Copper bounced this week on supply fears after a vast earthquake in top producer Chile, while Brent oil dived on the prospect of rebounding Libyan crude supplies, analysts said.

Other commodities experienced mixed fortunes as investors digested Friday's broadly in-line non-farm payrolls data in the United States, which is a leading consumer of many raw materials.

BASE METALS: The enormous earthquake in Chile sent copper jumping to a three-week peak, while supply risks also sent nickel racing to a one-year high.

A powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit Chile late Tuesday, killing at least six people and generating tsunami waves that hit as far away as Japan.

In reaction, copper rallied on Wednesday to $6,734 per tonne, the highest point since March 10.

"Copper has hit a three-week high as an enormous earthquake off the coast of Chile as sparked fears of a tsunami," said IG analyst David Madden.

"Traders are concerned that copper supplies will suffer following the natural disaster."

Chile is the biggest copper producer in the world and accounts for almost one-third of global supplies.

Analysts noted however that no earthquake damage to copper facilities had been reported.

"Copper operations in Chile have emerged unscathed from the major earthquake that struck on Tuesday night and the strong aftershock that followed the next night in the mineral-rich north," said Triland Metals analysts.

Copper has faced volatile trade this year, slumping last month on demand worries in top global consumer China.

Elsewhere, nickel soared to a one-year pinnacle amid Indonesia's ongoing ban on exports of mineral ore including nickel, copper and bauxite. The ban has been in place since January 12.

"The lack of Indonesian ore in the market is seeing ever higher ore prices, feeding through to higher production costs in China," Macquarie analyst Colin Hamilton told AFP.

"Nickel can still go much higher through the course of this year," he added.

By Friday on the LME, copper for delivery in three months rose to $6,700 a tonne from $6,635.75 week earlier.

Three-month aluminium increased to $1,846 a tonne from $1,754.75.

Three-month lead eased to $2,070 a tonne from $2,079.

Three-month tin rose to $23,208 a tonne from $22,866.

Three-month nickel rallied to $16,545 a tonne from $15,850.

Three-month zinc climbed to $2,011 a tonne from $1,989.25.

- Oil plumbs new low -

OIL: Prices hit a fresh five-month low as Libyan supplies appeared set to return to the market, traders said.

London's Brent North Sea crude sank on Wednesday to $103.95 a barrel -- the lowest level since November 8.

"Brent fell to a five-month low ... (with) the expectation of a growing oil supply from Libya continuing to weigh on its price," said Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch.

Rebels demanding autonomy for eastern Libya said Thursday they had made progress in talks with the central government on reopening key oil ports they closed to exports last July.

A rebel spokesman said a first port might reopen as early as next week, raising hopes of an end to a nine-month blockade Tripoli says has cost the country more than $14 billion in lost oil revenues.

The blockade has slashed Libyan crude oil exports from 1.5 million barrels a day to just 250,000.

The oil market staged a modest rally on Friday after the US Labor Department report for March showed job growth roughly in line with expectations.

The US economy -- the world's biggest crude consumer -- added 192,000 jobs in March, a shade under analysts' average estimate of 195,000 net new jobs.

But the overall picture showed stronger gains in the first quarter, despite severe winter weather, than previously estimated.

By Friday on London's Intercontinental Exchange, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in May dived to $106.77 a barrel from $108.04.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate or light sweet crude for May dipped to $101.21 per barrel from $101.67 a week earlier.

PRECIOUS METALS: Gold sank Tuesday on profit-taking to a seven-week low of $1,276.98 per ounce, before rebounding to end the week with gains.

"Gold prices fell in line with our expectations this week -- before the US employment report gave gold a boost towards $1,300 per ounce," said Barclays analyst Kevin Norrish.

The safe-haven metal had last month forged a six-month high at $1,392.22 as investors sought to shelter from Russia-Ukraine tensions -- which have since receded.

By late Friday on the London Bullion Market, the price of gold rose to $1,297.25 an ounce from $1,294.75 a week earlier.

Silver firmed to $19.93 an ounce from $19.71.

On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum advanced to $1,444 an ounce from $1,401.

Palladium increased to $789 an ounce from $771.

SUGAR: Prices struck a five-week low on investment-fund selling, abundant supplies, and relief that drought-related crop damage in top producer Brazil was not as bad as previously expected.

"Fund liquidation of long positions is seen as the principal driver (of falling prices), as the damage from the Brazilian drought may prove to be less than first thought," said Citi analyst Sterling Smith, who also noted that the market was "very well supplied".

By Friday on LIFFE, the price of a tonne of white sugar for delivery in May decreased to $460.90 from $481.80 a week earlier.

On ICE Futures US, the price of unrefined sugar for delivery in May retreated to 17.20 US cents a pound from 18.10 US cents.

- Rain hopes dampen coffee -

COFFEE: The price of coffee also drifted lower on the prospect of rainier weather in Brazil that could boost output.

The market declined on hopes "that more rains are coming to Brazil", said Price Futures Group analyst Jack Scoville.

He added: "The rains in March have been beneficial, and production has become more stable."

By Friday on the ICE Futures US exchange, Arabica for delivery in May dipped to 176 US cents a pound from 178.30 cents a week earlier.

On LIFFE, London's futures exchange, Robusta for May declined to $2,066 a tonne from $2,097.

COCOA: Cocoa futures fell further from recent 2.5-year high points as traders continued to take profits.

"There are no pressing weather issues seen in any growing areas at the moment and without some fresh news, the market will likely continue to drift lower," added Citi analyst Smith.

By Friday on LIFFE, cocoa for delivery in May fell to �1,848 a tonne from �1,865 a week earlier.

On ICE Futures US, cocoa for May dipped to $2,919 a tonne from $2,945.

RUBBER: Prices in Kuala Lumpur slid further on news that Thailand was offloading stockpiles, and amid lingering concerns over China's economic outlook.

The Malaysian Rubber Board's benchmark SMR20 fell to 185.95 US cents a kilo from 191.75 cents last week.

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