Chinese stockbuilding and improving economic data has boosted base metal prices this year, but with the summer lull in full swing, analysts predict price corrections this quarter.

Gold slid below $930 (U.S.) an ounce before trimming those losses late in yesterday's session, but all precious metals prices remained sharply lower as investors opted for less risky assets. December gold settled at $935.80 an ounce, off $12.90. Silver tumbled nearly 6 per cent.


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CLOSING PRICES (SPOT)

Nickel US$/lb 8.65 -0.20

Copper US$/lb 2.75 -0.09

Gold US$/troy ounce 933.45 -14.75

Silver US$/troy ounce 14.00 -0.70

Lead US$/lb 0.80 -0.03

Zinc US$/lb 0.79 -0.03

Aluminum US$/lb 0.87 -0.01

Oil West Texas US$/bbl 66.75 -0.88

Nat Gas Henry Hub US$ mmbtu 3.11 -0.07

Nat.Gas AECO C C$/gigajoule 2.74 -0.08

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