US Copper at 4-mth High after Better Jobs Data

Sep 2 (Reuters) -

U.S. copper futures hit four-month highs Thursday after the release of better-than-expected jobs data that boosted the outlook for industrial commodities.

The most-active December copper futures contract HGZ0 on the COMEX metals division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 2.25 cents, or 0.6 percent, to a session peak of $3.50 a lb -- the highest for a benchmark copper contract since April 27.

First-time claims for U.S. state unemployment benefits dropped for a second straight week, slipping 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 472,000 in latest week.