Metals up as investors seek bargains

Most metals prices saw gains Wednesday as lower prices after recent declines brought bargain-hunters out to buy.

September copper added 12 cents to $3.35 per pound in New York while three-month copper added almost 5 percent to $7,482 per tonne in London before ending the session at $7,400 per tonne, a gain of $250 on the session.

Zinc added $27 to $1,650 per tonne while aluminium was up $41 to $2,813 per tonne, tin was $350 higher to $17,800 per tonne and nickel gained $400 to $18,500 per tonne.

Lead, however, saw declines as it dropped $56 to $1,684 per tonne.

Gold prices also rose amid more than a week of declines as jewelers showed more interest in lower prices after purchases for gold to make jewelry dropped 24 percent in the second quarter.

December gold added $16.90 to $831.50 per troy ounce in New York while September silver was up 36 cents to $14.85 per troy ounce.

Earlier, in morning trade, platinum was up $20.60 to $1,499 per troy ounce in New York after prices fell 29 percent in the past six weeks.