Copper prices rose to the highest in a week after February imports of the metal jumped to a record in China, the world’s biggest buyer. Imports of copper and alloys surged 55 percent to 283,461 metric tons from January, the Beijing-based customs office said today. That was the highest level since at least 2004, according to Bloomberg data. Before today, futures in New York gained 18 percent this year on speculation that government-spending plans would revive demand. “The only ray of hope has been China,” analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd., led by Sam Catalano in London, said in a report. “Recent demand numbers have been surprisingly strong.” Copper futures for May delivery climbed 4.65 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $1.711 a pound at 9:09 a.m. on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier, the price reached $1.715, the highest since March 6. On the London Metal Exchange, copper for delivery in three months rose $90, or 2.5 percent, to $3,760 a metric ton ($1.71 a pound). The price reached a record $8,940 on July 2.

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