METALS-LME copper hits over one-week high on softer dollar, China stimulus hopes

April 14 (Reuters) - Copper prices in London hit a more than one-week high on Monday, as a softer dollar and hopes of further stimulus from top consumer China boosted market sentiment.

The benchmark three-month copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was up 0.7% at $9,219.5 a metric ton as of 0650 GMT.

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) SCFcv1 rose 2.2% to 76,400 yuan($10,461.88) per ton.

The dollar index .DXY fell 0.8% against its rivals, hovering around a three-year low, making greenback-priced commodities cheaper for buyers using other currencies. USD/

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said he would announce tariffs on imported semiconductors over the next week, adding that there would be flexibility with some companies in the sector.

Trump's pledge meant that the exclusion of smartphones and computers from his reciprocal tariffs on China will likely be short-lived as he seeks to reset trade in the semiconductor sector.

"Tariff threats continue to be a focal point for copper," said BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions.

"(But) Beijing's potential response with a massive stimulus is likely to offset some of the losses".

Last week, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that China needs to implement more proactive macroeconomic policies and roll them out promptly as "external shocks" have pressured China's economic stabilisation, the state media reported.

"Market chatter of more and imminent stimulus measures from China is gaining traction," which is helping prices, said Kelvin Wong, OANDA's senior market analyst, Asia Pacific.

Investors are awaiting additional stimulus measures from China to mitigate the impact of Trump's tariffs.

SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 added 0.3% to 19,680 yuan a ton, zinc SZNcv1 added 0.7% to 22,510 yuan, lead SPBcv1 gained 0.7% to 16,895 yuan, nickel SNIcv1 was up 1.8% at 123,060 yuan, tin SSNcv1 advanced 3% to 261,700 yuan.

LME aluminium CMAL3 gained 0.2% to $2,400.5 a ton, lead CMPB3 rose 0.4% to $1,922.5, tin CMSN3 was up 2.1% at $31,860, zinc CMZN3 rose 0.8% to $2,672 and nickel CMNI3 rose 0.8% to $15,195 a ton.

($1 = 7.3027 Chinese yuan renminbi)