Copper rebounds from three-week lows, dollar gains ground

Copper futures rose in American trade away from September 20 lows, on track for the first weekly loss in three, while the dollar index climbed off September 28 lows, following earlier data from China, the world's largest metals consumer, and the US. 

As of 02:32 GMT, copper futures due in December rose 0.48% to $281.65 a pound away from three-week lows, while the dollar index rose 0.31% to 95.31 away from two-week lows. 

Earlier Chinese data showed the trade surplus widened to 213 billion yuan, or $30.9 billion, from 180 billion yuan, or $26.1 billion in August, easily beating estimates of $12.3 billion. 

Earlier US data showed import prices rose 0.5%, compared to a 0.4% drop in August, while University of Michigan released the preliminary reading for its consumer sentiment survey, which came at 99 in October, down from 100.1 in September, and missing estimates of 100.4.