Industrial metals rebounded on Friday, taking a pause after heavy losses this week, but analysts cautioned that markets were still on edge and vulnerable to deeper losses.

Copper was the weakest metal, bouncing slightly after hitting six-month lows on concern about a surge of mine supply swamping the market.

The rise in other metals was stronger, along with other global financial markets, following signs of strength in the U.S. economy and reassuring words from U.S. and European policymakers.

Copper is widely regarded as having some of the weakest fundamentals among base metals as a wave of fresh supply from new and expanded mines works its way onto markets.

Highlighting worries about more supply was a 17.5 percent jump in weekly copper inventories in warehouses monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange.

Metals rebounded after a robust U.S. data including housing starts and consumer sentiment calmed turbulence in global markets, but analysts and traders said it was too early to say a bottom has been touched.