Metals prices on the rise again

Metals prices were mostly up in early afternoon trade in New York on Monday. The main exception was July silver, which was trading steady at $13.58 per troy ounce. June gold was $1.70 higher to $683.50 per troy ounce, while July platinum had gained $5.40 to $1,298.40 per troy ounce.

Among base metals, July copper was trading 2 cents higher to $3.56 per pound. Although the continuing threat of a strike in Peru tended to support base metals prices - early in the day on the London Metal Exchange, nickel was trading higher at $48,550 per tonne - trade volumes are expected to remain low as some Asian markets will be closed most of the week for holidays.