Gold dips as dollar firms

LONDON - Gold edged lower in Europe on Thursday as concerns over the fiscal health of euro zone economies pressured the single currency versus the U.S. dollar, curbing interest in gold as an alternative to the U.S. unit.


Prices remained well off the lows they hit in the last session as some investors were tempted back into the market by the metal's recent price fall.


Spot gold was bid at $1,125.75 (U.S.) an ounce at 1031 GMT, against $1,128.80 late in New York on Wednesday. It dropped as low as $1,116.80 that day, its weakest since Nov. 13.

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Silver was bid at $17.35 an ounce against $17.38.

platinum was at $1,412 an ounce against $1,416.50.

palladium was at $361 against $362.

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Copper hits two-week low

LONDON - Copper prices hit a two week low on Thursday as a stronger dollar and demand worries weighed, and as funds that have driven prices up to multi-month highs took profits.


Benchmark copper for three-months delivery on the London Metal Exchange traded at $6,865 (U.S.) a tonne at 1034 GMT from a close of $6,945 on Wednesday. Earlier it hit $6,810, its lowest since late November.

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Aluminum was steady at $2,204 a tonne from $2,212, after rising to a 13-month peak of $2,215 on Wednesday.

Steel making ingredient nickel was at $16,540 from $16,570. LME stocks rose 336 tonnes to 143,766 tonnes, less than 10,000 tonnes short of the record seen in over 10 years ago, in November 1994.


Zinc, used to galvanize steel was at $2,309 from $2,312, battery material lead was at $2,286 from $2,281, while tin was at $15,270 from $15,250.

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