The base metals complex had a mixed end to the week as renewed strength in the U.S. dollar and higher inventories in China unnerved investors ahead of the weekend.

Base metals closed the week largely higher, with three-month nickel gaining 4.2 percent on the London Metal Exchange from the previous Friday, three-month aluminum was up 1 percent, tin rose 0.7 percent and copper inched 0.1 percent higher.

Lead and zinc lagged the complex, with the heavy metal down 1.9 percent on the week and three-month zinc losing 1.6 percent.

Friday trading saw mixed pricing, with only nickel contracts making a decisive step forward from the previous day. Three-month nickel ended the official session on the LME at $22,700 per tonne, up 1.8 percent from $22,305 Thursday, while tin...