METALS-Shanghai copper hits over two-week high as dollar tumbles

NEW DELHI, April 21 (Reuters) - Shanghai copper prices hit a more than two-week high on Monday as the dollar weakened to a three-year low, though an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, the world's top metals consumer, tempered the rise.

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) SCFcv1 ended up 1.7% at 77,290 yuan ($10,599.87) per ton. It had briefly touched a level of 77,360 yuan per ton, the highest since April 3.

The London Metal Exchange (LME) is closed on Monday for the Easter break.

The dollar dived on Monday as investor confidence in the U.S. economy took another hit over President Donald Trump's plans to shake up the Federal Reserve, which would throw into question the independence of the central bank. USD/

Separately, China on Monday warned countries against striking a broader economic deal with the United States at its expense, ratcheting up its rhetoric in a spiralling trade war between the world's two biggest economies.

China's ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, urged Washington on Saturday to seek common ground with Beijing and pursue peaceful coexistence while warning that China stood ready to retaliate in the escalating trade war.

Among other metals, SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 firmed 0.9% to 19,870 yuan a ton, zinc SZNcv1 was up 1.7% at 22,395 yuan, lead SPBcv1 gained 1.4% to 17,045 yuan, tin SSNcv1 was up 2.5% to 263,140 yuan and nickel SNIcv1 firmed 0.3% to 125,930 yuan.

($1 = 7.2916 Chinese yuan)