Among other precious metals, silver tracked gold higher, rising nearly 2 per cent to $13.62 an ounce from $13.39. Platinum was at $1,182 an ounce against $1,171, while palladium was at $252 against $246.

Oil rose as rosy earnings reports fed into hopes for an economic recovery that could revive global energy demand. The August U.S. contract expired yesterday and has been replaced by the more active September contract, which settled at $65.61 (U.S.) a barrel, up 32 cents.

Copper stocks in LME warehouses saw a modest 475 tonne tick up to 266,425 tonnes, enough for five to six days of world use.

CLOSING PRICES (SPOT)

Gold US$/troy ounce 948.90 -2.13

Silver US$/troy ounce 13.55 -0.12

Copper US$/lb 2.44 0.02

Lead US$/lb 0.76 -0.01

Zinc US$/lb 0.74 -0.01

Aluminum US$/lb 0.77 0.00

Nickel US$/lb 7.20 -0.12

Oil West Texas US$/bbl 64.72 0.85

Nat Gas Henry Hub US$ mmbtu 3.48 -0.01

Nat.Gas AECO C C$/gigajoule 2.99 0.06

.