Copper futures held above $6.55 per pound on Friday after three consecutive sessions of gains, supported by signs of stronger Chinese demand. The Yangshan premium, a key gauge of China’s copper demand, rose to $121 a ton on Thursday, its highest level since November 2022. Copper also benefited from expectations for sustained long-term consumption by data centers and renewable-energy projects, as well as disruptions at several major mines. Earlier in the week, prices fell to multi-week lows after reports that the Trump administration had postponed a decision on potential tariffs on refined copper. Fresh deliveries into London Metal Exchange warehouses lifted inventories to their highest inflow in nearly four weeks and pushed London copper into contango, indicating ample near-term availability.