Gold and other metals were little changed in quiet trading yesterday as cautious investors refrained from making big bets on commodities. Energy prices fell, while agriculture futures were mixed. October crude settled at 71.43 (U.S.) a barrel in New York, off 62 cents.
Platinum prices were unchanged but supported at the lower levels by a wage dispute at South Africa's Impala Platinum, whose chief executive said on Thursday that thousands of striking workers could be sacked.
Oil prices, another key driver of gold, which is often seen as an inflation hedge, were also steady above $71 a barrel after touching a 10-month high earlier this week.
Among other precious metals, silver was at $14.20 an ounce against $14.30. Platinum was unchanged at $1,232 an ounce, while palladium was at $283 against $284.
CLOSING PRICES (SPOT)
Nickel US$/lb 8.67 -0.12
Copper US$/lb 2.85 -0.01
Gold US$/troy ounce 945.73 0.22
Silver US$/troy ounce 14.32 0.03
Lead US$/lb 0.92 0.00
Zinc US$/lb 0.82 0.00
Aluminum US$/lb 0.83 -0.02
Oil West Texas US$/bbl 71.43 -0.12
Nat Gas Henry Hub US$ mmbtu 2.76 -0.09
Nat.Gas AECO C C$/gigajoule 2.26 0.08
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