BASE METALS
Copper has hit its highest in nearly three months after mines closed in the world's top producer Chile due to flooding and oil rallied on military strikes in Yemen.
In early trade, a weaker US dollar also helped to boost base metals on the London Metal Exchange as lead touched the highest in almost two months and zinc hit a one-month peak.
But gains were pared back in the European afternoon as the US dollar rebounded. A stronger dollar erodes commodities priced in the US currency by undermining the purchasing power of buyers paying with other currencies.
Three-month LME copper closed up 0.8 per cent at $US6,174 a tonne after small losses in the previous session. Prices earlier hit their highest since January 2 at $US6,294.50.
AVB Price at posting:
7.1¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held