Gold hit a two-week high above $946.00 per ounce on Friday, extending its gains as the dollar retreated, while firmer oil prices raised its appeal as a potential inflation hedge.

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The base metals were mixed on Friday. Copper bottomed below $1.48 in the pre-dawn hours, but then pushed higher until the late morning, when it came off its highs to finish at $1.5752/lb., up 5½ cents. Nickel rose from the pre-dawn hours to mid-morning, trailed off, but then rallied late to close at $4.5503/lb., up 9¼ cents.

The base metals all had a rare close in positive territory on Thursday. Copper bottomed during the pre-dawn hours, then forged a not unbroken but steadily higher trail through the day, finishing at its intraday high of $1.6223/lb., up 3½ cents.

The base metals were mixed on Friday. Copper fell from the pre-dawn hours to the New York open, but rallied from there, regaining much of the lost ground though it failed to break even, finishing at $1.893/lb., down 4 1/3 cents.

The base metals were all off to the races on Wednesday. Copper blasted back over the $2 mark, rising from the pre-dawn hours to past noon before easing a bit and finishing at $2.0678/lb., up 14¾ cents. Nickel followed a similar path, cresting above $6 before pulling back to close at $5.8559/lb., up 61¼ cents.

The base metals were nearly all in positive territory on Tuesday. Copper prolonged its rally, with buying coming in on dips through the day, and finishing at its intraday high of $1.9204/lb., up more than 7 2/3 cents. Nickel soared in the afternoon hours, before easing a bit late to close at $5.2435/lb., up 23 1/3 cents.

The base metals were mostly higher on Friday. Copper rose during the pre-dawn hours, peaking at $3.73 near the New York open, then slid for most of the rest of the day, finishing at $3.6965/lb., up 9 cents.

The base metals were mixed again on Thursday. Copper sank during the pre-dawn hours and fought its way back during the New York session though it fell short of positive territory at $3.6068/lb., down more than a penny and a third.

When gold was going for $300 an ounce and oil for $25 a barrel, it was easy to know where to put your money.