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Markets higher ahead of trade talks

Highly-anticipated US-China trade talks, set to start today, have added to the positive mood on markets as the first full week of 2019 gets underway.
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Copper miners gain

Staff reporter

Major global market indices closed higher on Friday as the US released a stronger-than-expected jobs report and the People's Bank of China moved to cut reserve requirement ratios, taxes and fees.

The S&P/ASX200 index was higher in afternoon trade, with Mozambique graphite producer Syrah Resources (ASX: SYR) up more than 10% on little news since announcing its first production of spherical graphite on December 31.

Copper bounced back from a plus-12 month low on the London Metal Exchange on Friday, and Australian copper producer Sandfire Resources (ASX: SFR) was more than 8% higher in afternoon trade.

BHP (ASX: BHP) was up more than 3%, while in London Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) and Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) had closed up 4.13% and 6.45% respectively.

Across the pond, Teck Resources (TSX: TECK.B) finished the week 5% higher as TSX metals and mining stocks enjoyed a collective gain of 5.56%.

Finally, the spot gold price which was worth around US$1,235 an ounce a month ago rose close to $1,294/oz last week.

It was trading around $1,289/oz at the time of writing.