* LME copper curve flattens as nearby demand slips CMCU0-3 * China on holiday this week; ShFE closed * Zinc stock overhang seen capping gains (Adds quotes, update prices; previous SINGAPORE) By Eric Onstad LONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Copper gave up ground on Wednesday, snapping four days of gains, as more gloomy data from Europe and China reminded investors that underlying demand for industrial metals was sluggish despite efforts of central banks to boost economic growth. Weak readings for purchasing managers indexes (PMIs) suggested it was almost inevitable the euro zone returned to recession in the third quarter, one more in a sucession of indications the global economy is struggling. Further signs of slowing expansion in China, which accounted for 40 percent of refined copper demand last year, also came on Wednesday, with the country's official PMI for the services sector falling to 53.7 in September from 56.3 in August. "We seem to go from QE3-related euphoria to reality-related depression. It's obviously too quick, but we haven't yet seen any real fundamental follow through to support the rally that was prompted by QE3," said analyst David Wilson at Citigroup in London. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange shed 0.4 percent to $8,293.25 a tonne by 1000 GMT, after climbing more than 2 percent over the past four sessions. Copper has gained 9 percent since the start of September and touched a 4-1/2 month peak of $8,422, fuelled by the third round of quantitative easing (QE) by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the promise of bond buying by the European Central Bank (ECB) and simulus measures in Japan and China. Some of the gains have been due to a weaker dollar against the euro on the back of QE3, but the expected launch of ECB purchases of Spanish bonds may reverse the trend, Wilson warned. "If Europe is printing (money) as well and that reverses, does that remove support for commodities given the fact that real industrial demand for metals doesn't seem to be that strong?" Wilson, who expects metals to drift lower in coming months, forecasts copper will average $8,000 a tonne in the fourth quarter. ANZ commodity strategist Nick Trevethan in Singapore also notes the tug of war between liquidity bulls and those concerned about the outlook for top metals consumer China. "Data from China is still showing the economy is bottoming - not yet improving - and you still have this political paralysis going on ahead of the leadership transition in China," he said. "We typically will see demand pick up in December. The question is, will it pick up as significantly as in the past? I don't think so." Despite recent gains, copper has been trapped in a narrow range in lean volumes with China away since Monday due to public holidays. FOCUS ON THE U.S. Reflecting a lack of nearby interest in copper, the LME forward curve has flattened with cash copper trading at a small discount to three-month prices on Tuesday from a $6.50 premium at the end of September. CMCU0-3 The United States will be in focus this week with nonfarm payrolls data for September due on Friday after U.S. auto sector sales posted their best showing in 4-1/2 years. Three month zinc lost 0.9 percent to $2,079.50 a tonne and LME inventories rose by 1,575 tonnes to 995,625, creeping back up to a peak of 1.015 million tonnes hit in July. Standard Bank said in their Commodities Quarterly that LME cash price is expected to average $2,045 a tonne next year, compared to a close of $2,063.75 on Tuesday. "Ultimately, with European demand worse than expected, zinc demand and indeed price support will depend on continued strength from the U.S. auto market, and a pick-up in infrastructure spending in China. Given the overhang of refined and concentrate stocks, however, it may be premiums that benefit rather than prices." Three-month aluminium lost 0.3 percent to $2,100 a tonne and galvanizing metal lead shed 0.4 percent to $2,290. Tin fell 1.2 percent to $22,025 a tonne and stainless steel material nickel gave up 1.0 percent to $18,630. Metal Prices at 1001 GMT Comex copper in cents/lb, LME prices in $/T and SHFE prices in yuan/T Metal Last Change Pct Move End 2011 Ytd Pct move COMEX Cu 378.40 -1.80 -0.47 344.75 9.76 LME Alum 2100.75 -6.25 -0.30 2020.00 4.00 LME Cu 8292.00 -33.50 -0.40 7600.00 9.11 LME Lead 2289.25 -10.75 -0.47 2034.00 12.55 LME Nickel 18619.00 169.00 +0.92 18650.00 -0.17 LME Tin 21950.00 -345.00 -1.55 19200.00 14.32 LME Zinc 2080.25 -17.75 -0.85 1845.00 12.75 SHFE Alu 15760.00 65.00 +0.41 15845.00 -0.54 SHFE Cu* 59770.00 670.00 +1.13 55360.00 7.97 SHFE Zin 15680.00 100.00 +0.64 14795.00 5.98 ** Benchmark month for COMEX copper * 3rd contract month for SHFE AL, CU and ZN SHFE ZN began trading on 26/3/07

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