Copper Rises in Overnight Trading; Aluminum, Zinc, Nickel Slip

The split between copper and the rest of the base-metals complex is the notable detail here, with gains confined to copper while alumina and aluminum alloy posted the session's steepest declines. That divergence matters most for producers and traders whose margins hinge on the aluminum chain rather than on copper alone. Whether copper's relative strength persists against continued weakness in alumina and stainless steel is the open question.