Base metals on the London Metal Exchange (LME) have closed mixed, having traded in tight ranges in quiet market conditions.
At the close of open-outcry trading on Tuesday, LME three-month copper was down 0.3 per cent on the day at $US7,076 a metric ton.
Aluminium closed 0.4 per cent higher at $US1,707 a ton.
Following gains in the previous session, analysts said the LME's flagship metal, copper, ran into strong resistance at its 200-day moving average of $US7,150 a ton.
"Buying in Asia remains lacklustre, which is still capping base metal rallies," said Standard Bank in a note to clients.
"To a large extent, nickel continues to garner plenty of attention as the Indonesian ore ban remains in place," the bank added.
Nickel closed down 0.3 per cent at $US14,160 a ton.
An ore export ban imposed by key producer Indonesia in January has put a cushion under prices as it underlines risks to the global supply chain for metals such as nickel and tin.
