World oil prices rose for the third day in a row after a better-than-expected reading on US consumer confidence boosted hopes for stronger energy demand in the top global economy. Gold fell for the seventh straight trading day, notching its longest losing streak since the financial crisis as the metal approached a fresh low. Fuelling the latest leg of gold's selloff -- which has sent prices down 7.4 per cent, or more than $US100 -- were US indicators that pointed to an improving economy. Copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) closed higher, although earlier gains stalled in the European afternoon in a quiet trading session as the US dollar's strength resumed. Meanwhile, the potential ability of warehouse exit queues to affect prices came back into focus with global stockpile shifts showing volatility this month. By the close of open-outcry trading on Friday, copper was 0.3 per cent higher on the previous day's settlement at $US7,300 a metric ton, having drifted a touch from its intraday high as the US dollar resumed a stronger pattern against the euro. The US dollar strengthened after some upbeat US data including consumer-confidence figures. Overall, most base metals climbed in the session as upward momentum continued from Thursday and some demand-side data points -- including European auto sales, which increased for the first time in 20 months -- were a positive surprise to the market. Only nickel and aluminum closed slightly lower.