At the Multi Commodity Exchange, nickel for delivery in September moved up by 80 paise, or 0.12 per cent, to Rs 689.20 per kg, in a business turnover of 17 lots.
Also, the metal for delivery this month gained 40 paise or 0.06 per cent, to Rs 684.40 per kg in 848 lots.
Marketmen said besides pick-up in domestic demand from alloy-makers, a firm trend in the base metals pack at the London Metal Exchange (LME) as investors flooded into metals on expectations of capacity cuts in coal and aluminium in China, led to the rise in nickel prices at futures trade.