LONDON - Gold held near $945 (U.S.) an ounce in Europe on Thursday, up a touch from the previous session as the dollar's retreat from early highs against a basket of currencies boosted interest in the metal as an alternative asset.

"Platinum for the moment should find further support around the $1,220 level, with scaled-up resistance expected towards the June $1,297 high," said TheBullionDesk.com analyst James Moore.

"Palladium appears comfortable above the $264 level although the scale of recently added longs does leave the metal vulnerable to a deeper correction," he added.

LONDON - Higher equity markets and an upbeat outlook on metals demand from global miner Rio Tinto Ltd/Plc gave a boost to industrial metals on Thursday, with copper rising over 3 per cent.

SINGAPORE - Oil prices held above $72 Thursday after jumping the previous day on an unexpected fall in U.S. crude inventories.

CLOSING PRICES (SPOT)

Nickel US$/lb 8.54 0.02

Copper US$/lb 2.71 -0.05

Gold US$/troy ounce 942.50 4.50

Silver US$/troy ounce 13.80 -0.17

Lead US$/lb 0.81 0.00

Zinc US$/lb 0.81 0.01

Aluminum US$/lb 0.87 -0.03

Oil West Texas US$/bbl 71.97 2.64

Nat Gas Henry Hub US$ mmbtu 3.02 -0.09

Nat.Gas AECO C C$/gigajoule 2.67 0.00

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24 Hour Base Metals