US copper ekes out gain in correction from 2-week low

NEW YORK, June 17 (Reuters) - U.S. copper futures ended up a shade on Wednesday, after hitting their lowest levels in nearly two weeks, as a weaker dollar offered some support to an extended downward price correction from last week's eight-month highs.

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* Most-active copper for September delivery HGU9 eked out a 0.45 cent gain by the close to $2.2695 a lb on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division.

* Session range $2.2905 to $2.2260 which marked the contract's lowest level since June 4.

* Last week, the September contract climbed to its loftiest level since mid-October above $2.46 a lb.

* COMEX estimated futures volume at 21,484 lots by 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT). Final volume on Tuesday at 27,662 lots.

* Open interest up 2,427 lots to 115,321 contracts open as of June 16.

* Copper supported by dollar weakness against the euro EUR= after data showed U.S. inflation grew at a lower-than-expected pace in May, suggesting interest rates will remain low for some time.

* U.S. consumer prices rose at a slower-than-expected pace in May despite higher gasoline costs, and fell over the past 12 months by the most since 1950. [ID:nN17329915]