METALS: December gold futures closed up $9.80 at $1,308.40 today. Prices today closed near the session high, scored another fresh record high and scored a big and bullish "outside day" up on the daily bar chart-- whereby the high is higher and low is lower than the previous day's trading range, with a higher close.

A weaker U.S. dollar and safe-haven buying interest following some dour U.S. economic data today boosted gold. Gold bulls have the solid overall near-term technical advantage and gained more power today.

December silver futures closed up 25.9 cents at $21.73 an ounce today. Prices closed near the session high, hit a fresh 30-year high and also scored a big and bullish "outside day" up on the daily bar chart today.

The weaker greenback today and the rally in gold boosted silver prices solidly higher. Silver bulls still have the solid near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a steep five-week-old uptrend on the daily bar chart.

December N.Y. copper closed up 345 points at 363.15 cents today. Prices closed near the session high today and closed at a fresh 5.5-month high close. A weaker U.S.

dollar boosted the copper market today. The copper bulls have the solid overall near-term technical advantage.

Prices are in a four-month-old uptrend on the daily bar chart.