By Francesca Freeman LONDON--Copper rose to its highest price in two-and-a-half weeks on the London Metal Exchange Friday, buoyed by renewed hopes that the Chinese government will step in to prop up economic growth. The LME's flagship three-month copper contract rose 1.2% to $6,642 a metric ton in early trade, its highest price since March 11. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said economic growth should be maintained at a "reasonable pace," in the latest hint that the government is ready to reach for stimulus measures if the current slowdown worsens. "The Chinese premier is talking markets up," said Rob Montefusco, a senior commodities broker at Sucden Financial. China is the world's top consumer of base metals like copper, and concern over the impact of slower economic growth on metals demand there have weighed on prices in recent months. However, hopes have been building that the Chinese government will implement measures to support growth following a spate of poor economic data from the country. Attention next week should center on the release of monthly payroll data in the U.S. Friday, said analysts. A strong reading could lend further support to base metal prices.

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