Shanghai Futures Exchange zinc traded up 0.5 percent, hitting 17,555, the highest since May 2015, and closing in on four-year highs above 17,590 yuan on Friday while Shanghai nickel pared early gains to drop 0.8 percent. "Supply-side issues (are) likely to support metal markets today," said ANZ in a research note. Prices were set for a small weekly gain of less than one percent.
Copper's uptrend has been holding well since early June and would be challenged only if prices fall back below $4,900, said Triland in a note. "Therefore we still have some good space left before any downside risk resumes, a reason why markets have been particularly quiet lately." China's economic growth is expected to cool to 6.5 percent this year - the low end of Beijing's target range - even as the government steps up spending and the central bank loosens policy further to prevent a sharper slowdown, a Reuters poll showed.