Nickel in futures traded a shade higher at Rs 864 per kg today as speculators created fresh positions even as metal retreated overseas.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, nickel for delivery in June edged up by 60 paise, or 0.03%, to Rs 864 per kg in business turnover of 726 lots.
Similarly, nickel for delivery in July traded higher by 20 paise, or 0.01%, to Rs 871.50 per kg in 14 lots.
Market analysts said increased demand at spot markets helped nickel to trade higher at futures trade but metal's weakness at the London Metal Exchange, limited the gain.
