This service pack is specially designed for traders, who are trading in MCX Bullion(Gold , silver) i.e. all the commodity bullion. Under this package the service would be provided via mobile by sms during the market hours. On an average 60-70 Calls would be given per month.
This service pack is specially designed for traders, who are trading in MCX ENERGY (CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS) i.e. all the ENERGY SCRIPS . Under this package the service would be provided via mobile by sms during the market hours. On an average 40-50 Calls would be given per month.
Oil dropped for the fifth time in six days as discord among European leaders on when to introduce a banking union renewed concern that the region’s debt crisis will reduce oil demand.
Prices fell as much as 1.8 percent after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande disagreed over closer integration of Europe’s banking system at the weekend. The euro dropped against the dollar as German business confidence unexpectedly fell to the lowest level in more than two years in September.
“The news out of Europe is not good and the dollar is stronger, and the combination is putting pressure on oil demand expectations,” said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research in Winchester, Massachusetts. “It’s making people thinking that even $90 for oil is a little too high.”
Gold futures declined during U.S. morning hours on Monday, holding on to earlier losses as renewed concerns over the euro zone’s debt crisis and uncertainty over whether Spain will need a full-scale bailout boosted demand for the U.S. dollar.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold futures for December delivery traded at USD1,767.15 a troy ounce during U.S. morning trade, shedding 0.6%.
Earlier in the session prices fell by as much as 1% to trade at a session low of USD1,757.95 a troy ounce. Gold futures rose to a high of USD1,787.55 a troy ounce on September 21, the strongest level since February 29.
Copper futures tumbled to the lowest level in more than a week during European morning hours on Monday, as appetite for growth-linked assets weakened amid mounting concerns over global growth prospects, while uncertainty over whether Spain will request a full scale sovereign bailout also weighed.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, copper futures for December delivery traded at USD3.736 a pound during European morning trade, tumbling 1.4%.
Earlier in the day, prices fell by as much as 1.6% to trade at a session low of USD3.731 a pound, the weakest level since September 13. Futures rallied to a four-month high of USD3.838 on September 19.
Gold prices fell in Asian trading on Monday as talk that France and Germany are at odds as to when the currency zone should centralize banking supervision sent the precious metal falling amid profit taking.
Gold last week rose to a few dollars shy of 2012's record-high price of USD1,792.15 hit on Feb. 29 on talk of a Spanish bailout as well on the coattails of central bank decisions around the world to stimulate their economies with monetary easing measures.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold futures for December delivery were down 0.53% at USD1,768.65 a troy ounce, up from a session low of USD1,768.25 and down from a high of USD1,772.55 a troy ounce early during the session.
Crude oil futures dipped in Asian trading early Monday as investors sold for profits on reports France and Germany may be at odds concerning a timetable to centralize eurozone banking supervision.
The commodity rose in recent sessions on Federal Reserve monetary easing measures and on reports Spain may seek a bailout, though the commodity fell amid profit-taking Monday.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in November traded at USD92.79 a barrel on Monday, down 0.11%, off from a session high of USD92.89 and up from an earlier session low of USD92.75.
Natural gas futures were higher during U.S. morning trade on Thursday, holding on to gains after a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed U.S. gas supplies rose broadly in line with market expectations last week.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas futures for delivery in October traded at USD2.792 per million British thermal units during U.S. morning trade, jumping 1.1%.
It earlier rose by as much as 2.1% to trade at a session high of USD2.821 per million British thermal units.
The October contract traded at USD2.794 prior to the release of the U.S. Energy Information Administration report.
Crude oil futures trimmed losses during U.S. morning hours on Thursday, coming off the lows after official data showed that manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia-region improved more-than-expected in September.
Prices fell to a six-week low earlier in the session, amid mounting fears over the outlook for global economic growth, following a string of weak economic reports from the euro zone and China.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light sweet crude futures for delivery in November traded at USD92.19 a barrel during U.S. morning trade, easing down 0.1%.
Earlier in the session prices fell by as much as 1.45% to hit a daily low of USD90.97 a barrel, the weakest level since August 6.
In a report, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said that its manufacturing index improved by 5.2 points to minus 1.9 in September from August’s reading of minus 7.1.
Analysts had expected the index to improve by 3.1 points to a reading of minus 4.0 in September.
