MUMBAI, Oct 12 (Reuters) - India copper futures edged higher on Monday tracing overseas leads, and further supported by a weak rupee, which makes the dollar-quoted asset expensive, analysts said. The most-traded copper November contract MCCX9 on Multi Commodity Exchange was 0.46 percent higher at 294.40 rupees per kg at 3:54 p.m. London copper prices climbed in Europe amid hopes demand may be on the road to recovery, after a positive session for the base metal in Asia. See [MET/L] The rupee traded marginally weak, but off early lows, on the back of a rebound in local shares and as the dollar pared some of its earlier gains versus majors. "It (domestic copper) is strong because of the local currency movement and LME prices," said Somnath Dey, in-charge, metals and energy research, Religare Commodities. "Copper may trade in the range of 290-298 rupees today. It has the potential to test 300 later in the week," said Dey. "Copper is facing tough resistance at 296 rupees, and if it breaches 296, the next level to watch out for would be 302," said Navneet Damani, an analyst with Anand Rathi Commodities. Local copper prices have doubled so far in the year on the back of Chinese stockpiling and hopes of receding economic recession overseas. In other base metals, zinc for October delivery MZIV9 was 1.91 percent higher at 96.20 rupees per kg, while lead for October delivery MLDV9 was 1.83 percent higher at 105.85 rupees per kg at 3:54 p.m. (Reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar; Editing by Harish Nambiar)

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