Aug 15 (Reuters) - Copper prices inched higher on Tuesday from a six-week low hit in the last session, as top metals consumer China cut short-term loan rates and reverse repo rates, and as a softer dollar made greenback-priced metals cheaper to holders of other currencies.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange advanced 0.1% to $8,300 per metric ton by 0228 GMT, on track for its first session of gain in four.

The dollar index eased from a five-week high hit in the previous session.

China's central bank unexpectedly cut key policy rates for the second time in three months, in a sign that authorities are ramping up monetary easing efforts to boost a sputtering economic recovery.

The most-traded September copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose 0.4% to 68,240 yuan ($9,381.62) per metric ton.

But gains were capped as property investment in China extended its fall for the 17th consecutive month in July, and home sales slumped amid a deepening debt crisis, especially at real estate giant Country Garden.

LME aluminium increased 0.4% to $2,154.50 per metric ton, nickel rose 0.2% to $20,135, zinc climbed 0.5% to $2,361, lead edged up 0.2% at $2,099.50, while tin fell 0.1% to $25,305.

SHFE aluminium rose 0.6% to 18,420 yuan per metric ton, while nickel fell 0.4% to 164,130 yuan, zinc dipped 0.3% to 20,385 yuan, lead shed 0.1% to 15,885 yuan, and tin lost 2.1% to 213,260 yuan.

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DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

0600 UK Claimant Count Unem Chng July

0600 UK ILO Unemployment Rate June

0600 UK HMRC Payrolls Change July

0900 Germany ZEW Economic Sentiment Aug

0900 Germany ZEW Current Conditions Aug

1000 EU Reserve Assets Total July

1230 US Import Prices YY July

1230 US Retail Sales MM July

($1 = 7.2738 yuan) (Reporting by Mai Nguyen in Hanoi; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)