The data came after The U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending September 15 fell by 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 382,000, compared to expectations for a decrease of 10,000 to 375,000.
The previous week’s figure was revised up to 385,000 from a previously reported 382,000.
Some bargain buying also helped futures off the lows, after prices moved into oversold territory.
Technical traders said prices had fallen too far, too fast and were due for a technical bounce. New York-traded oil prices have lost more than 8% in the three sessions leading up to Thursday.
Oil prices have been under heavy selling pressure in recent sessions amid signs that top oil exporter Saudi Arabia was pumping more oil. The country’s output is near the highest level in more than three decades, according to a Persian Gulf official with knowledge.
Prices fell to a six-week low earlier as fresh concerns over the outlook for growth in China were fueled by data showing that the HSBC flash purchasing managers' index ticked up to 47.8 in September from a nine-month low in August of 47.6, but remained below 50 for an 11th consecutive month in a row, showing the sector was still contracting.
China is the world's second largest oil consumer after the U.S. and has been the engine of strengthening demand.
A deeper slowdown in China, the world’s second biggest economy, would impair a global expansion that is already faltering because of the euro zone’s ongoing debt crisis.
Separately, concerns over the worsening of the debt crisis in the euro zone resurfaced after preliminary data showed that manufacturing activity in France tumbled unexpectedly in September, dropping to a three-and-a-half year low.
France’s manufacturing PMI fell to 42.6 in September from a final reading of 46.0 in September. Analysts had expected the index to come in at 46.4.
Service sector activity in France declined to a four-month low of 46.1 in September from a final reading of 49.2 in August.
Futures managed to come off the lowest levels of the session after data showed manufacturing activity in Germany in September contracted at the slowest rate in six months, while service sector activity grew modestly.
Germany’s manufacturing PMI rose to 47.3 in September from a final reading of 44.7 in September. Analysts had expected the index to come in at 45.3.
Service sector activity in Germany increased to a four-month high of 50.6 in September from a final reading of 48.3 in August.
Oil traders often use manufacturing numbers as indicators for future fuel demand growth.
Also Thursday, Also Thursday, Spain saw borrowing costs fall at an auction of ten-year government bonds on Thursday, amid ongoing uncertainty over whether Spain is about to ask for more financial aid, which would mean signing up to a permanent bailout fund.
Spain’s Treasury sold EUR859 billion worth of 10-year government bonds at an average yield of 5.66%, down from 6.64% at a similar auction last month.
Elsewhere, on the ICE Futures Exchange, Brent oil futures for November delivery added 0.5% to trade at USD108.75 a barrel, with the spread between the Brent and crude contracts standing at USD16.56 a barrel.
Prices fell to as low as USD107.19 a barrel earlier in the session, the weakest level since August 3.
Gold futures came off the lowest levels of the session during U.S. morning hours on Thursday, after data showed that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell less-than-expected, while the previous week’s figure was revised higher, underlining concerns over the U.S. economy.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold futures for October delivery traded at USD1,765.75 a troy ounce during U.S. morning trade, dipping 0.2%.
Earlier in the session prices fell by as much as 0.75% to trade at a session low of USD1,755.75 a troy ounce. Gold futures rose to as high as USD1,779.25 a troy ounce on Wednesday, the strongest level since February 29.
Gold prices were likely to find short-term support at USD1,751.95 a troy ounce, the low from September 18 and resistance at USD1,792.25, the high from February 29.
Prices came off the lowest levels of the session after the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending September 15 fell by 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 382,000, compared to expectations for a decrease of 10,000 to 375,000.
The previous week’s figure was revised up to 385,000 from a previously reported 382,000.
Jobless claims have remained below 400,000, a level historically associated with an improving labor market, in 45 of the past 47 weeks, though lately claims have been pushing higher from the 350,000 associated with above-average job growth.
The disappointing data underlined concerns over the weak U.S. labor market. Gold prices rallied to a six-and-a-half-month high after the Federal Reserve said last week it will purchase USD40 billion of mortgage-backed securities every month until the labor market improves.
Prices fell to the lowest levels of the session earlier in the day, following the release of worse-than-forecast purchasing managers' survey from France, the euro zone’s second largest economy.
France’s manufacturing PMI fell to 42.6 in September from a final reading of 46.0 in September. Analysts had expected the index to come in at 46.4.
