METALS-Copper slips after weak data from Europe

 * German ZEW index, euro zone IP disappoints

 * Traders see supply tightness supporting copper prices

 * Coming up: U.S. business inventories for July at 1400 GMT

 
  (Updates after U.S. retail sales data)

 By Humeyra Pamuk

 LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Copper slipped on Tuesday as
weaker-than-expected economic data from Europe prompted
investors to sell riskier assets and raised worries about the
strength of the economic recovery.

 Benchmark copper CMCU3 for three months delivery on the
London Metal Exchange was trading at $7,575 a tonne at 1244 GMT
from $7,630 a tonne on Monday. The metal used in power and
construction hit a four-month high of $7,750 a tonne last week.

 "The market is still edgy," Carl Firman, analyst at Virtual
Metals, said. "I think we are going to continue to hear mixed
messages from the U.S. and Europe - problems haven't gone away."

 The Mannheim-based ZEW economic think tank's monthly poll of
economic sentiment fell to -4.3 in September from 14.0 in
August. [ID:nDEP003349]

 Euro zone monthly industrial production was also weaker than
expected in July, hit by a slump in durable consumer goods, but
output was much higher than a year earlier. [ID:nBRLEKE665]

 Copper recouped some losses after U.S. retail sales data for
August showed a larger-than-expected increase, the biggest in
five months. [ID:nN13206701]

 However, the slightly softer dollar .DXY helped support
sentiment as it makes metals priced in the U.S. currency cheaper
for holders of other currencies. [USD]

G.