Precious metals prices decline

Precious metals prices were lower while base metals were mostly higher on Friday.

June gold was down $4.80 to $927 per troy ounce in New York, while May silver fell 35 cents to $17.69 and July platinum dropped 16.90 to $2,028.10.

Platinum fell on fears that continuing high prices could spur manufacturers who use the metal to find cheaper alternatives.

Copper prices were up on a weaker dollar and new data that showed imports of unwrought copper and partially finished goods made of the industrial metal were up by 6 percent in March.

May copper added 2 cents to $3.94 per pound in New York, while three-month copper was $32 higher to $8,650 per tonne in London.

Aluminium was up $13 to $3,095 per tonne while lead gained $57 to $2,967 per tonne but zinc dropped $30 to $2,310 per tonne.