* Weak manufacturing data raises fears of global economic slowdown * Escondida strike enters 12th day, puts floor on LME copper * U.S. Senate expected to pass bill on debt ceiling * Coming Up: U.S. Personal income, Jun; 1230 GMT (Updates prices, adds quotes and details) By Carrie Ho SHANGHAI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - LME copper edged lower towards the end of Asian trading hours on Tuesday, weighed down by weak manufacturing data in the United States, Asia and Europe which stirred worries about a slowing global economy. The contract had risen 0.8 percent to a session high of $9,726, supported by the continued strike at the world's biggest copper mine, Escondida in Chile, before paring the early gains. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange edged down 0.1 percent to $9,636.25 a tonne by 0727 GMT, after falling 1.8 percent in the previous session. The most-active October copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SCFcv1 fell less than 2 percent to close at 72,010 yuan per tonne, after rising 1.1 percent in the previous session. "China's weak PMI and data out of other parts of the world have caused concerns about a slowing global economy. The high price of copper is also deterring restocking by end users in China," Shanghai Dongzheng futures analyst Du Xiao Hua. U.S. manufacturing grew at its slowest pace in two years in July as new orders contracted, casting doubt on expectations the faltering recovery would quickly regain steam. The world's manufacturing sector expanded at its weakest pace in two years last month, as factories reported shrinking orders for the first time since major economies recovered from the banking crisis and recession of 2008, surveys showed on Monday. China's factories struggled with their weakest activity in 28 months in July, a pair of surveys showed on Monday, as manufacturers grappled with credit shortages and softening global demand. Beijing seems to take a gentle easing in China's economy in stride as it pledged to keep to a prudent monetary policy for the rest of the year to fight inflation. But copper's strong fundamentals are expected to put a floor on prices. The strike at Escondida, which produces 7 percent of the world's copper, enters its 12th day. However, workers have lowered bonus demands, raising hopes of a possible solution to the conflict that has stoked supply fears. CEO of global mining firm Xstrata added to the bullish sentiment in copper, saying that the copper stock overhang in China has gone. We are likely to see supply tightness by the fourth quarter of this year, he added. A deal to raise the U.S. borrowing limit, crucial in averting a catastrophic debt default by the world's largest economy, was passed in the House of Representatives on Monday and is widely expected to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate when it votes on the bill at noon (1600 GMT). Base metals prices at 0727 GMT Metal Last Change Pct Move YTD pct chg LME Cu 9636.25 -13.75 -0.14 0.38 SHFE CU FUT OCT1 72010 -1430 -1.95 0.22 LME Alum 2563.25 -21.75 -0.84 3.78 SHFE AL FUT OCT1 18340 -195 -1.05 8.91 HG COPPER SEP1 438.35 -1.75 -0.60 -1.26 LME Zinc 2441.00 -20.00 -0.81 -0.53 SHFE ZN FUT OCT1 18455 -460 -2.43 -5.24 LME Nickel 24470.00 -155.00 -0.63 -1.13 LME Lead 2557.75 -7.25 -0.28 0.30 SHFE PB FUT 17190 -410 -2.33 -6.32 LME Tin 27775.00 -325.00 -1.16 3.25 LME/Shanghai arb 586 Shanghai and COMEX contracts show most active months ^ LME 3-m copper in yuan, including 17 pct VAT, minus SHFE third month Shanghai lead launched on March 24

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