Service sector activity in France declined to a four-month low of 46.1 in September from a final reading of 49.2 in August.
Meanwhile, fresh concerns over the outlook for growth in China were fueled by data showing that the nation’s HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index rose slightly to 47.8 in September from a final reading of 47.6 in August.
Despite the modest uptick higher, manufacturing activity in China remained in contraction territory for the 11th consecutive month, adding to fears over a deeper-than-expected slowdown in the region’s largest economy.
A deeper slowdown in China, the world’s second biggest economy, would impair a global expansion that is already faltering because of the euro zone’s ongoing debt crisis.
Also Thursday, Spain saw borrowing costs fall at an auction of ten-year government bonds on Thursday, amid ongoing uncertainty over whether Spain is about to ask for more financial aid, which would mean signing up to a permanent bailout fund.
Spain’s Treasury sold EUR859 billion worth of 10-year government bonds at an average yield of 5.66%, down from 6.64% at a similar auction last month.
Elsewhere on the Comex, silver for December delivery retreated 0.15% to trade at USD34.54 a troy ounce, while copper for December delivery tumbled 1.65% to trade at USD3.751 a pound.
The biggest advances in commodities this year may be over because of mounting concern that policy makers aren’t doing enough to bolster economic growth at a time when producers are expanding supply.
The Standard & Poor’s GSCI gauge of 24 raw materials will end the year at 677, 3.1 percent higher than now, based on the median of 10 investor and analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The index is 1.8 percent lower since the European Central Bank announced an unlimited bond-purchase program Sept. 6 and 3.8 percent below its level when the Federal Reserve pledged a third round of debt-buying Sept. 13.That contrasts with a 92 percent surge from the end of 2008 through June 2011 as the Fed bought $2.3 trillion of debt in two bouts of quantitative easing. The impact will probably be smaller this time, Barclays Plc says. Prices are already in a bull market, the 17-nation euro area is contracting and China has slowed for six straight quarters. Europe and China represent about 60 percent of global copper demand and about 33 percent of crude-oil consumption.
“The investment demand that might be driven by people’s changed perception after Fed action is not going to sustain a further long-term move of the commodity complex,” said Michael Aronstein, the president of Marketfield Asset Management in New York who correctly predicted the slump in prices in 2008 and the rebound in 2009. “The longer you keep prices in all of these sectors elevated, the more supply you recruit.”
Dollar Index:
The S&P GSCI (DXY) rose 1.8 percent this year, heading for a fourth consecutive annual advance. Soybeans and wheat led the gains after the worst U.S. drought since 1956. The MSCI All- Country World Index of equities jumped 12 percent and the U.S. Dollar Index, a measure against six major trading partners, dropped 0.9 percent. Treasuries returned 1.6 percent, a Bank of America Corp. index shows.
Commodity assets under management reached $406 billion at the end of July, from $399 billion at the start of the year, based on Barclays’ estimates of money tied to exchange-traded products, medium-term notes and indexes. Assets reached a record $451 billion in April 2011. Open interest, or contracts outstanding, across the members of the S&P GSCI rose 16 percent this year, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Morgan Stanley is forecasting supply surpluses in aluminum, nickel, zinc and thermal coal in 2013 and Barclays expects a glut in lead for at least a third consecutive year. The rally in aluminum and zinc makes production cuts in China less likely, prolonging excessive production, Macquarie Group Ltd. said in a report Sept. 17.
Oil Inventories:
While the Paris-based International Energy Agency anticipates record demand for oil in 2013, it said in a monthly report Sept. 12 that inventories have become “more comfortable.” Natural-gas futures tumbled 27 percent in the past year in New York as production in the U.S., the biggest producer and consumer, advanced to a record.
Gold will probably be among the biggest winners from quantitative easing, say JPMorgan Chase & Co., Standard Bank Group and Credit Suisse Group AG. Some investors buy bullion as a hedge against inflation and a weaker dollar. The metal, which reached a six-month high of $1,779.50 an ounce yesterday, will advance to a record $2,400 by the end of 2014, assuming the stimulus lasts until then, Bank of America Corp. said.
More Attractive:
We view owning commodities and gold in particular as more attractive post the QE3 announcement,” said Walter “Bucky” Hellwig, who helps manage $17 billion at BB&T Wealth Management in Birmingham, Alabama. “While the QE is there, it does keep the bid under commodities prices and gives them an opportunity to continue to move higher even with a sluggish economy.”
