BEIJING, July 8 (Reuters) -Copper prices inched higher on Monday, supported by rising expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts and an improving demand outlook.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange CMCU3 climbed 0.2% to $9,966.50 per metric ton by 0116 GMT, coming off their first weekly increase in seven weeks.

The most-traded August copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SCFcv1 added 0.5% to 80,530 yuan ($11,080.08) a ton.

Data showed U.S. job growth slowed marginally in June while the unemployment rate rose, underscoring the view that the Federal Reserve could begin cutting interest rates in September.

Moreover, China's improving macroeconomic outlook supported a view that copper demand is recovering in the second half, ANZ analysts said in a note.

Those two factors lent support to industrial metals prices.

Comex copper futures surged on Friday as some players bought back bearish, or short, positions to reduce their exposure due to expected shipments of copper failing to arrive in the U.S.

Comex copper futures HGc2 were little moved on Monday at $4.65 a lb, a one-month peak.

LME aluminium CMAL3 edged up 0.1% at $2,537 a ton, nickel CMNI3 rose 0.5% to $17,430, tin CMSN3 rose 1.3% to $34,325, while zinc CMZN3 shed 0.2% at $2,995.50, lead CMPB3 eased 0.2% to $2,232.50.

SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 was unchanged at 20,395 yuan a ton, nickel SNIcv1 moved 1.1% to 138,640 yuan, tin SSNcv1 was up 2.1% to 281,920 yuan, zinc SZNcv1 was listless at 24,735 yuan, and lead SPBcv1 was stable at 19,695 yuan.

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($1 = 7.2680 Chinese yuan renminbi)

Reporting by Siyi Liu and Colleen Howe; Editing by Savio D'Souza

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