London Stocks Close Slightly Higher

FTSE 100 finishes up 0.5% at 5777.11, holding gains despite the downgrade of Spain and disappointing 1Q US GDP. “For the second day in a row the gloomy macro picture has not been enough to deter investors from pushing the FTSE a little higher as they continue to be attracted by solid corporate earnings,” says Angus Campbell at Capital Spreads. Continue Reading…

July soybeans were trading 11 cents higher late in the overnight session. China futures were up 0.2% overnight. Palm oil futures in Malaysia closed up 0.1% overnight. Equity markets in Asia were mixed to weaker overnight. Easing by the BOJ was partially offset by the S&P ratings agency news overnight on Spain. Continue Reading…

The May silver contract did see a set back overnight from yesterday’s highs, but the silver market remains within close proximity to the Thursday highs. The silver bulls might be emboldened by the markets capacity to largely deflect the S&P downgrade news on Spain last night. Continue Reading…

June natural gas prices extended the breakdown from yesterday’s bearish reversal and spent most of the morning session in negative territory. The market saw a surge in trading volume during yesterday’s push toward the $2.30 level. Continue Reading…

July cocoa is showing moderate strength this morning and has consolidated this week’s recovery from the recent lows. A flare-up of Euro zone debt anxiety may be keeping further gains in check, however, as lukewarm sentiment for commodities and equities is weighing on prices early in the session. Continue Reading…

June crude oil prices trended lower throughout the overnight and early morning hours, registering a lower low in the process. News of a Spanish debt downgrade late Thursday was seen as a negative force that put added pressure on global crude oil demand. Continue Reading…

July wheat was trading 4 1/2 cents higher late in the overnight session. Outside market forces look mixed with sluggish trade for energy and metal markets. The short-term weather concerns and the tightness in other grains may provide some short-term support for the wheat market. Continue Reading…

The short-covering rally of the past few weeks continued yesterday as news of new demand from China and a strong tone for outside market forces helped to support. The strong recovery in the US stock market in the past week has helped ease fears that a sluggish European economy will drag the world cotton demand lower. Continue Reading…

The bulls start the Friday US trade with an edge, as the latest twist in the European debt saga provided a fresh measure of flight to quality buying interest overnight. However, the bull camp might also have been able to draw some fundamental support overnight from the slightly softer than expected US initial claims result yesterday morning. Continue Reading…

The gold market seems to have been partially undermined by the overnight news of a ratings agency downgrade of Spain and it also seems as if gold was pressured off ideas that Indian demand might be set to wane a little in the wake of a recent festival. Continue Reading…