MUMBAI, Oct 22 (Reuters) - India copper futures eased on Thursday weighed by a strong dollar overseas, after the red metal gained more than 3 percent in the previous session, analysts said. The most-traded November contract MCCX9 was 0.15 percent lower at 308.65 rupees per kg at 3:54 p.m., after hitting a high of 309.7 rupees earlier. The dollar rose broadly, rebounding from 14-month lows against the euro and a currency basket as a slide in global share price cooled risk demand and put the brakes on a rally in higher-risk currencies. [USD/] A strong dollar typically weighs on dollar-denominated copper by making it expensive for investors outside the U.S. "It's the dollar, which is weighing on prices, prices might be in the range of 304-311 rupees," said Tejas Seth, an analyst with SMC Global. "Selling could be initiated at 308 rupees, with a target of 302 and with a stop loss of 311," said Navneet Damani, an analyst with AnandRathi Commodities. Latest LME data showed copper stocks rose 1,525 tonnes to total 364,075 tonnes, the highest since mid-May and up more than 40 percent since the middle of July. MCU-STOCKS Chinese GDP data, which came in line with expectations, but higher than the previous quarter, failed to cheer investors, they added. China is the major consumer of many base metals. China's annual economic growth quickened to 8.9 percent in the third quarter from 7.9 percent in April-June, as expected, as a potent cocktail of breakneck investment and buoyant bank lending more than made for a slump in exports. [ID:nSP452724] China also said refined copper output rose 8 percent from the previous month to a record 394,800 tonnes in September and production of zinc, nickel and primary aluminium also increased. [ID:nPEK175104] In other base metals, October zinc MZIV9 was 1.13 percent higher at 102.95 rupees per kg, while lead for October delivery MLDV9 was 0.31 percent lower at 111.65 rupees per kg. (Reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar; Editing by Sunil Nair)

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