NEW YORK July 29 (Reuters) - U.S. copper futures added to early gains after filings for U.S. unemployment benefits dropped last week also lifted U.S. stocks, oil prices and the euro on the view that an improving economic scenario will boost demand for the industrial metal, traders said on Thursday. For detailed report on global copper markets, click on [MET/L] * Copper for September delivery HGU0 jumped 4.70 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $3.2925 per lb, by 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT) on the COMEX metals division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. * Range ratchets higher, running from $3.2265 to $3.2960 per lb., the latest climb to a high dating back to May 4. * COMEX estimated 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) copper futures volume at 12,666 lots. * Open interest was up by 1,418 lots at 136,009 open contracts as of July 27. * A wave of commodity buy by funds sent copper up with other metals, oil, and soft commodities all around the same time - traders. * The euro and U.S. stocks were also climbing. * Copper and other commodity prices were already higher following an unexpected decline in the number of filings for unemployment benefits - traders. * New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell slightly more than expected last week, offering a ray of hope for the anemic labor market recovery. * STORY: [ID:nN28202832] TABLE: [ID:nLLATIE62M] * Prospects of improving economic conditions implied greater need for commodities, like industrial metal copper - traders. * "Getting an absolute drop in claims is positive, and this is good from an economic standpoint, especially coming ahead of tomorrow's GDP number," said John Brady, senior vice president at MF Global, Chicago. * The euro hit a 12-week high against a broadly weaker dollar as month-end demand helped pushed the single currency above a key technical barrier. [USD/] * A jump in euro zone economic sentiment to a 28-month high and a decline in German unemployment supported the euro's gains. [ID:nLDE66S0VN] [ID:nLDE66S0PL] * U.S. crude oil futures rose more than $1, lifted by the weak dollar and Wall Street's move up at the open on strong company earnings and a drop in weekly jobless claims. [O/R] * Wall Street stocks rose at the open on strong company earnings, including Exxon Mobil and after a drop in weekly jobless claims offered hope for the anemic labor market recovery. [.N] * Technically, copper rises well beyond its 200-day moving average, currently at $3.2035 a lb, reinforcing the bullish view - chartists. * London Metal Exchange coper stocks <0#LME-STOCKS> went up 100 tonnes to 411,525 tonnes on Thursday. * COMEX copper inventories fell by 227 short tons to 100,958 short tons as of Wednesday. * LME copper for three-months delivery CMCU3 rallied to $7,263 per tonne, surging above $7,170 at the previous kerb close. It shot to its highest since May 4 at $7,323.50. (Reporting by Carole Vaporean; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

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