CAPITAL MARKETS

Nickel demand to pick up in 08

NICKEL demand is expected to grow 8-9% on-year in 2008 after higher nickel prices forced worldwide consumption to drop 6.4% in 2007, UBS told <I>Dow Jones newswires</I>. London Metal Exchange three-month nickel was last trading down $US100 at $27,900 per tonne. The bulk of nickel plays on the <I>Final Call</I> watchlist closed in positive territory.