Oil held around $111 per barrel on Monday on signs that China's economic growth was beginning to recover, although gains were limited by concern about the economic welfare of the United States, the world's top oil consumer.

Activity in China's manufacturing sector quickened for the first time in 13 months in November, a survey of private factory managers found, adding to evidence of a pickup after seven quarters of slowing growth. Brent futures were off 5 cents at $111.18 per barrel, after rising 2.3% in November. US crude fell 19 cents to $88.72 per barrel.

Gold posted minor gains on Monday on strength in the euro, but uncertainty about the US budget talks kept bullion's advances in check. Underscoring investors' interest in the metal, holdings of gold-backed exchange-traded funds hit a record high and speculators raised their net length in gold for the third straight week.

Spot gold inched up 0.2% to $1,718.90 an ounce, after dropping a slight 0.3% while US gold gained 0.4% to $1,718.90.

Gold importers in India, the world's biggest buyer of bullion, continued to stock up on the yellow metal as prices hovered around their lowest level in a month. The wedding season is underway in India and will continue until early January.

Normally, demand for gold goes up during this period. The actively-traded gold for December delivery on the Multi Commodity Exchange was 0.61% higher at Rs 31,291 per 10 grams.

Indian gold prices are generally determined by international prices. During festival seasons, local demand and currency movement also influence the prices to some extent.

The rupee plays an important role in determining the landed cost of the dollar-quoted yellow metal. The rupee closed at 54.77-54.78 per dollar, 0.9% weaker than its Friday's close of 54.26-54.27.

Base metal prices gained due to positive data from the Chinese economy indicating demand might improve due to demand from the key consuming nation. However, sharp gains were capped due to rise in the LME inventories in most of the metals except aluminium and nickel. Copper prices gained, taking cues from favourable data from the Chinese economy on expectation that the demand might improve from the key consuming nation.

The actively traded May rubber contract at Tokyo Commodity Exchange rose 4.6% to 263.5 yen per kg on Monday. In National Multi Commodity Exchange, the January contract fell 0.66 % to touch Rs 168.01 per kg.

On NCDEX, spices showed a mixed trend with coriander, pepper and turmeric showing an upward trend. Jeera and chilli fell on Monday. The December and January contracts of coriander hit the upper circuit. Coriander January contract rose 4% to Rs 51.71 per kg. On MCX, the January cardamom contract fell 2.33% to Rs 1,043 per kg.

Palm oil fell for a fifth day to the lowest level in more than three weeks as the biggest jump in a week prompted investors to sell and on speculation that stockpiles may expand in Indonesia as output grows. The contract for February delivery dropped 2.3% to 2,316 ringgit ($762) a tonne on the Malaysia Derivatives Exchange, the lowest closing for the contract since November 9.