Central-bank action should boost prices across precious and industrial metals, JPMorgan said in a report Sept. 14, citing a probable decline in the dollar. Gold, silver, Brent crude oil and aluminum will probably rally more than other commodities, Standard Bank said in a Sept. 17 report.
The Fed will buy $40 billion of mortgage debt a month and hold the benchmark interest rate near zero through at least mid-2015. The ECB held its benchmark rate at a record low of 0.75 percent and said its program will target government bonds with maturities of one to three years. The Bank of Japan unexpectedly expanded its asset-purchase fund by 10 trillion yen ($126 billion) on Sept. 19. More than two-dozen nations cut market interest rates this year, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
The S&P GSCI in one year may be at 720 points, or about 10 percent higher than now, according to the Bloomberg survey. The International Monetary Fund expects global growth to accelerate to 3.9 percent next year, from 3.5 percent in 2012.
Hedge Funds:
Commodities also may rally because of supply cuts. Morgan Stanley expects copper demand to outpace supply for a fourth year in 2013. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting the smallest global corn stockpiles in six years and the lowest soybean inventories in two decades after drought across the U.S. and Europe parched crops. Sanctions against Iran are crimping oil exports from what was once the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Hedge funds and other speculators remain bullish and held the biggest bet on rising prices in 16 months in the week ended Sept. 11, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data show. Holdings more than doubled since mid-June. That contrasts with a 95 percent reduction in the net-long position before the start of the first round of quantitative easing in December 2008.
Tug of War:
This is not as much as a one-way ticket as it has been in the previous two instances,” said Sean Corrigan, the chief investment strategist at Diapason Commodities Management SA in Lausanne, Switzerland, which has about $7 billion invested in commodities. “The tug of war is between how much is already priced in and how much poorer is the underlying commodity demand because the world economy is in a much worse condition now.”
China, the biggest consumer of everything from coal to cotton to copper, set an annual growth target of 7.5 percent in March. It cut interest rates for the second time in less than a month in July and lowered reserve requirements three times between November and May. The government approved plans this month for a $158 billion subways-to-roads construction plan.
The economy of the euro area contracted 0.5 percent in the second quarter and probably won’t expand again until the second quarter of next year, according to the median of 24 economist estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The global economy is sliding into a “twilight zone,” caught between expansion and recession, and it “could go either way,” said Joachim Fels, the chief economist at Morgan Stanley in London.
Private Banking:
Equities and high-yield debt probably will give greater returns than commodities, said Ashish Misra, the head of investment strategy at Lloyds TSB Banking Group in London. Its private banking unit manages about 11 billion pounds ($17.8 billion) of assets. Commodities have risen about fourfold since the end of 2001, during which the MSCI All-Country World Index gained 41 percent and Treasuries returned 77 percent.
“We’re heading for a period of underperformance in commodities after years of outperformance,” Misra said. “The effects of a slowdown in China and resumption of normal production trends in agriculture after this year’s drought- driven supply shocks should continue to pressure commodity prices downward.”
Copper futures tumbled to the lowest level in almost a week during European morning hours on Thursday, as appetite for growth-linked assets weakened following a flurry of manufacturing and service sector activity reports from the euro zone and China.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, copper futures for December delivery traded at USD3.7444 a pound during European morning trade, tumbling 1.85%.
Earlier in the day, prices fell by as much as 2% to trade at a session low of USD3.741 a pound, the weakest level since September 14.
Market sentiment remained on the back foot after data showed that Euro zone manufacturing activity improved modestly in September, but remained in contraction territory for the 13th consecutive month, while service sector activity slumped to the lowest level since July 2009.
The euro zone’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to a seasonally adjusted 46.0 in September from a final reading of 45.1 in August, compared to expectations for a reading of 44.5.
The services PMI fell to 46.0 from 47.2 in August. Analysts had expected the index to tick up to 47.4 in September.
Manufacturing activity in France tumbled unexpectedly in September, dropping to a three-and-a-half year low.
France’s manufacturing PMI fell to 42.6 in September from a final reading of 46.0 in September. Analysts had expected the index to come in at 46.4.
Service sector activity in France declined to a four-month low of 46.1 in September from a final reading of 49.2 in August.
