Aluminium, lead among metals gainers

Most metals prices were higher Wednesday as the US dollar weakened and crude oil prices gained back some of their early-week declines.

Among base metals, aluminium added $45 to $3,190 per tonne in London but was still off Monday’s record of $3,320 per tonne on continuing supply worries due to energy shortages to Chinese smelters.

Lead added $160 to $1,790 per tonne after going as high as $1,800 per tonne earlier in the session on rumors of supply disruptions in the US and on a leveling off of recently-growing stockpiles.

Copper was unchanged at $8,200 per tonne in London but in New York September copper added 4 cents to $3.74 per pound, while zinc added $115 to $1,865 per tonne in London.

Precious metals prices were higher on the session, with August gold adding $5.40 to $928.40 per troy ounce in New York while September silver was up 23 cents to $18.18 per troy ounce and October platinum gained $19.10 to $1,972 per troy ounce.