Dec. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar weakened for a second day, the Swiss franc fell and copper rose to near a record amid speculation the global recovery will continue into 2011. U.K. and French stocks pared this week's gains before the holiday. The Dollar Index, which tracks the U.S. currency against those of six trading partners, lost 0.1 percent at 10:25 a.m. in London. The franc depreciated against all 16 of its most-traded peers, and the yen retreated against 11. Copper jumped 0.7 percent and oil climbed for a sixth day. The FTSE 100 Index declined 0.2 percent, snapping a four-day advance, while the CAC-40 Index lost 0.3 percent. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index sank 0.2 percent. U.S. markets were closed for the Christmas holiday. Confidence among U.S. consumers probably improved this month, economists said before the Conference Board's report due to be released on Dec. 28. Data this week showed Americans increased spending in November for a fifth month and companies stepped up orders for equipment. "Recoveries around the world appear to be picking up," said Tsutomu Soma, a bond and currency dealer at Okasan Securities Co. in Tokyo. "There seems to be risk-on sentiment, which is likely negative for the yen and dollar." The U.S. currency fell about 0.1 percent to $1.3124 per euro, trimming its gain this year to 9.2 percent. The franc weakened 0.3 percent against the 16-nation currency. Copper, Oil Copper advanced to $9,358.50 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange, within $34 of the record set on Dec. 21, after stockpiles fell in China, the world's largest buyer of the metal. Brent crude rose 0.2 percent to $94.47 a barrel. Gold for immediate delivery jumped 0.3 percent to $1,383.85 an ounce. While most markets in Europe were closed, the FTSE 100 trimmed its fourth straight weekly advance, the longest streak of gains since September. The benchmark gauge has rallied 11 percent this year. Randgold Resources Ltd. dropped 5.4 percent after the metals producer said the "political impasse" in Ivory Coast will affect its fourth-quarter results. JJB Sports Plc surged 21 percent after the retailer announced measures to shore up its finances. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slid 0.2 percent, ending a three-day advance. Nissan Motor Co. retreated 1.3 percent in Tokyo. Advantest Corp., the world's biggest maker of chip- testing equipment, dropped 1.8 percent after revising a takeover offer. Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. plunged 5.7 percent in Seoul after selling new shares at a discount. China, Korea The MSCI Emerging Markets Index fell for the first time in four days, slipping less than 0.1 percent. Automakers led a 0.7 percent drop in China's Shanghai Composite Index after Beijing said it will limit the number of new passenger cars in the Chinese capital. South Korea's Kospi Index declined 0.4 percent and the won weakened 0.2 percent after North Korea threatened to wage a "sacred war" using nuclear weapons if attacked. Russia's OAO GMK Norilsk Nickel and Sasol Ltd. of South Africa advanced on higher commodity prices. Investors pulled money from emerging-market equity mutual funds for the first time since May in the week ended Dec. 22 amid concern that rising commodity prices will prompt China to tighten monetary policy, according to EPFR Global. The funds have taken in a record $92.5 billion this year as the MSCI emerging-market gauge advanced 14 percent. --With assistance from Claudia Carpenter, David Merritt, Michael Patterson and Dan Tilles in London. Editors: Stephen Kirkland, Justin Carrigan

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