India copper futures are expected to open higher on Wednesday following global peers, where a recovery on Wall Street and positive Chinese import data supported the red metal, analysts said.
The benchmark April contract MCCJ9 on the Multi Commodity Exchange, (MCX) closed 1.2 percent lower at 231.30 rupees per kg in the previous session.
At 9:16 a.m., three month LME copper was 0.53 percent higher at $4,540 a tonne, after hitting a high of $4,578 earlier.
It may open at 232.50-233 rupees per kg, said Kunal Shah, an analyst with Nirmal Bang Commodities.
China's imports of refined copper rose to a record 296,843 tonnes in March, topping the previous all-time high of 270,948 tonnes set in February. [ID:nBJI000158]
"Copper may inch up a bit but there is nothing very bullish about it," said Shah.
Copper may trade in the range of 229-234 rupees for the day, Abhishek Chauhan, a technical analyst with Angel Commodities.
April zinc futures MZIJ9 ended 1.2 percent lower at 72.75 rupees per kg, while lead for April delivery MLDJ9 closed 0.2 percent lower at 74.20 rupees per kg in the previous session.