New York gold gains on mixed day for metals

Precious metals prices were mixed in New York on Thursday.

February gold added $2.20 to $831.70 per troy ounce as energy prices climbed, the dollar weakened in relation to the euro, and news came that Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto had been assassinated after speaking to a rally there.

March palladium was also higher, gaining 5 cents to $368.35 per troy ounce to bring its gains this year to 8.8 percent.

On the other hand, April platinum dropped $6.40 to $1,536.60 per troy ounce on demand concerns after rising to a record $1,545.90 earlier in the session, while March silver fell 2 cents to $14,82 per troy ounce.

Among base metals, meanwhile, March copper dropped 4 cents to $3.13 in New York but London three-month copper added $85 to $6,880 per tonne after going as high as $7,065 per tonne earlier as London Metal Exchange stockpiles dropped by 100 tonnes on the session.