MUMBAI, Nov 12 (Reuters) - India copper futures were almost steady as support from a weak rupee was offset by rising inventories in the London Metal Exchange, analysts said. The most-traded November copper contract on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) was 0.20 percent lower at 304.00 rupees per kg at 4:48 p.m. The Indian rupee edged further down tracking weak domestic shares and dollar demand from oil refiners but the dollar's fall versus major units prevented a sharper decline. [INR/] A weak rupee makes the dollar-quoted asset expensive. Rising inventory provided the downward push to the red metal. Copper stocks in the warehouses monitored by the London Metal Exchange rose 4,800 tonnes to 402,125 tonnes on Thursday. Copper would trade sideways for the day and may be in the range of 301-307 rupees, said Somnath Dey, an analyst with Religare Commodities. "300 would be a tough support to crack," said Dey. In other base metals, November zinc MZIX9 was 0.10 percent higher at 100.95 rupees per kg, while lead for November delivery MLDX9 was 0.28 percent lower at 106.05 ruppes per kg. (Reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar; Editing by Harish Nambiar; siddesh.mayenkar@thomsonreuters.com; +91-22-6636 9163; Reuters Messaging:siddesh.mayenkar.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

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