SHANGHAI - Copper jumped to the highest price since August 2008 in London after imports by China surged in March on rising seasonal demand.

The three-month contract on the London Metal Exchange rose as much as 1.5 percent to $8,043.75 a metric ton in early trade, the highest level since Aug 1, 2008.

The contract rose above $8,000 last week for the first time since the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc in September 2008.