Recasts, updates prices

BEIJING, Aug 2 (Reuters) - London copper prices climbed on Friday ahead of the release of key jobs data in the United States, while gains were capped by a downbeat demand outlook in top consumer China.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange CMCU3 gained 0.4%to $9,089 per metric ton by 0729 GMT, while the most-traded September copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SCFcv1 lost 1.7%to 73,700 yuan ($10,211.57) a ton.

Investors were awaiting the monthly payrolls report from the United States later in the day for further clues on the economy and interest rate cut path.

The prospect of a September interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve supported prices earlier this week, but gains were pared after a slew of data showed weak manufacturing activities in China and the U.S .

Prices of copper, often seen as an economic bellwether, were little changed on a weekly basis after three straight weeks of declines, with subdued demand, high inventories and a lack of specific stimulus from China for its struggling housing sector weighing on the market.

There were signs of better consumption in China recently, which could lower exports from the country that had previouslysent global inventories higher.

The Yangshan premium SMM-CUYP-CN rose to a more than three-month peak this week, signalling import appetite in China.

Meanwhile, SHFE deliverable copper stocks declined 2% on Friday but were not far from an about four-year peak.

Market participants are anticipating a demand pickup around September, the traditionally strong consumption season.

LME aluminium CMAL3 dipped 0.1% to $2,293.50 a ton, zinc CMZN3 moved 0.2% higher to $2,713,tin CMSN3 rose 1.6%to $30,380, and nickel CMNI3 increased 0.3% to $16,335.

LME nickel was set for its first weekly gain in three, thanks to tight nickel ore supply in Indonesia and better August stainless steel production in China.

SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 was 0.3%lower at 19,220yuan a ton, zinc SZNcv1 added 0.3%to 22,920 yuan, tin SSNcv1 declined 0.3%to 249,970yuan, nickel SNIcv1 dropped 1.5% to 130,990yuan.

For the top stories in metals and other news, click

TOP/MTL or MET/L

($1 = 7.2173 Chinese yuan renminbi)

Reporting by Siyi Liu and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Eileen Soreng

 For related news and prices, click on the codes in brackets: LME price overview RING= COMEX copper futures 0#HG: All metals news MTL All commodities news C 
 Foreign exchange rates FX=SPEED GUIDES LME/INDEX