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SINGAPORE, Apr 12 (Reuters) Copper and zinc prices paused on Wednesday, a day after copper jumped above $6,000 a tonne for the first time and zinc set a record high just below $3,000 on fund buying and supply worries.

The frenzied metals market would likely calm down for the rest of the week before the Easter holidays start from Friday, dealers said, but may resume its bull-run next Tuesday when major investors come back to trade.

By 0344 GMT, London Metal Exchange copper for delivery in three months was down $10 at $5,960/$5,970 a tonne.

On Tuesday, copper prices gained $60 to close at $5,970 after touching a record $6,001 on the back of news that Grupo Mexico had declared force majeure due to ongoing strikes at some of its Mexican mines.

''There has been some position-squaring before the Easter holidays,'' said Hiroyuki Kitakata, a director at Barclays Capital Japan.

But he said it was highly possible that the market would resume its bullish trend after the holidays with strong demand and ongoing supply concerns.

The red metal, used in construction and electronics, has gained more than 35 percent this year.

Copper prices have risen more than four-fold from below $1,400 in November 2001 on strong demand and tight supply after years of under-investment in new mining projects, and as more funds flock into the commodities sector for higher returns.

The most active Shanghai copper contract, June, ended the morning session down 90 yuan from the previous close at 56,000 yuan ($6,974) a tonne, after trading as low as 55,400 yuan.

''Shanghai opened slightly stronger than expected but sellers were soon drawn in after Chinese longs were forced to stop out yesterday,'' a dealer said.

''Selling has still yet to fill through to LME but with two days to go until the Easter holidays, the possibility of some serious profit-taking cannot be ruled out.'' Shen Haihua, vice president of Maike Futures in Shanghai, said that there was selling in Shanghai copper futures in early trade after LME copper failed to hold above $6,000 on Tuesday.

''After this kind of selling pressure dried up, there was new buying or short-covering to push the market up,'' Shen said.

LME aluminium was at $2,562/$2,567 a tonne after losing $8 on Tuesday to close at $2,566, while Shanghai's most active aluminium contract, June closed the morning session down 200 yuan at 20,390 yuan a tonne.

In other LME metals, zinc was at $2,930/$2,940 a tonnes from London's close of $2,942. On Tuesday, it set a record $2,985.

On Tuesday, LME zinc stocks fell another 2,500 tonnes to 265,150 tonnes, the lowest since June 2001.

Zinc, used as an anti-corrosive coating in galvanised steel production, has been a star performer in the base metals complex this year, gaining more than 55 percent on tight concentrates supply and growing demand from the steel sector.

Metal Prices by 0344 GMT LME ($/tonne), SFE (yuan/tonne) and COMEX (US cents/lb) Metal Last Net Change Pct Move LME Cu 5960.00 -10.00 -0.17 SHFE Cu* 56000.00 -90.00 -0.16 LME Alum 2562.00 -4.00 -0.16 SHFE Alu* 20390.00 -200.00 -0.97 COMEX Cu** 275.15 0.00 +0.00 LME Zinc 2930.00 -12.00 -0.41 LME Nickel 17625.00 -75.00 -0.42 LME Lead 1155.00 -8.00 -0.69 LME Tin 8700.00 -55.00 -0.63 Change so far in 2006 Metal Latest bid End prev year Pct Move LME Cu 5960.00 4395.00 +35.61 SHFE Cu* 56000.00 41720.00 +34.23 LME Alum 2562.00 2276.00 +12.57 SHFE Alu* 20390.00 19360.00 +5.32 COMEX Cu** 275.15 204.20 +34.75 LME Zinc 2930.00 1905.00 +53.81 LME Nickel 17625.00 13500.00 +30.56 LME Lead 1155.00 1051.00 +9.90 LME Tin 8700.00 6475.00 +34.36 * 3rd contract months for SHFE copper and aluminium.

** 1st contract month for COMEX copper.

($1=8.03 yuan) REUTERS PV ND1220