Commodities prices moved higher on Monday, supported by strikes in key base metal producing countries, falling inventories and a strong demand outlook for the second half of the year. But agriculture commodities prices were down.

The Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index, the commodities index, moved up to a seven- month high on rising oil and base metals prices. In late London afternoon the index rose to 322.19 points, its highest position since December 2006.