WEEKLY WRAP JAN 30

Copper futures rose for the third time in five

sessions as higher silver, gold and energy prices

boosted investor demand for commodities.

Crude oil traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange

jumped as much as 4.8 percent. Gold climbed, capping

a third straight monthly gain, and silver led gains

among the 19 contracts in the Reuters/Jefferies

CRB Index. The gauge added as much as 1.4 percent,

heading for a second consecutive weekly increase.

Copper futures for March delivery added 1.1 cents, or

0.7 percent, to $1.4685 a pound on the Comex division

of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Copper, up 4.2 percent in January, capped its

first monthly gain since June on speculation that

government spending on infrastructure projects in

China and the U.S. will increase demand for metals.



President Barack Obama is urging Congress to pass a

stimulus plan, valued at more than $800 billion, to

revive U.S. growth. The measure is pending in the

Senate after passing the House of Representatives

earlier this week.

Still, prices were down 0.2 percent this week, a

third straight weekly decline, on growing concern

the stimulus packaged may not be enough to stem

declines in demand.