Copper hits three-year high, near US$7,000 on global growth

A worker at a copper mine in Mexico in this file photo. The 8.2 quake off Chile's coast triggered a tsunami alert, raising supply concerns with prices jumping 1%, before steadily paring gains - Reuters Photo.

MELBOURNE: London copper hit its highest in three years in early Asian trading yesterday as investment flowed into industrial metals amid surprisingly robust global factory growth.

Factories across Asia and Europe cranked up production last month as global demand remained strong, confounding expectations growth may have peaked.