Nickel Nears Seven-Year High With Metals Rising on Demand Bets

Nickel Nears Seven-Year High With Metals Rising on Demand Bets

(Bloomberg) -- Nickel rose for a third straight session, approaching a seven-year high on booming demand for the metal used in stainless steel and electric-vehicle batteries. Copper advanced the most in more than two months.

Nickel gained as much as 2.1% to $19,780 a ton. It reached $20,110 in February, the highest since 2014. Declines in inventories and the dollar also lifted prices Monday. Most main metals traded in London rose, while spot gold was little changed as traders awaited a Federal Reserve meeting this week.

Investors are looking past concerns over the resurgent coronavirus on bets that miners reporting earnings this week will highlight drivers such as renewable energy and recovering economies. Demand is climbing in the stainless-steel industry, which accounts for about 70% of nickel end-use. Last week, Tesla Inc. struck a nickel-supply deal with BHP Group, as the electric-car maker seeks to protect itself from a future supply crunch.