METALS-Copper up with equities, but virus surge limits gains

LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - Copper prices firmed on Wednesday alongside a rebound in equities and a weaker dollar, though investor fears over rising coronavirus cases limited gains.

Three-month benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was up 1.3% at $9,440 per tonne at 1620 GMT.

Expectations for a boom in copper demand in the transition to a lower carbon economy and global economic recovery have pushed prices back up towards a near 10-year high of $9,617 a tonne hit in February.