Metal markets mixed on news

In the metal markets on Thursday, gold added 1.1 percent to $604.20 per troy ounce. The gains came on news that gold output at one South African mine will be down by around 60 percent in the second half of the year due to a fire there. The rise in the price of gold sent other precious metals higher as well. Silver gained 0.2 percent to $11.62 per troy ounce, while palladium was 0.6 percent higher to $318 per troy ounce and platinum added 1.1 percent to $1,152 per troy ounce.

Among base metals, copper dropped 2.1 percent to $7,460 per tonne despite strike concerns in Canada. Zinc was also lower by 1.2 percent to $3,360 per tonne. Nickel, however, added 1 percent to $28,850 per tonne and aluminium was 2.3 percent higher to $2,597.5 per tonne.