Futures managed to come off the lowest levels of the session after data showed manufacturing activity in Germany in September contracted at the slowest rate in six months, while service sector activity grew modestly.
Germany’s manufacturing PMI rose to 47.3 in September from a final reading of 44.7 in September. Analysts had expected the index to come in at 45.3.
Service sector activity in Germany increased to a four-month high of 50.6 in September from a final reading of 48.3 in August.
The data came after a report showed China’s HSBC flash purchasing managers' index ticked up to 47.8 in September from a nine-month low in August of 47.6, but remained below 50 for an 11th consecutive month in a row, showing the sector was still contracting.
The Asian nation is the world’s largest copper consumer, accounting for almost 40% of world consumption last year.
The risk-off trade environment prompted investors to pile in to the relative safety of the U.S. dollar, with the euro dropping to a one-week low against the greenback.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the U.S. dollar against a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.55% to trade at 79.60, the strongest level since September 13.
A stronger dollar makes U.S. commodities more expensive for importers holding other currencies such as yen or euro.
Also Thursday, Spain saw borrowing costs fall at an auction of ten-year government bonds on Thursday, amid ongoing uncertainty over whether Spain is about to ask for more financial aid, which would mean signing up to a permanent bailout fund.
Spain’s Treasury sold EUR859 billion worth of 10-year government bonds at an average yield of 5.66%, down from 6.64% at a similar auction last month.
Elsewhere on the Comex, gold for October delivery fell 0.45% to trade at USD1,760.75 a troy ounce, while silver for December delivery dropped 0.8% to trade at USD34.31 a troy ounce.
Crude oil futures were lower for the fourth consecutive day during European morning hours on Thursday, as market sentiment was hit by global growth concerns following the release of weak manufacturing data from China and France.
Prices have been under heavy selling pressure in recent sessions amid signs that top oil exporter Saudi Arabia was pumping more oil. The country’s output is near the highest level in more than three decades, according to a Persian Gulf official with knowledge.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light sweet crude futures for delivery in November traded at USD91.42 a barrel during European morning trade, dropping 0.95%.
Earlier in the session prices fell by as much as 1.1% to hit a daily low of USD90.97 a barrel, the weakest level since August 6.
Fresh concerns over the outlook for growth in China were fueled by data earlier showing that the HSBC flash purchasing managers' index ticked up to 47.8 in September from a nine-month low in August of 47.6, but remained below 50 for an 11th consecutive month in a row, showing the sector was still contracting.
China is the world's second largest oil consumer after the U.S. and has been the engine of strengthening demand.
A deeper slowdown in China, the world’s second biggest economy, would impair a global expansion that is already faltering because of the euro zone’s ongoing debt crisis.
Separately, concerns over the worsening of the debt crisis in the euro zone resurfaced after preliminary data showed that manufacturing activity in France tumbled unexpectedly in September, dropping to a three-and-a-half year low.
France’s manufacturing PMI fell to 42.6 in September from a final reading of 46.0 in September. Analysts had expected the index to come in at 46.4.
Service sector activity in France declined to a four-month low of 46.1 in September from a final reading of 49.2 in August.
Futures managed to come off the lowest levels of the session after data showed manufacturing activity in Germany in September contracted at the slowest rate in six months, while service sector activity grew modestly.
Germany’s manufacturing PMI rose to 47.3 in September from a final reading of 44.7 in September. Analysts had expected the index to come in at 45.3.
Service sector activity in Germany increased to a four-month high of 50.6 in September from a final reading of 48.3 in August.
Oil traders often use manufacturing numbers as indicators for future fuel demand growth.
Oil prices were also weighed by a surprise increase in U.S. oil stockpiles. Weekly data from the U.S. Energy Department on Wednesday showed that crude oil supplies rose by 8.5 million barrels last week, surging past expectations for a 1.0 million barrel increase.
The U.S. is the world’s biggest oil-consuming country, responsible for almost 22% of global oil demand.
Meanwhile, uncertainty over whether Spain is about to ask for more financial aid continued to weigh on sentiment.
Markets were eyeing an auction of 10-year Spanish government bonds later in the day, as it was expected to be an important test of investor appetite for the country’s debt.
