Metals Commodities Prices fall as dollar Strengt on Fed Plan

Metals commodities include copper led most commodities prices lower Wednesday as the dollar strengthened on concerns about the Fed's plan to stimulate the economy.

The dollar gained strength Wednesday after The Wall Street Journal said the Fed may buy fewer bonds than anticipated and at a slower pace. The policymakers are expected to make a decision next month.

Many analysts have been expecting the Fed to buy as much as $1 trillion in Treasurys under the "quantitative easing" plan. That has pressured the dollar in recent weeks, which has made many commodities more of a bargain for those using foreign currencies.

Copper for December delivery fell 9.35 cents to settle at $3.7755 a pound. Gold fell $16 to $1,322.60 an ounce; silver lost 42.6 cents to $23.404 an ounce and palladium gave up $6.30 to $619.15 an ounce. January platinum dropped $25.90 to settle at $1,678.10 an ounce.

Energy prices were mixed after the government said commercial crude inventories rose 5 million barrels to 366.2 million barrels. Benchmark crude for December delivery fell 61 cents to $81.94 a barrel.

In November contracts, heating oil fell 1.17 cents to $2.2383 a gallon; gasoline edged up 0.8 cent to $2.1020 a gallon. Natural gas gave up 6.2 cents to$3.292 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Wheat for December delivery rose 10.75 cents to $7.0275 a bushel; corn added 6.25 cents to $5.7725 a bushel and January soybeans gained 5 cents to $12.36 a bushel.