Copper futures settled higher on Friday, supported by signs of improving demand from the world’s top metal consumer China as buyers there sought to boost inventories ahead of the national holiday running from October 1 to 8. However, some gains were limited by strong American currency against its major peers overseas following the Federal Reserve's indication of a gradual approach to further rate cuts.
Copper futures for December delivery gained $0.027 to settle at $4.6275 a pound on the Comex metals division of New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper on the London Metal Exchange was up by 0.49 percent at $9,989 a ton.