The risk-off trade environment prompted investors to pile in to the relative safety of the U.S. dollar, with the euro dropping to a one-week low against the greenback.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the U.S. dollar against a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.55% to trade at 79.60, the strongest level since September 13.
A stronger dollar makes U.S. commodities more expensive for importers holding other currencies such as yen or euro.
Elsewhere, on the ICE Futures Exchange, Brent oil futures for November delivery shed 0.5% to trade at USD107.69 a barrel, with the spread between the Brent and crude contracts standing at USD16.27 a barrel.
Prices fell to as low as USD107.19 a barrel earlier in the session, the weakest level since August 3.
London-traded Brent prices continued to come under pressure from recent comments made by Saudi Arabia, saying that the Kingdom was likely to keep output high in an effort to lower prices further weighed on the energy complex.
Analysts said that the market is now balancing Saudi assurances that it would make up for any supply shortfalls against the potential risk for the loss of oil from Iran amid tighter Western sanctions on Tehran over its disputed nuclear program.
Gold futures were lower during European morning hours on Thursday, adding to losses as the U.S. dollar strengthened further after data showed that manufacturing activity in France tumbled to a three-and-a-half year low in September, fuelling concerns over the outlook global growth.
Earlier in the session, preliminary data from China showed that manufacturing activity in Asia’s largest economy contracted for the 11th consecutive month in September.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold futures for October delivery traded at USD1,760.45 a troy ounce during European morning trade, shedding 0.5%.
Earlier in the session prices fell by as much as 0.65% to trade at a session low of USD1,758.45 a troy ounce. Gold futures rose to as high as USD1,779.25 a troy ounce on Wednesday, the strongest level since February 29.
Gold prices were likely to find short-term support at USD1,751.95 a troy ounce, the low from September 18 and resistance at USD1,792.25, the high from February 29.
Prices fell to the lowest levels of the session following the release of worse-than-forecast purchasing managers' survey from France, the euro zone’s second largest economy.
France’s manufacturing PMI fell to 42.6 in September from a final reading of 46.0 in September. Analysts had expected the index to come in at 46.4.
Service sector activity in France declined to a four-month low of 46.1 in September from a final reading of 49.2 in August.
Meanwhile, fresh concerns over the outlook for growth in China were fueled by data showing that the nation’s HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index rose slightly to 47.8 in September from a final reading of 47.6 in August.
Despite the modest uptick higher, manufacturing activity in China remained in contraction territory for the 11th consecutive month, adding to fears over a deeper-than-expected slowdown in the region’s largest economy.
A deeper slowdown in China, the world’s second biggest economy, would impair a global expansion that is already faltering because of the euro zone’s ongoing debt crisis.
Sentiment also remained vulnerable amid ongoing uncertainty over whether the Spanish will ask for help from the European Central Bank's new bond-purchasing program, which would mean signing up to a permanent bailout fund.
Markets were eyeing an auction of 10-year Spanish government bonds later in the day, as it was expected to be an important test of investor appetite for the country’s debt.
The risk-off trade environment prompted investors to pile in to the relative safety of the U.S. dollar, with the euro dropping to a one-week low against the greenback.
The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the U.S. dollar against a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.55% to trade at 79.60, the strongest level since September 13.
A stronger U.S. dollar usually weighs on gold, as it dampens the metal's appeal as an alternative asset and makes dollar-priced commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies.
Elsewhere on the Comex, silver for December delivery retreated 0.8% to trade at USD34.31 a troy ounce, while copper for December delivery tumbled 1.75% to trade at USD3.748 a pound.
Crude oil futures shot up in U.S. trading on Friday after the Federal Reserve officially announced plans to stimulate the economy via a third round of quantitative easing.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in October traded at USD99.46 a barrel on Friday, up 1.17%, off from a session high of USD100.42 and up from an earlier session low of USD98.14.
The Federal Reserve on Thursday announced plans to buy $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities a month from banks on an ongoing basis until the economy improves, a policy measure known as quantitative easing.
The Fed also said it would continue with its Operation Twist program that sees the U.S. central bank selling short-term Treasury holdings in the market while simultaneously buying longer-term instruments with the aim of keeping interest rates low.
The Federal Reserve will inject a total of $85 billion a month into the economy a month via its combined stimulus measures.
The Fed also said conditions meriting low interest rates will likely last through mid-2015.
Monetary stimulus measures in the U.S. often are bullish for commodities.
