Precious metals see prices rise

Prices for precious metals rose on Thursday. April gold gained $4.20 to close at $664.20 per troy ounce after going as high as $667.60 per troy ounce during the day, three week high. It was the sixth day in a row of gains in the price of gold.

Among other precious metals, May silver added 16 cents to $13.48 per troy ounce. June palladium was $5.75 higher to $357.75 per troy ounce, while April platinum gained $11 to $1,241 per troy ounce.

In base metals trade, copper prices were 2 percent higher to $6,740 per tonne after London Metal Exchange stockpiles dropped by 1,525 tonnes during the day. Meanwhile, nickel added 2.4 percent to $45,350 per tonne. Demand for nickel in China is expected to increase to 300,000 tonnes this year due to demand by stainless steel producers.