METALS-Copper falls as grim data reins in recent optimism

* Dollar strengthens broadly, equities slide

* U.S. jobs data comes in far worse than expected

By Michael Taylor and Rebekah Curtis

LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - Copper fell on Thursday, as grim U.S. and European data underlined concern that global economic recovery could be a long way off, and as a firmer dollar added pressure.

Copper for three month delivery MCU3 on the London Metal Exchange closed at $5,035 a tonne from $5,090 on Wednesday.

Hitting sentiment was data showing U.S. employers cut 467,000 jobs in June, 100,000 more than expected, with the unemployment rate rising to 9.5 percent. [ID:nN01210643]

And as the European Central Bank held rates at 1 percent, its chief warned weak economic activity would hamper growth and gradual recovery would only emerge by mid-2010. [ID:nL2512532]

"Following non-farm payrolls and comments from the ECB we've seen the dollar strengthen and that's seen most commodity prices under pressure," said John Reade, analyst at UBS.

Also hurting sentiment were figures showing euro zone unemployment hit its highest in 10 years in May. [ID:nL2242351] European and U.S. equities tumbled after the data [.EU] [.N].