MUMBAI, Nov 18 (Reuters) - India gold futures may strike a fresh record high in early trade on Wednesday helped by inflation worries, analysts said. The benchmark December gold MAUZ9 on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) closed 0.6 percent higher at 17,022 rupees per 10 grams, after hitting a record high of 17,040 rupees on Tuesday. December gold is likely to open at 17,050 rupees per 10 grams, Abhishek Chauhan, technical analyst with Angel Commodities. "People are ready to buy at any dip. Gold may distinctly move on the upside till 17,185 later today," said Gnanasekar Thiagarajan, director, Commtrendz Research. Oil rose towards $80 a barrel, supported by an industry report that showed crude stocks in the U.S. fell steeply last week, but limited by U.S. economic data that painted a picture of a slow recovery. See [ID:nSYD391327] Rising crude oil enhances gold's appeal as an inflation hedge. Gold may face some resistance at 17,120 rupees, said Chauhan. COPPER: India's copper futures may open slightly lower weighed by rising inventories in the London Metal Exchange, spurring demand concerns, analysts said. The most-traded November contract MCCX9 on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) ended 0.6 percent higher at 316.40 rupees per kg. November copper may open at about 314/315 rupees, said Murukesh Kumar, senior research analyst, JRG Wealth Management. "320 would be a strict resistance," he said. Copper stocks in the warehouses monitored by the London Metal rose 3,550 tonnes to 410,000 tonnes. <0#LME-STOCKS> November zinc contract MZIX9 closed 0.2 percent higher at 103.80 rupees per kg, while lead for November delivery MLDX9 ended 0.09 percent lower at 108.80 rupees per kg in the previous session. (Reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar; Editing by Harish Nambiar)

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