Base metal lead enjoyed yet another record peak as traders fretted over low global reserves.

The price of coffee in London, meanwhile, held close to a nine-year peak amid production problems in key exporter Vietnam.

OIL: Oil prices endured a volatile week after shooting to nine-month peaks on Monday, before ending on a mixed note.

The strong gains were won mostly on concerns about tight gasoline supplies in the United States and unrest in Nigeria.

In London, Brent North Sea crude for August delivery reached 72.25 dollars per barrel, a price last seen on August 28, 2006.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, soared to 69.05 dollars per barrel -- the highest point since September 5, 2006.

Prices then began to slip on Wednesday after the US Department of Energy (DoE) said that crude oil stockpiles grew by 6.9 million barrels in the week ended on June 15.

As the trading week neared its close, the market became less concerned therefore, despite possible supply disruptions owing to a national strike in Nigeria -- the world's sixth biggest crude exporter.

Nigeria's general strike entered its third day Friday after overnight talks between labour unions and government ended in deadlock.

Brent North Sea crude for August delivery nonetheless slid to 70.96 dollars a barrel on Friday, from 71.84 dollars a barrel a week earlier.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in August, firmed to 69.20 dollars a barrel however, from 67.70 dollars a barrel.

Gold: The price of gold eased, tracking fluctuations in the US dollar. A strengthening dollar makes dollar-denominated commodities, such as gold, more expensive for buyers holding weaker currencies.

On the London Bullion Market, gold dropped to 652.85 dollars an ounce at Friday's late fixing, from 653.10 dollars a week earlier.

Silver: Silver prices advanced. "Silver held comfortably above 13 dollars, despite selling pressure," said James Moore, analyst at specialist metals website TheBullionDesk.com.

On the London Bullion Market, silver gained to 13.15 dollars an ounce at Friday's late fixing, from 13.06 dollars a week earlier.

Palladium And Platinum: On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum rose to 1,301 dollars an ounce at the late fixing Friday, from 1,278 dollars a week earlier. Palladium climbed to 375 dollars an ounce, from 367 dollars.

Base metals: Base metal prices had a mixed week, but lead smashed another historic high.

Lead hit a record 2,550 dollars per tonne on Thursday. The prices of nickel, aluminium, zinc and tin declined. On Friday, the price of copper for delivery in three months rallied to 7,470 dollars a tonne on the London Metal Exchange, from 7,381 dollars a week earlier.

Three-month aluminium prices edged lower to 2,709 dollars a tonne, from 2,716 dollars. Three-month nickel prices slumped to 37,550 dollars a tonne, from 40,900 dollars. Three-month lead prices rocketed to 2,505 dollars a tonne, from 2,353 dollars. Three-month zinc prices declined to 3,524 dollars a tonne, from 3,685 dollars. Three-month tin prices weakened to 13,875 dollars a tonne, from 14,100 dollars.

Grains and soya: Grains and soya prices beat a retreat, with wheat falling away from a recent eleven-year pinnacle.

Wheat had struck 6.07 dollars a bushel in Chicago last week -- the highest level since 1996. By Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade, the price of maize for July delivery sank to 3.73 dollars a bushel, from 4.19 dollars a week earlier.

Wheat for July delivery fell to 5.99 dollars a bushel, from 6.07 dollars. July-dated soyabean meal -- used in animal feed -- decreased to 8.03 dollars, from 8.47 dollars.

On the LIFFE, London's futures exchange, the price per tonne of wheat for November delivery dipped to 112 pounds, from 112.75 pounds.

Sugar: Sugar prices rebounded from recent losses. By Friday on the LIFFE, the price per tonne of white sugar for August delivery advanced to 319.40 dollars, from 305.60 dollars a week earlier. On the NYBOT, the price of unrefined sugar for July delivery jumped to 9.15 US cents a pound, from 8.53 cents.