Such accommodative policies tend to weaken the dollar by design and send commodities prices rising, especially oil, which shoots up on hopes for sustained demand that comes from a jolted economy and also due to a weaker dollar, which makes the commodity a nicely-priced asset in the eyes of investors holding other currencies.
Elsewhere in the U.S., the country's month-on-month consumer price index rose 0.6% in August from 0.0% July.
Analysts had expected CPI to rise 0.5% in August.
Month-on-month core inflation rates rose 0.1% in August compared to 0.1% in July, falling short of market forecasts for 0.2% growth.
Industrial production in the U.S. contracted 1.2% in August compared to a revised 0.5% expansion in July.
Analyst were forecasting industrial production to expand by 0.2% in August.
Consumers, meanwhile, are more upbeat these days, separate data showed.
Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's index on consumer sentiment hit 79.2 in September, up from 74.3 in August.
Analysts were expecting a 74.0 reading.
U.S. retail sales figures outpaced expectations as well.
The U.S. Commerce Department said that retail sales rose to a seasonally adjusted 0.9% in August from 0.6% in July, whose figure was revised down from 0.8%.
Analysts had expected retail sales to rise 0.7% in August.
Core retail sales rose 0.8% in August, matching July's 0.8% growth figure.
Analysts had expected U.S. core retail sales to rise 0.6% last month.
On the ICE Futures Exchange, Brent oil futures for November delivery were up 0.97% and trading at USD117.00 a barrel, up USD17.54 from its U.S. counterpart.
Natural gas futures continued lower during U.S. trade Friday, adding to losses after a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed U.S. gas supplies rose less-than-expected last week.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas futures for delivery in October traded at USD2.953 per million British thermal units during U.S. morning trade, tumbling 2.70%.
It earlier fell by as much as 3% to trade at a session low of USD2.962 per million British thermal units.
The October contract traded at USD3.017 prior to the release of the U.S. Energy Information Administration report.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report that natural gas storage in the U.S. in the week ended September 7 rose by 27 billion cubic feet, just below market expectations for an increase of 28 billion cubic feet.
Inventories rose by 80 billion cubic feet in the same week a year earlier, while the five-year average change for the week is an increase of 72 billion cubic feet, according to U.S. Energy Department data.
Total U.S. natural gas storage stood at 3.429 trillion cubic feet as of last week. Stocks were 342 billion cubic feet higher than last year at this time and 284 billion cubic feet above the five-year average of 3.145 trillion cubic feet for this time of year.
Inventory did not top the 3.4-trillion cubic feet level in 2011 until October 5, with stocks peaking at a record 3.852 trillion cubic feet in November of last year.
The report showed that in the East Region, stocks were 80 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, following a net injection of 38 billion cubic feet.
Stocks in the Producing Region were 147 billion cubic feet above the five-year average of 957 billion cubic feet, after a net withdrawal of 13 billion cubic feet.
Market analysts have warned that without strong demand through the rest of the summer cooling season, gas inventories will reach the limits of available capacity later this year.
The storage surplus to last year will have to be cut by at least another 150 billion cubic feet in the 12 weeks left before winter withdrawals begin to avoid breaching the government's 4.1 trillion cubic feet estimate of total capacity.
Elsewhere on the NYMEX, light sweet crude oil futures for delivery in October rose 1.22% to trade at USD99.47 a barrel.
Gold futures traded higher during European trade Friday as economic stimulus measures are expected to lift demand for the yellow metal, as well as weakened the greenback.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Gold futures for October delivery traded at USD1774.65 a troy ounce climbing 0.29%.
It earlier traded at a session high USD1777.55 a troy ounce. Gold was likely to find support at USD1705.55 and resistance at USD1777.55.
The Fed announced on Thursday that it would buy USD40 billion of mortgage-backed securities every month and would keep buying them until the economy improves.
"We want to see lower unemployment. We want to see a stronger economy that can cause the improvement to be sustained," Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said following the central bank's two-day policy meeting.
Traders are awaiting critical economic data from the United States later in the session.
US Dollar Index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, plunged 0.62% to trade at USD78.89.
Elsewhere on the Comex, Silver for December delivery gave back 0.28% to trade at USD34.675 a troy ounce while Copper for December delivery soared 3.28% to trade at USD3.832 a pound.
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