MUMBAI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - India copper futures edged lower on Thursday, tracking weak overseas markets, but a falling rupee kept the downside limited, analysts said. The most-active copper February contract MCCG0 was trading 0.75 percent lower at 326.25 rupees per kg at 4:28 p.m. London copper, which guides the domestic market, edged lower in quiet trade as a stronger dollar and the absence of Chinese traders weighed, but prices were expected to recover soon on strong investment interest. [MET/L] But a weak rupee, which makes the dollar-quoted asset expensive, supported the downside, they added. The Indian rupee weakened, in line with domestic stocks and weighed down by a strong dollar overseas. [INR/] "Copper could be sold on a bounce to 328, targeting 323, maintaining a stop loss of 331 rupees," said Navneet Damani, an analyst with Anandrathi Commodities. In other base metals, February zinc MZIG0 was 1.47 percent lower at 104.20 rupees per kg, while lead for February delivery MLDG0 was 1.61 percent lower at 103.75 rupees per kg. Selling could be initiated in lead at 104.50, targeting 102/101, for a stop loss of 105.5 rupees, said Religare Commodities said in a report. February nickel MNKG0 was trading 0.03 percent lower at 926.50 rupees per kg. "Buying could be done in nickel close to 905, for a target of 935, maintaining a stop loss of 890 rupees," said Damani. (Reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar; Editing by Ramya Venugopal)

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