Copper reaches fresh peak on optimism over trade talks

• Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) had gained 1.2% to $5,902 a tonne by 1030 GMT, the highest since Aug. 1
• LME nickel fell 1.8% to $17,660 a tonne after LME inventories rose 6.6% to 166,680 tonnes, the highest since June 24
• Indonesia's energy ministry has approved a new recommendation for a unit of Freeport McMoran Inc to raise copper concentrate exports to 700,000 tonnes until March 2020.

LONDON: Copper hit the highest in 1-1/2 months on Friday as investors hoped an easing of trade tensions between the United States and China might eventually boost metals demand.

China will exclude some agricultural products from additional tariffs on US goods, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.

The move came after the two sides made conciliatory gestures on Thursday, such as China renewing purchases of US farm goods and Washington delaying a tariff increase on certain Chinese goods by two weeks.

The prolonged trade war between the world's two biggest economies has weighed on global growth and the demand outlook for most industrial metals.

"The markets seem to have taken it very well, although it's hard to get too excited," said Caroline Bain, chief commodities economist at Capital Economics in London.

"Certainly our U.S economist is very sceptical that this is going to lead anywhere. We also think the global economy is going to continue to slow over the rest of the year, so we see very little upside for metals prices from here."

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) had gained 1.2% to $5,902 a tonne by 1030 GMT, the highest since Aug. 1.

Volumes were thin because the Shanghai Futures Exchange was closed on Friday for the mid-autumn festival. It will resume trading on Monday.

* NICKEL STOCKS: LME nickel fell 1.8% to $17,660 a tonne after LME inventories rose 6.6% to 166,680 tonnes, the highest since June 24, easing short-term shortages in LME warehouses.

* NICKEL SPREAD: The premium of LME nickel cash to the three-month contract had jumped to $163 a tonne by Thursday's close, the highest since 2009, from $102 a tonne in the previous session, signalling tight nearby supplies.

Traders said shortages had been exacerbated by a dominant position, with one party holding over half of LME inventories and short-term futures.

* VALE BRAZIL: Also pressuring nickel prices was news that Brazil's supreme court authorised Vale to restart nickel processing at its Onca Puma operation in Brazil. Activity at the complex was suspended in June.

* INDONESIA COPPER: Indonesia's energy ministry has approved a new recommendation for a unit of Freeport McMoran Inc to raise copper concentrate exports to 700,000 tonnes until March 2020.

* PRICES: LME aluminium dipped 0.1% to $1,802 a tonne, zinc advanced 1.3% to $2,378, lead added 0.9% to $2,096 and tin rose 0.7% to $17,245.