Shanghai copper rises in night session, nickel flat

The modest uptick in copper alongside a sharp zinc gain and flat nickel points to selective, rather than broad-based, strength in base metals, suggesting market participants are differentiating on supply-demand fundamentals rather than trading a uniform macro narrative. The mixed moves across the complex—with aluminum and tin softening—imply that near-term direction may hinge on individual inventory or policy signals. Whether this divergence persists, or converges into a clearer trend, is the key observation for the session ahead.