Commodities rebound as stocks rise, dollar falls

NEW YORK — Commodities prices rebounded Monday as signs of growth in the service sector boosted investors’ confidence and sent them back into riskier assets.

Gold for December delivery jumped $13.50, or 1.3 percent, to $1,017.80 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while December silver surged 30.5 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $16.5350 an ounce.

Investors cheered a report from the Institute of Supply Management showing that its service index rose to 50.9 in September from 48.4 in August. It was the first time since August 2008 that the index logged a reading above 50, which indicates growth. An upgrade of big banks from Goldman Sachs lifted financial shares, helping to drive stock indicators up about 1 percent.

Recent economic reports have generally fallen short of expectations, chipping away at the huge rally in stocks and commodities since March. Monday’s news reinvigorated the market, luring investors back into economically sensitive assets and leading to a sell-off of the dollar. A weak dollar makes commodities more attractive to foreign investors.

Among other metals, October platinum rose $19 to $1,294.60 an ounce and December copper futures gained 4.55 cents to $2.7270 a pound.

The gains in stocks and the decline in the dollar helped push oil prices back above $70. Light, sweet crude for November delivery rose 46 cents to settle at $70.41 a barrel.

Elsewhere on the Nymex, heating oil futures fell 0.52 cent to $1.7916 a gallon and gasoline for November delivery added 1.3 cents to $1.7539 a gallon.

Natural gas for November delivery jumped 26.9 cents to settle at $4.987 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Grain prices mostly rose on the Chicago Board of Trade.

December wheat futures gained 1.5 cents to $4.4275 a bushel, while corn for December delivery rose 8 cents to $3.4150 a bushel.

November soybeans were unchanged at $8.85 a bushel.