Copper prices rose on Friday, amid anxiety over the global supply and demand levels due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This came after the mutated Delta variant emerged in some countries, which is characterized by its fast transition.

The World Health Organization warned of a new mutated strain of the coronavirus called "Mo".

Analysts fear the return of lockdown restrictions in major economies, which foreshadows a slowdown in the global economic recovery and demand for commodities and metals.

The dollar index held against a basket of major currencies at 92.4 points as of 13:34 GMT, after hitting a high of 92.5 points and a low of 92.3 points.

Copper December futures rose 2.9% to $4.41 per pound as of 13:29 GMT.

The major US stock indices opened mostly higher on Friday, optimism about a breakthrough in the US-China political relations.

This came following a phone call between US Presidents Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The US Transportation Security Administration decided to increase the fine for refusing to wear a mask in public transportation to $3,000.

This comes amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, especially after the new highly transmissible delta strain emerged, which sparked worries over the global economic recovery.

As for stocks, Dow Jones fell 0.1% or 50 points to 34,828 as of 14:06 GMT, and S&P 500 rose 0.1% or 1 point to 4,494, while Nasdaq rose 0.3% or 45 points to 15,293.

The US dollar fell against a majority of rivals on Friday, and pulled back further from a 2-week high on profit-taking and slow demand, following successive remarks by Federal Reserve members, ahead of the US producer price data.

The dollar index fell 0.2% to 92.33 points, after opening at 92.53 points, and hit a high of 92.55 points.

The US dollar index lost 0.2% yesterday, in the first loss in four days, due to profit taking rom a 2-week high at 92.86 points.

Dollar came under pressure following remarks by Fed officials that lowered the chances for the US Federal Reserve tightening its monetary policy.

St Louis Fed President James Bullard said that the central bank should press ahead with a plan to dial down its massive pandemic stimulus programme.

While New York Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams said on Wednesday that substantial further progress is needed toward its maximum employment before tapering off monetary stimulus.

Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans said on Thursday that the US economy is not out of the woods yet, despite strong economic growth and the promise of vaccines.

Evans added that there are significant challenges for the US economy, including supply chain and labor market bottlenecks.

At 12:30 GMT, the US Producer Price Index reading will be released, amid forecasts to rise 6.6% y/y in August from 6.2% in July, and to rise by 0.6% m/m from 1.0%.

At 12:30 GMT, the US economy released its reading of the producer price index for August at 07%, slightly higher than forecasts of 0.6%, but lower than the previous reading of 1%.

The producer price index core reading (excluding food and fuel prices) was at 0.6%, higher than forecasts of 0.5%, but lower than the previous reading of 1%. This data is positive for the US dollar.