Copper up 0.26% on spot demand

However, metal's weakness at the London Metal Exchange caps gains

Copper futures traded 0.26 per cent higher at Rs 312.15 today after participants widened their positions despite a weak trend in base metals overseas.

At Multi Commodity Exchange, copper for delivery in far-month April next year rose 80 paise, or 0.26 per cent, at Rs 312.15 per kg, in a business turnover of just two lots.

Similarly, the metal for delivery in February was up by 45 paise, or 0.15 per cent at Rs 307.55 per kg in 750 lots.

Analysts attributed the rise in copper futures to firm demand at the domestic spot markets but metal's weakness at the London Metal Exchange, restricted the gains.

Meanwhile, copper on the London Metal Exchange slid 0.2 per cent to $4,548 per tonne as most industrial metals held their declines after Chinese trade data reinforced concerns over the economic deterioration of the world's biggest consumer of commodities.