Feb 8 (Reuters) - Base metals largely rose on Thursday, lifted by a softer dollar and amid improving risk sentiment in the Chinese equity market, but trading was slow ahead of a long public holiday in China.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose 0.4% to $8,346 per metric ton by 0223 GMT, while the most-traded March copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) fell 0.3% to 67,850 yuan ($9,431.08) a ton.
China shares rose slightly after Beijing ousted the head of the securities watchdog, replacing him with a veteran regulator with a reputation for tough action as policymakers struggle to stabilise the country's stock markets.
The U.S. dollar edged down but was trading in a tight range as traders digested less dovish remarks from policymakers overnight and looked ahead to fresh economic data from the United States.
A softer dollar makes greenback-priced metals cheaper to holders of other currencies.
However, trading was slow ahead of the Feb. 9-16 holiday in top consumer China to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
LME aluminium rose 0.2% to $2,227 a ton, nickel edged up 0.1% at $16,025, zinc advanced 0.5% to $2,412.50, lead increased 0.6% to $2,111 and tin jumped 0.8% to $25,700.
SHFE nickel climbed 1.4% to 125,770 yuan a ton, lead increased 0.7% to 16,285 yuan, tin jumped 2.3% to 214,490 yuan, while aluminium fell 0.2% to 18,905 yuan and zinc eased 0.2% to 20,490 yuan.
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DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
1330 US Initial Jobless Clm Weekly
($1 = 7.1943 yuan) (Reporting by Mai Nguyen in Hanoi; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
