UPDATE FOR OCTOBER 27

Copper bounced 6.6 percent andother metals jumped on

Monday in a short-covering rallytriggered by better-than

-expected housing data from the UnitedStates. In early trade,

the metal -- often seen as a key gauge for real economic

activity -- fell almost 5 percent to a three-year low on

a firmer dollar and concerns over global demand growth.

A U.S. government report showed a surprise increase in

September new home sales, tempering worries about

prospect of adeep recession. Three-month

copper MCU3 on the London Metal Exchange


jumped 6.6 percent to a high of $4,025 a tonne before

closing at $4,020. In early trade, the metal, mainly

used in the construction and power industries, hit a

three-year low of 3,590 -- down 4.9 percent against

Friday's close of $3,775.