METALS-Copper marks time ahead of China reports

MELBOURNE, Oct 19 (Reuters) - London copper marked time on Thursday amid prospects of better demand and ahead of a slew of economic readings out of China that were expected to signal a slowdown in economic growth. FUNDAMENTALS * LME COPPER: Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was barely changed at $6,982 a tonne by 0136 GMT, having closed a tad softer in the previous session. A close below the $7,000 watermark may trigger a technical consolidation. LME copper hit