SYDNEY, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Chinese metals futures opened firmer...

SYDNEY, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Chinese metals futures opened firmer across the board on Thursday, boosted by a weak U.S. dollar.

Traders said weakness in the greenback, amid doubts about another U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike this year, was driving investment interest in metals contracts.

"The positive moves are all about the currency," said a trader in Australia.

FUNDAMENTALS

• SHFE COPPER: The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SCFcv1 was up 0.72 percent at 50,140 yuan ($7,461.31) a tonne by 0105 GMT.
• LME COPPER: Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange CMCU3 was mostly flat at round $6,354.50 a tonne.
• U.S. DOLLAR: The dollar index <.DXY> hit 15-month lows on Wednesday. A weaker U.S. currency this year has boosted demand for dollar-denominated metals, as it makes commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies.
• SHFE ZINC: ShFE zinc SZNcv1 was up more than 2 percent at 23,495 yuan, nearing its late-July peak. LME zinc CMZN3 was 1 percent firmer.
• SHFE ALUMINIUM: Following strong overnight LME gains and signs of supply restrictions, ShFE aluminium SAFcv1 was trading 1 percent firmer.
• CHINA ALUMINIUM: Hongqiao Group <1378.HK>, the world's biggest aluminium producer, plans to shut more than 2 million tonnes a year of outdated smelter capacity.
• "GREEN" ALUMINIUM: Producers of "green" aluminium - made using renewable energy rather than fossil fuels - are starting to charge premium prices thanks to rising demand from industrial customers under pressure to reduce their carbon footprints.
• SHFE LEAD, NICKEl: ShFE lead SPBcv1 and nickel SNIcv1 were up 1.91 percent and 1.77 percent respectively, while tin SSNcv1 was 0.83-percent higher
• ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe has filed a court application to enforce a previous notice to seize more than half of platinum producer Zimplats' (ZIM) mining land, the company said on Wednesday.
• For the top stories in metals and other news, click [TOP/MTL] or [MET/L]

  MARKETS NEWS

• Asian shares dipped as investors locked in recent gains after Wall Street's Dow Jones Industrial Average broke the 22,000 barrier for the first time in its 121-year history.[MKTS/GLOB]

  DATA/EVENT AHEAD (GMT) 0145 China Caixin services PMI Jul 0750 France Markit services PMI Jul 0755 Germany Markit services PMI Jul 0800 Euro zone Markit services PMI final Jul 0900 Euro zone Retail sales Jun 1100 Bank of England announces interest rate decision 1230 U.S. Weekly jobless claims 1400 U.S. Factory orders Jun 1400 U.S. ISM-non manufacturing PMI Jul

  PRICES Three month LME copper CMCU3 Most active ShFE copper SCFcv1 Three month LME aluminium CMAL3 Most active ShFE aluminium SAFcv1 Three month LME zinc CMZN3 Most active ShFE zinc SZNcv1 Three month LME lead CMPB3 Most active ShFE lead SPBcv1 Three month LME nickel CMNI3 Most active ShFE nickel SNIcv1 Three month LME tin CMSN3 Most active ShFE tin SSNcv1

  ARBS LMESHFCUc3 LMESHFALc3 LMESHFZNc3 LMESHFPBc3 LMESHFNIc3

($1 = 6.7200 Chinese yuan renminbi)

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