Most Shanghai copper futures sidled higher in narrow trade on Friday as investors stayed on the sidelines awaiting market leads, traders said.
Shanghai's most active contract, December, gained 90 yuan to 25,560 yuan ($3,087) a tonne, while other contracts ended between 200 yuan higher and 160 yuan lower. Combined volume dwindled to 132,906 lots from Thursday's 212,686 lots.
"Trade is pretty much rangebound because tight movements on the London Metal Exchange provided little direction. But some copper might have arrived recently, somewhat easing tightness in spot supply," said a trader in Shanghai.
LME three-month copper was quoted at $2,758/$2,763 a tonne on Friday's Asian trade, after inching up $7 to end on Thursday's kerb at $2,772 on short-covering in the metals market, traders said.
Spot copper in Shanghai moved in a range of 28,750-28,810 yuan a tonne on Friday. Shanghai aluminium contracts were up 10 yuan to 70 yuan, with combined volume falling to 13,248 lots from Thursday's 15,720 lots.
LME aluminium gained $30 to $1,715 a tonne on Thursday.