NEW YORK - U.S. copper futures headed into positive territory Friday morning after data showing U.S. employers cut a fewer-than-expected 216,000 jobs in August hit the dollar, making metals denominated in the currency a better value.

Copper for December delivery HGZ9 was trading up 0.50 cent at $2.87 a lb by 8:39 a.m. EDT (1239 GMT) on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division, from around $2.8450 before the release of the report. (Reporting by Chris Kelly)

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