1.   Gold often gains when the U.S. currency weakens because the cost of buying dollar-priced gold grows cheaper when using other currencies to purchase the metal.

2.   Aluminium prices rose as speculative buyers purchased the metal because of technical strength in the market, dealers said.

3.   At this level, dealers would be tempted to convert options to purchase metal into market trades, he said.

4.   New York authorities have put up the scrap steel for sale and companies in the United States which purchased the metal are selling it to companies in other countries.

5.   On the demand side, observers believed the stronger yen would see Japan, by far the largest importer, purchasing both metals in larger quantities.

6.   Platinum benefitted from turbulence in the Tokyo market as the high yen allowed dealers to purchase the metal for jewellery.