LONDON, June 5: Gold prices fell to a new 20-year low point in a continuing downward movement prompted last month when Britain unveiled pilaris to sell off more than half its gold stocks, says AFP.

On the London Bullion Market. the gold spot price fell to 266.95 dollars an ounce from 269.50 dollars. It hit the lowest level since May 21, 1979 midweek at 263.85 dollars.

SILVER: Flat. Silver prices remained stable in the absence of market-moving news.

Cash prices on the London Bullion Market closed at 4.96 dollars an ounce from 4.95 dol-

PALLADIUM AND PLATINUM: Firm. Palladium prices withstood an early bout of selling to close slightly higher, in spite of plentiful deliveries of metal from Russia, the world's leading producer country.

Russian shipments have been flowing for a month now.

putting paid to fears of a biting market shortage, the like of which sent prices sky high in 1997 and 1998.

Platinum prices held firm on technical trades.

On the London Palladium and Platinum Market, the palladium cash price rose by three dollars to 342 dollars an ounce and platinum prices rose by 50 cents to 364 dollars an ounce.

COPPER: Hot. Copper prices received a boost from market optimism over growth prospects and hence demand for the metal.

Three-month prices put on 31 dollars over the week to (1.417.80) dollars per tonne while official reserves fell by 1,000 tonnes to 775,275 tonnes.

LEAD: Balloon. Lead prices rose despite a sharp increase in official reserves.

Three-month prices rose 6.50 dollars to 603.25 dollars a tonne as official reserves were up by 4,550 tonnes to 123,825

tonnes.

ZINC: Ovation. Prices advanced due to technical factors and increased reserves.

Three-month prices ( rose 23.80 dollars to 1.004.30 while official reserves grew 4.975 tonnes to 314.750 tonnes. Prices were further depressed by a decision by South Korea's Young Poong Corp to boost annual capacity by 63,000 tonnes to 178,000 tonnes by 2002.

ALUMINIUM: Shine. Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) gained from a rise in Chinese imports.

Three-month prices on the LME rose by 45.05 dollars to 1,310.30 dollars per tonne.

Market reserves fell by 900 tonnes to 766.050 tonnes.

TIN: Tumble. Tin prices fell under the weight of widespread selling on the part of investment funds.

Three-month prices on the LME fell by 270 dollars to 5.232.50 dollars per tonne.