Copper and other base metals prices were set for weekly falls on Friday as concerns that weakening global economic growth is curtailing demand outweighed comments by a US official that a trade deal with China was close.
Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) ended up 0.6% at $5,849 a tonne but down more than 1% on the week, slipping towards September's two-year low of $5,518.
Other industrial metals were down between 3% and 7.5% from last Friday's close.
The US-China trade dispute has hampered global economic activity and pushed metals prices sharply lower.
Investors have become increasingly wary of believing positive comments about the prospect of a trade deal, said Commerzbank analyst Daniel Briesemann.
"Uncertainty will still dictate the direction of prices," he said, adding that metals would likely fall further.
White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said on Thursday the United States and China were getting close to an agreement and were talking every day.
Adding to an upbeat tone, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said there would be a call between US and Chinese officials later on Friday.
Copper was holding just above its 50-day moving average of $5,813 and 100-day moving average of $5,827. A move below these levels would worsen its technical outlook.
Speculators were neutral in LME copper as of Tuesday, according to brokers Marex Spectron.
Yangshan import premiums fell to a three-month low of $68 this week, signalling weaker demand. On Friday they were at $71.
China's industrial output grew significantly more slowly than expected in October, underlining fears of a sharp drop in demand in the world's largest consumer of metals.
China's central bank is expected to cut a key interest rate next week after it extended 200 billion yuan ($28.6 billion) through its medium-term lending facility on Friday.
China's October refined copper output rose 17.9% year-on-year to a record high of 868,000 tonnes. Production of lead, zinc and alumina also rose.
Japan's Marubeni Corp said aluminium stocks held at three major Japanese ports at the end of October fell 2.6% to 318,200 tonnes from the previous month.
Headline aluminium inventories in LME-registered warehouses rose by 44,200 tonnes to a little under 1.1 million tonnes, the highest since June.
LME aluminium finished up 0.8% at $1,755 a tonne and down nearly 3% this week. Zinc fell 0.7% to $2,380 and was down nearly 4% this week. Nickel ended 1% lower at $14,975 and around 7.5% lower this week.
Lead closed 1% down at $1,997 and was down nearly 5% for the week. Tin slipped 0.6% to $16,100 and was around 3.5% lower this week.
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