Last Call: Alcoa shares climb

Shares of Alcoa Inc. rose Friday after an analyst said China will shortly become a net importer of aluminum.

Shares of the top U.S. aluminum producer rose $1.39, or 4 percent, to close at $36.11.

Citi Investment Research analyst John H. Hill said in a client note that aluminum prices are "finding good fundamental support after being pulled higher on power shortfalls and smelter shutdowns in China and South Africa."

Also, China is expected to become a net importer of aluminum later this year, he said his note Thursday.

Besides Alcoa, other aluminum producers also gained. Century Aluminum Co. increased $3.23, or 4.9 percent, to $69.45, and Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. American Depositary Shares rose 37 cents to $42.60.