Copper and aluminium failed to break above psychologically important levels by Friday's close on the London Metal Exchange, but traders saw potential for a push higher next week.
Copper ended the kerb at $4,960 a tonne, down $10.
"It had every excuse to go down a lot and it didn't," a trader said.
Bearish news included the end of the strike at producer Grupo Mexico and a 2,600-tonne rise in LME stocks.
"But there was quite a big fall in Chinese stocks, which was a bit of a surprise, and that's underpinned the market," the trader said.
"Ending the day here is positive rather than strong."
Inventories in warehouses monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell 29 percent after a 15 percent drop last week, the exchange said.
Traders had said copper was ready to approach $5,000 before mounting a fresh assault on the record high of $5,100 hit last month.
"Testing $5,000 is a distinct possibility. There is some selling above the market so we may struggle a little, but we could get there at the close," another trader said earlier.
Aluminium hovered just below $2,500 throughout the afternoon kerb, before ending at $2,488, up $73, but its strong performance lacked fundamental support, the first trader said.
"Physical demand is not good, but who am I to fight against the market?" he said.
Most other metals ended down.
Zinc closed the kerb session at $2,358, down $35, and nickel was $145 below Thursday's PM kerb at $15,150.
Lead and tin were untraded, the former quoted at $1,220/1,220.50, down $17, and the latter at $7,925/7,950 versus $7,750.