Backed by better demand prospects as the main metal consumer, China, took further steps to revive a crisis-ridden real estate market, copper prices started the month on a firmer note despite a strong US dollar at the end of this week.

After recording its first monthly loss since May, copper at three months on the London Metal Exchange was up 0.8% to $8,487.50 per metric ton at 01:36 GMT. The most traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange in October fell by 0.1% to 69,420 yuan per metric ton. China's central bank and financial regulator issued notices on Thursday to relax certain borrowing rules to help homebuyers, including reducing the existing mortgage rate for first-time homebuyers and reducing the down payment ratio in some

Lead increased by 0.6% to $2,231 and nickel increased by 1.1% to $20,520, zinc increased by 0.8% to $2,449, and aluminum increased by 0.8% to $2,225 per ton, and tin increased by 0.6% to $25,550 at the LME. For its part, lead increased by 2.9% to 16,800 yuan, nickel moved little to 165,480 yuan, SHFE aluminum increased by 1% to 19,130 yuan per ton, zinc rose by 0.4% to 21,075 yuan, and tin slipped by 0.2% to 215,010 yuan