LONDON: Copper prices steadied on Friday after hitting one-month lows in the previous session as the market waited for economic data to shed light on growth and demand prospects and stimulus plans to shore up economic activity.

Manufacturing data, a key indicator of industrial metals demand, from top consumer China is due next week.

Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was up 0.2% at $6,535 a tonne at 1602 GMT.

The metal used widely in the power and construction industries tumbled to $6,449 on Thursday, a drop of more than 5% since Monday when prices hit a 27-month high.

The premium for the cash over the three-month contract eased to $7 a tonne from 26-month highs above $40 a tonne earlier this month on worries about supplies on the LME market.

Aluminium was up 0.6% at $1,750 a tonne, zinc was flat at $2,370, lead fell 1.1% to $1,836, tin slipped 1.3% to $17,050 and nickel added 0.1% to $14,275.