US copper hits new 2009 peak on economic prospects

NEW YORK, Aug 13 (Reuters) - U.S. copper futures surged to a 2009 peak above $2.90 a lb Thursday morning, driven by brighter economic and demand growth prospects in the United States and Europe's two largest economies.

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

* Copper for September delivery HGU9 climbed 6.15 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $2.8850 a lb by 10:01 a.m. EDT (1401 GMT) on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division.

* Range from $2.8145 to $2.93, its loftiest level since Sept. 29.

* Economically sensitive copper up on follow-through buying momentum tied to comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve, saying the economy was showing signs of leveling out from its deepest financial crisis in decades. [ID:nN1272730]

* Unexpected return to German and French economic growth in the second quarter providing further underpinnings. [ID:nLD514771]

* Euro at a one-week high against the dollar EUR= in response to the surprise second-quarter growth rates in the euro zone's two biggest economies. [USD/]

* A soft dollar typically lifts dollar-denominated metals by making them cheaper to buy for non-U.S. investors.

* Copper gains capped by slight unexpected drop in U.S. consumer spending in July. [ID:nN13227479]

* London Metal Exchange warehouse stocks fell by 425 tonnes to 291,975 tonnes on Thursday. [LME/STX1]

* COMEX copper warehouse stocks went down 263 short tons to 53,688 short tons as of Wednesday. [CMWSU]

* Gunmen opened fire on an empty Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold employee bus on the island of Papua, near the company's Grasberg complex. Production was not impacted. [ID:nJAK532606]

* LME copper for three-months delivery MCU3 last traded at $6,340 a tonne, up $150 from Wednesday close.

* Earlier, it hit a 10-1/2 month peak at $6,444. (Reporting by Chris Kelly; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)