METALS-Aluminium extends rally to 3-1/2-month peak on alumina shortage fears

Aluminium rose to its strongest in more than three months on Thursday, stretching the rally to a fifth session, amid worries the closure of the world's largest alumina refinery in Brazil will lead to a shortage of the raw material. Norsk Hydro said on Wednesday that it would halt production indefinitely and lay off 4,700 people at Brazil's Alunorte refinery, which has been operating at half capacity since March