LONDON, Aug 7: Gold prices slipped at the end of the week, for once following silver which lost some of the gains secured at the start of the.week, reports AFP.

The spot price on the London Bullion Market fell to 255.90 dollars an ounce from 256.80 dollars at the end of last week.

Despite a gentle upturn earlier In the week thanks to the weakness of the dollar and the rise of silver prices, the overall tendency in the gold market remains depressed at the prospect of central bank sales, particularly in Britain.

'The market is confused and there will be no sustained move until the Bank of England auction in September." said Andy Smith, a metals expert with the Mitsui Bussan Commodities brokerage in London.

Silver: Bright. Silver finished the week stronger despite slipping back towards the weekend as speculative buying dried up and rumours swept the market of technical selling by one of the leading investment funds.

Cash prices on the London Bullion Market rose by 13 cents to 5.45 dollars an ounce.

Platinum and Palladium: Fork. Prices diverged with a

platinum pushing higher due to strike action at South Africa's leading producer. Northam Platinum, while palladium prices remain subdued.

Palladium prices on the London Palladium and Platinum Market fell a dollar to 340 dollars an ounce, while platinum prices rose by 9.25 dollars to 354.25 dollars an ounce.

Base Metals: Glimmer. Copper led a recovery of the base metals complex as a two-week-old strike at an important Chilean port continued to block exports from the country.

Technical trades also gave the red metal a fillip, as the seasonal summer-time lull set into the market.

Three-month copper prices rose by 29.5 dollars to 1.658 dollars a tonne.

Market watchers eyed with quiet concern developments in British Columbia, where management and unions at the Canadian Highland Valley complex were reported to be on the verge of renewed peace talks,

The plant has been closed since May 15 because of a wage dispute. Analysts feared that a resumption of work there would hit market prices.