Weaker dollar boosts copper

A softer dollar and stronger equities buoyed copper yesterday, though gains appeared fragile on persistent worries about the pace of the global economic recovery.

The dollar's weakness and uncertainty about the global economy also pushed gold above $1,000 an ounce for the first time in six months.

Battery material lead climbed nearly 3 percent to a high of $2,415 a ton, its best level since early May 2008 on continuing supply worries following smelter shutdowns in China due to pollution concerns.