Market Pulse - Commodities
S&P questions global miners' transformation into cash machines
Years of cuts to capital expenditure budgets had turned the biggest mining companies globally into cash machines as commodity prices rebounced, Standard&Poor's said.
China economy starts 2017 on strong footing, economists say
China's economy began 2017 on solid footing, as private sector investment accelerated alongside stronger industrial output.
Commodities: Crude mixed after Kuwait confirms great Opec compliance with output pledge
Crude-oil futures are trading off their early session lows to be mildly mixed late in the afternoon, thanks to a Kuwait official confirming Opec members' increasing compliance with output pledges made last year to ease global oversupply.
Sector movers: M&A boosts oilfield services, JP Morgan upgrades miners
Stock in Amec Foster Wheeler pushed the oil equipment and services sector to the fore after agreeing to an all-share offer from rival Wood Group valued at £2. 2bn.
Comment: Focus on 'dot plot' as Fed prepares to hike rates
By Ipek Ozkardeskaya, London Capital Group .
JP Morgan upgrades Emerging Markets, Miners
The time had come to re-enter emerging markets, JP Morgan said, pointing to a long list of potential positives for the group, including the fact that three interest rate hikes in the States were now already priced-in.
UK government heads to court as anti-fracking group protests drilling
Anti-fracking protesters will take the UK government to court this week to block attempts to push through plans to grant energy firm Cuadrilla permission to drill in test sites in Lancashire.
Sector movers: BT, oil shares lead gains
A motley mix of interest rate sensitive stocks and cyclicals paced gains at the end of the week.
Commodities: Crude prices slide as glut spectre rises; gold lower again
Crude-oil futures are down this Friday afternoon as traders are again gripped by concerns about a global glut and production curbs on the black liquid following recent unexpected builds in US inventories.
Bill Gross urges investors not to be fooled by market mirage post-US election
Billionaire investor Bill Gross has warned that the US economy is walking a fine line after a market boom since the election of Donald Trump, and urged fellow investors not to get carried away with the market "mirage" taking place in the country.
Commodities: Crude dives after US inventories; gold falls on Fed rate-rise views
Crude-oil futures have been shaken lower as lingering worries about the global glut of the black liquid heightened after hefty rises in US inventories on Wednesday.
Crude oil prices fall below $50 after US stockpiles surprise
Oil prices in the US fell below $50 for the first time since December as aggressive selling continued on Thursday following data that showed crude stockpiles climbing for a ninth consecutive month to their highest since 1982.
US oil inventories jump but product stockpiles drop, EIA says
US oil inventories rocketed last week, but gains were offset by sharp falls in product stockpiles.
Commodities: Crude-oil futures firmly lower as US inventories unexpectedly surge
Crude-oil futures are firmly on the back foot thanks to an industry report revealing a surge in US inventories last week, renewing concerns over the black liquid's global supply glut.
Consumer prices in Chile slip in February, paving way for rate cut
Consumer prices in South America's most advanced economy slipped in February, paving the way for further interest rate cuts according to one economist.
Chinese exports miss forecasts in February, but imports jump
China's sales overseas weakened more than expected in February but economists were wary of reading too much into the numbers due to the distortions around the Chinese Lunar New Year, while imports surged - reflecting strong domestic demand.
Commodities: Gold on back foot with risk potential for further falls
Gold is on the back foot on Tuesday afternoon as dollar strength drives the nil-yielding safe-haven metal lower, with market watchers suggesting it may yet break even further south.
Brazil's GDP hits the skids in Q4, possibly paving the way for more rate cuts
South America's second-largest economy worsened more than feared at the end of 2016, possibly paving the way for bolder interest rate cuts by its central bank.
Commodities: Range-bound crude drifts higher as gold nudges north
Crude-oil futures are marginally higher on Monday afternoon, caught in range-bound trade with prices unlikely to break materially lower, while at the same time safe-haven gold is nudging north.
Sector movers: Miners hit by lower China growth plans, Acacia Mining pummelled
Steel makers and miners led a retreat at the start of the week after the People's Republic of China nudged its economic growth forecasts slightly lower over the weekend.