SHANGHAI, Dec. 31 (SMM) – SHFE 1303 aluminum contract prices opened at RMB 15,305/mt on December 31. China’s manufacturing PMI for December was positive, sending prices of the most active SHFE aluminum contract up, but gains were limited as longs were cautious towards buying at higher prices. The March aluminum on the SHFE only touched a high of RMB 15,365/mt and finally closed at an intraday high of RMB 15,365/mt, up RMB 40/mt or 0.26%. Positions were up 134 lots to 65,124 lots. Investors turned away from the market on the last trading day of 2012 as positive Chinese economic data was offset by worries over the fiscal cliff talks in the US. SHFE market will resume trading on January 4, 2013 and whether the most active SHFE aluminum contract will meet resistance or find support at RMB 15,300/mt depends on how LME aluminum moves.