The base metals were all in positive territory on Friday. Copper rallied through the mid-morning of the New York day, peaking above $2.75, before easing but still finishing in the black at $2.6757/lb., up 4 cents. Nickel was sharply higher in the pre-dawn hours, but held a good part of its gains through the day, closing at $6.8697/lb., up 19¼ cents.

The base metals were all slammed on Thursday. Copper held steady until the New York open, then headed straight down for the rest of the day, finishing at its intraday low of $2.636/lb., down 17 cents. Nickel also plunged, but started earlier and fell more steeply, closing at $6.6776/lb., down 36½ cents.

The base metals were mixed on Tuesday. Copper fell below $2.80 in the pre-dawn hours, but then righted itself, managing to claw its way back into positive territory at $2.9036/lb., up better than a penny and a half. Nickel dropped below $7 early, rallied back into the mid-morning, but then sagged again to close at $6.9642/lb., down more than 24 cents.

The base metals all took a major shellacking on Monday. Copper declined from the pre-dawn hours straight through the New York day, finishing at its intraday low of $2.8879/lb., down 20¾ cents.

The base metals were little changed on Thursday. Copper was off in the pre-dawn hours, but then rose through the New York day, overcoming each selloff to finish at $3.1511/lb., up more than 2 cents. Nickel traded sideways for most of the day, closing at $7.5773/lb., up 2¼ cents.

The base metals were mixed on Tuesday. Copper pushed higher, reaching $3.22 in the pre-dawn hours, but then toppled through the New York day, just coming off its intraday lows to finish at $3.1307/lb., down more than 4¾ cents.

The base metals were mixed again on Thursday. Copper shot up from the pre-dawn hours to the New York open but that’s where it put in its high for the day at $3.17, giving up its gains and then some, and finishing at $3.0923/lb., down more than a half-cent.

Aluminum demand seen exceeding supply. The base metals were mixed on Friday. Copper rebounded from Thursday’s beating, pushing back over $4, but couldn’t hold there as it slipped in later trading to finish at $3.9797/lb., up 2 2/3 cents.