Copper prices add 2.3 percent

Most precious metals prices were mixed on Monday, while base metals saw prices increase during the day.

Gold dropped 0.7 percent to $579.15 per troy ounce as prices remained caught up in concerns over economic growth and rising inflation. Silver prices also declined, dropping 1.8 percent to $10.11 per troy ounce. On the other hand, the price of platinum was up 1.4 percent and the price of palladium gained 3 percent, to $1,182 per troy ounce and $310 per troy ounce respectively.

Copper prices added 2.3 percent to $6,937.5 per tonne late in the day in London. Forecasts have mine capacity growing faster than smelter capacity through 2009. Meanwhile, the price of nickel was 2.7 percent higher, to $19,775 per tonne as London Metal Exchange stockpiles dropped by 750 tonnes to 11,800 tonnes.