Copper rose to a record on Thursday and was on track to finish 2010 nearly one third higher as a weaker dollar and widening market deficit seen for next year burnished the metal's allure for investors. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange traded at $9,516 at 1522 GMT, up from a close of $9,400 on Wednesday. The metal used in power and construction earlier hit a record $9,550 a tonne before paring gains after U.S. data beat expectations, according to Reuters. Copper has climbed almost thirty percent during 2010, up from $7,375 at the end of December 2009, with just one more day of LME trade on Friday before the new year.
