* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns: http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl

* China data boosts metals sentiment

(Adds official prices)

By Zandi Shabalala

LONDON, April 17 (Reuters) - Copper prices rose on Wednesdayas firmer-than-expected economic growth figures from Chinaboosted expectations for higher demand in the world's top metalsconsumer.

China's economy grew at a 6.4 percent pace in the firstquarter from a year earlier, defying expectations for a furtherslowdown, as industrial production jumped sharply and consumerdemand showed signs of improvement. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N21Z0OK

"The data is confirmation that there are clear tailwinds toChinese growth into the second quarter and mid-year," saidDeutsche Bank metal strategist Nick Snowdon.

Benchmark copper CMCU3 rose 0.6 percent to $6,532 pertonne in official open outcry trading, inching to a neartwo-week high of $6,545 touched earlier.

China, which is in the midst of a trade conflict with theUnited States, ramped up fiscal stimulus this year to supportthe world's second largest economy after a slew of disappointingdata pointed to a potential slowdown.

But some analysts warned it may be too early to say the GDPdata was a sign of a full turnaround in the Chinese economy anda break from narrow trading ranges for metals.

"Whilst potentially the first quarter represents a keyturning point for the balance of 2019, as to whether it presentsa panacea to the mean reversion/range trading so evident in ourspace seems unlikely," said Alastair Munro at broker MarexSpectron.

OUTPUT: China's crude steel output grew 10 percent in Marchcompared with the same month a year ago as mills ramped upoperations amid a profit margin recovery and less stringentcurbs on production in the country's anti-smog crackdown. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N21Z0O5

DATA: China's aluminium production fell 3.6 percent on adaily basis in March from the previous two months to its lowestrate since October, pressured by winter curbs on industry andlow prices. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N21Z0PR

This pushed Shanghai aluminium SAFcv1 up as high as 13,995yuan ($2,092.59) a tonne, its highest intra-day level sinceDecember.

LME ALUMINIUM: LME aluminium CMAL3 rose 0.1 percent to$1,858 per tonne.

DOLLAR: The U.S. currency .DXY eased against a basket ofmajor currencies. A weaker greenback makes dollar-denominatedcommodities cheaper for non-U.S. firms, a relationship used byfunds to generate buy and sell signals. FRX/ AUSTRALIA RAILWAY: A railway that carries zinc from majorproducers such as Glencore GLEN.L , MMG Ltd 1208.HK and South32 S32.AX across Australia's Outback is expected to reopenthis month after it was damaged in floods. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nS9N1WY01E

COLUMN: Zinc is coming under sustained attack from bearishfunds. The trigger for the assault was Tuesday morning's LondonMetal Exchange (LME) stocks report, showing 10,625 tonnes ofinflow into exchange warehouses. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N21Y4P1

PRICES: Zinc CMZN3 climbed 0.7 percent to $2,829 pertonne, lead CMPB3 gained 1.6 percent to $1,950, tin CMNI3 was bid up 0.5 percent to $20,400 per tonne, while nickel CMNI3 was bid up 0.5 percent to $13,025 a tonne.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Top Base and Precious Metals Analysis - GFMS http://tmsnrt.rs/2lvmIzW

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen, editing by Louise Heavens) ((zandi.shabalala@tr.com; +44 207 542 5937; Reuters Messaging:zandi.shabalala.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

(( For related news and prices, click on the codes in brackets: LME price overview RING= COMEX copper futures 0#HG: Base metals news MET All metals news MTL All commodities news C Metals diary MTL/DIARY Foreign exchange rates FX=S SPEED GUIDES COMMODS LME/INDEX ))