Copper futures held firm Friday despite a bigger-than-expected rise in U.S. unemployment figures.

The national unemployment rate increased to 10.2 percent in October from 9.8 percent the previous month as nonfarm payrolls shed 190,000 jobs. But base metal prices were unfazed by the news, with copper losing little ground on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. December-delivery copper settled at $2.9525 per pound Friday, down slightly from $2.9570 per pound Thursday.

Three-month metal on the London Metal Exchange closed second-ring trade at $6,561 per...