Precious metals lower in New York; base metals mixed

Metals prices dropped in New York on Tuesday as crude oil prices fell, the dollar strengthened versus the euro and as investors worried about the health of the US economy.

December gold dropped $12.50 to $814 per troy ounce on reduced demand, while December silver fell 36 cents to $14.47 per troy ounce

January platinum was down $15.10 to $1,453.50 per troy ounce after dropping to $1,452 per troy ounce earlier in the session, while in mid-morning trade March palladium had fallen $13.25 to $351 per troy ounce.

Among base metals, copper was 6 cents lower to $2.99 per pound on fears that slower economic growth in the US will cut demand after consumer confidence fell more than expected in the US in November, while three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange dropped 2 percent on the session.

Other industrial metals were mixed in London, with tin and aluminium higher but nickel and zinc lower during the day.