Jan 10– Inventories of refined nickel in the Shanghai bonded areas edged lower this week, showed SMM data, as a closed import arbitrage window kept trades quiet.

Stocks decreased 300 mt in the week ended January 10 to 17,700 mt, with those of briquettes barely changed at 3,400 mt.

SMM calculations showed the import losses averaged about 2,700 yuan/mt this week, compared to 3,600 yuan/mt for last week. Cargoes under bill of lading were quoted as $150/mt.