The most-traded March copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange climbed 0.4 percent to close at 57,550 yuan ($9,200) a tonne on Monday as promising manufacturing data from top consumer China fuelled a cautious return in investors' appetite for the metal, although worries over US fiscal woes kept a lid on gains.

The pace of activity in China's vast manufacturing sector quickened for the first time in 13 months in November, a survey of private factory managers found, adding to evidence that the economy is reviving after seven quarters of slowing growth. "China's economic data is improving into quarter four. That is supporting prices - I don't see much pressure on the downside before the end of the year," said analyst Bonnie Liu of Macquarie.

Copyright Reuters, 2012