MUMBAI, Dec 3 (Reuters) - India copper futures are expected to open steady on Wednesday as fresh news of a production cut in Japan is expected to offset the metal's bleak demand outlook, analysts said. Nippon Mining Holdings Inc (5016.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Japan's top copper producer, is planning to cut production of the red metal by 15-20 percent due to weak demand. [nT2802] Benchmark February copper MCCG9 on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) on Tuesday ended down 2.08 percent at 183.6 rupees. It may open around 183 rupees per kg, an analyst said. However, analysts expect prices to not hold up merely on the news of the production cut and may weaken later in the day as demand concerns continue to plague the market. December zinc MZIZ8 ended down 1.91 percent at 59 rupees and lead for December delivery MLDZ8 ended down 1.61 percent at 55 rupees per kg. GOLD: India gold futures are expected to edge lower in early trade in line with weak overseas markets and a firm rupee, an analyst said. Overseas gold fell more than 1 percent on Wednesday, defying a rebound in oil prices, after the U.S. dollar bounced against the euro and speculators in Japan shifted some of their money back to stocks. See [ID:nSP368398] February gold on the MCX MAUG9 may open at 12,555 rupees per 10 grams and may remain confined to 12,600 and 12,740, an analyst said. The contract ended at 12,607 rupees per 10 grams in the previous session. (Reporting by Nandita Bose and Siddesh Mayenkar; Editing by Rohini Ananthan)

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