Among agriculturals, nearby white sugar fell in active dealings ahead of the March contract's expiry on Tuesday.

ALUMINIUM LEADS METALS TURNAROUND
On the London Metal Exchange (LME), aluminium ended firmer and although copper was easier it settled well off the day's lows.

"Early on it didn't look very good, following on from Friday's weak close...but it has been quite a positive turnaround - particularly in aluminium," said Barclays Capital analyst Kevin Norrish.

Market participants' unwillingness to commit themselves before Tuesday's Congressional testimony by United States Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan also helped ease the immediate pressure, Norrish said.

Three months aluminium had been expected to test support around $1,560 a tonne in Monday's trade, but rallied during late trading to $1,589, down $6 from Friday's close.

"The continuing tightness in the forward spreads and the uncertainty over the Longview smelter are preventing people from trying to push things too hard on the downside," Norrish said.

The market continues to speculate over a possible output cut at the 204,000 tpy Longview smelter in Washington state, about to be sold by U.S. producer Alcoa AA.N to McCook Metals LLC.

Copper ended the day down $5 at $1,775, having bounced off support around $1,760.

The market continues to be underpinned by falling stocks - LME copper stocks fell by a further 1,075 tonnes on Monday - and expectations of a supply cut by US producer Phelps Dodge PD.N, Norrish added.

GOLD HOVERS WEAKLY
Gold prices hovered in a narrow range around the $260/$261 levels.

"Gold still looks weak, and could easily fall lower - and indeed I think over the short term it will - but for today I think it should hold the $260-2 area," said one trader.

Silver fixed at a fresh one-month low at 455.50 cents, with spot metal at $4.56/$4.58 from $4.55/$4.57 at 1545 GMT.

MARCH SUGAR SLIDES BEFORE EXPIRY
White sugar prices eased ahead of the expiry of the March contract at the close of trading on Tuesday.