Metals end week higher on hopes of growth

Metals prices started climbing Monday after early reports showed that retail sales were higher than many traders expected during Thanksgiving weekend. Prices continued to rise through the week as reports indicated the U.S. economy might grow more quickly than many investors thought.On Friday, the government said the unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent, the lowest level since March 2009. The country added 120,000 jobs in November, according to the Labor Department. The economy has generated 100,000 or more jobs five months in a row the first time that has happened since April 2006, well before the deep recession.Palladium for March delivery gained $15.65 Friday, or nearly 2.5 percent, to close at $645.85 an ounce. Palladium is up nearly 13 percent for the week. Copper for March delivery rose 5.05 cents to close at $3.5845 per pound. Copper ended the week 10 percent higher.Platinum for January delivery lost $8.70 to settle at $1,548.50 an ounce. Platinum is up 1 percent for the week.Precious metals also ended the week higher.Gold for February delivery rose $11.50 to settle at $1,751.30 per ounce. Gold is up nearly 4 percent for the week. March silver fell 7.3 cents to close at $32.686 an ounce, putting silver nearly 6 percent higher since Monday.