(Updates by Asian market close)

April 1 (Reuters) - Copper rose to two-week highs on

Wednesday, supported by optimism that the end of the Iran war

could be near, easing concerns over global growth and inflation,

while a weaker U.S. dollar added support.

The benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange

was up 0.85% at $12,440.50 a metric ton as of 0754 GMT

after hitting $12,492.50, the highest since March 18.

The most-active copper contract on the Shanghai Futures

Exchange gained 1.54% to 97,030 yuan ($14,093.57) a

ton, following a rise to 97,250 yuan - the highest since March

19.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United

States could wind down the conflict in two to three weekseven

without a deal with Tehran.

Trump is expected to address the nation "to provide an

important update on Iran" at 9 p.m. EDT on Wednesday (0100 GMT

on Thursday).

His comments provided some relief as copper isconsidered a

barometer of macroeconomic health and widely used in power and

construction. The metal recently came under pressure as surging

oil prices caused by the war dampened the global growth outlook

and stoked inflation fears.

London copper declined 7.55% in March, its worst month since

June 2022, after the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.

The U.S. dollar weakened on Wednesday, making

greenback-backed commodities more affordable for investors using

other currencies.

Meanwhile, demand in China continued to show signs of

recovery, with stocks monitored by the SHFE declining for a second consecutive week to 359,135 tons as of

March 27, according to the exchange's weekly stock data.

On the LME, aluminium dropped 0.42%, zinc was

little changed, down only 0.06%, lead gained 0.94%,

nickel declined 0.80% and tin climbed 1.61%.

Among other metals on the SHFE, aluminium lost

1.10%, zinc declined 0.98%, lead rose 0.79%,

nickel nudged 0.03% higher and tin rose 1.23%.

($1 = 6.8847 Chinese yuan renminbi)