Buoyed by a firm global trend and increased domestic demand, copper prices rose 0.71 per cent to Rs 317.40 per kg in futures trade today as participants widened their speculative bets.
In futures trading at Multi Commodity Exchange, copper for delivery this month was trading Rs 2.25, or 0.71 per cent, higher at Rs 317.40 per kg in a business turnover of 1,796 lots.
Metal for delivery in far-month June contracts edged higher by Rs 2.20, or 0.69 per cent, to Rs 322 per kg in a business volume of 92 lots.
Globally, copper for delivery in three months rose 2.2 per cent to USD 4,766.50 a tonne on the London Metal Exchange (LME).
Analysts said that apart from pick-up in domestic demand, a firming overseas trend after data showed a strong recovery in China's exports in March, mainly influenced copper futures here.
China is the world's biggest consumer of industrial metals.
