The London Metal Exchange (LME) nickel futures price on December 3 edged up by US$73/ton and closed at US$14,873/ton. Also, the spot price increased by US$72/ton to US$14,677/ton. Weaker US nonfarm payroll data increased market expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut, causing the US dollar to continue weakening. At the same time, LME nickel inventories have declined over the past four trading days, supporting a rebound in nickel prices.

According to market participants, Indonesia’s mining policies showed fluctuations, and some mining areas faced environmental disruptions. However, the impact on the overall loose global nickel supply structure was limited. With stainless steel demand remaining weak, nickel prices in the short term are expected to continue being guided primarily by macroeconomic factors.