time highs and silver hit the highest level for 30 years during a shortened trading week as commodities ended a record-breaking year in rampant style. It has been a remarkable 2010 for trading of raw materials, with gold futures also striking a record peak as the precious metal benefited from its status as a safe-haven investment in times of economic uncertainty. Copper hit 9,675 a ton this week – its highest level on record. The metal used in electrical wiring and pipes – has been winning support from strong Asian demand and supply disruptions. Other notable price risers across the base metals complex in 2010 were nickel, which soared 31 percent and aluminum which increased by a tenth. By late Friday on the London Metal Exchange (LME), copper for delivery in three months jumped to $9,650.50 a ton from $9,339.50 a week earlier. Three-month aluminum climbed to $2,468.25 a ton from $2,446. Three-month lead grew to $2,562 a ton from $2,448. Three-month tin increased to $26,800 a ton from $26,650 a week earlier. Three-month zinc gained to $2,352.75 a ton from $2,314. Three-month nickel advanced to $24,750 a ton from $23,900. Silver's rally this week was joined by palladium which ended the year by reaching the highest level since 2001. Silver reached a 30-year high of $30.90 an ounce on Thursday after main producer Peru announced a drop in output. Silver climbed to $30.63 an ounce from $29.07. On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum increased to $1,748.75 an ounce from $1,725. Palladium gained to $796.25 an ounce from $764. – Agence France
