Copper rose on Thursday after stronger housing data from the United States and China eased concerns about the impact on demand for industrial metals from a slowdown in the global economy. The most active November copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange climbed 0.8 percent to 56,230 yuan ($8,800) per tonne, after falling 0.3 percent previously.
"Prices haven't moved much today as buying power is still not strong. But talk in the market that Beijing may be announcing more monetary easing over the weekend is keeping the shorts at bay for now," said Orient Futures Derivatives department director Andy Du.