or 1.79
percent, to $3.2950 per lb on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX
division.

* Range from $3.3730 to $3.2830, its weakest level in three weeks.

* COMEX estimated futures volume at 37,828 lots by 1:00 p.m. EST (1800
GMT). Final volume on Wednesday at 30,403.

* Open interest fell by 1,231 lots to 141,781 contracts as of Jan. 20.

* Euro slumped to a nearly six-month-low against the dollar on
Thursday, pressured by concerns over a swelling budget deficit in Greece.
[ID:nN21213029]

* Dollar strength makes commodities priced in the U.S. currency
costlier for non-U.S. investors.

* Wall Street tumbled after Obama proposed rules aimed at making the
financial system safer by preventing the biggest banks from taking
excessive risks. [ID:nN21218874]

* Strong growth data raised the potential of more measures to curb
banks lending in China - analysts.

* Eventual monetary tightening may slow China's economic recovery and
cut its demand for commodities - analysts.

* China's annual gross domestic product grew 10.7 percent in the fourth
quarter, data showed on Thursday. [ID:nT0E60K011]

* China's apparent copper consumption surged 4.5 percent in December,
while domestic production was off from the previous month's record.
[ID:nTOE60J09M]

* LME copper for three-month delivery MCU3 ended at $7,265 a tonne,
down $110 from Wednesday's close.
(Reporting by Patricia Velez; Editing by John Picinich)